Jetta III sway bar upgrade?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 9, 2011 9:23 a.m. noddaz New Reader

I have a 1997 Jetta GT 2.slow and it has the stock 19mm sway bar in the front.

The models with the VR6 have a bigger sway bar (according to the on-line catalogue), a whopping 20mm. I know the end links mounts are different from the 2.0 and the VR6 so I can't just put the bar from the VR6 onto my car. So the question is, can I swap control arms from the VR6 model to allow me to use the VR6 sway bar on my 2.0..... I know that it is only 1mm difference. But anything will help, especially if it is cheap...
Nov. 9, 2011 12:41 p.m. mw HalfDork

Unless you have all the vr6 parts, its got to be cheaper and easier to just get an aftermarket bar than to change bar, links, and control arms. You'll likely get a bigger bar too
Nov. 9, 2011 12:52 p.m. Cone_Junky HalfDork

Needs more understeer?

I would work on a bolt-on rear bar first, based on 5 years of racing multiple FWD VWs.
Nov. 9, 2011 12:57 p.m. jungle New Reader

the vr6 bar will work if you chop like an inch off of the end of it to shorten it to work w/ the 2.0 endlinks. otherwise you pretty much need the entire spindle & control arms.

fwiw i think there is more than 1mm difference. sway bars work great when you can't add more spring. but if you add more in front, add way more in the rear.
Nov. 9, 2011 1:57 p.m. noddaz New Reader

Cone_Junky wrote:

Needs more understeer?

I would work on a bolt-on rear bar first, based on 5 years of racing multiple FWD VWs.

Tighten up the back to help the front go around the turn? Sounds like a plan. But I have priced rear bars... I was hoping a slightly bigger front would give me noticeably better performance cheaply.
Nov. 9, 2011 2:05 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

Actually, one of the best things you can do for that chassis is to add a 25mm or 28mm front bar. Simply put, it doesn't have enough front suspension (even with stupidly-stiff coilovers) to counteract the camber gain during cornering.
Nov. 9, 2011 2:26 p.m. ppddppdd Reader

Unless you believe Dick Shine. http://www.srsvw.com/

I ran the Shine Racing suspension on my Mk2 years ago and it was fabulous on the street. I never fully disconnected the front bar, but their springs + rear bar + Bilstein HDs was one of the better street suspensions I've experienced.
Nov. 9, 2011 2:34 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

I don't—at least not for what I do.

That said, your suspension with the Shine stuff + a front bar makes perfect sense.
Nov. 9, 2011 2:37 p.m. Cone_Junky HalfDork

In reply to ppddppdd:

I did do the front bar removal-it was awesome. Now this mod requires you to use their high rate springs. I would not attempt this with any other off-the-shelf spring combo though.

Shine Racing makes the best handling suspension for VWs that I've ever driven. They have some serious racing experience to back it up too.
Nov. 9, 2011 2:54 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

Depends on what you want to do. Autocross? No friggin' way. Road Racing? Sure, because then you won't mind the 800lb/inch springs that you'll need to support that 2600lb Jetta.

Per
Nov. 9, 2011 3:16 p.m. noddaz New Reader

I guess the vehicle use was an important item...

It's a daily driver...

Stock wheels (14") Stock tires (for now...) Koni Str.T struts all around.