[mjmjames]

I would appreciate your opinions or wheather to buy a front sway bar for my 2002 Passat wagon. Is it worth it, noticeable and how much should I pay and where should I get it from? I had the Eibach sport springs installed a month ago and really enjoy the more responsive ride. How much more responsive will the car be with a "sport" front sway bar? Thanks


[Modified by mjmjames, 5:10 AM 11-28-2001]

 

[PaulS]

Re: Front sway bar (mjmjames)

Looking for better response?
Lower profile, sport tires first.
Shocks second.
Then springs (which you already have).
THEN a -rear- sway bar.
Finally, if you're -still- not satisfied, a heavier front bar and an even heavier rear bar.
The wagon, BTW, already has a stiffer front bar than the sedans.
- PaulS

 

[KrisC]

Re: Front sway bar (mjmjames)

Yes, from everything I've read it seems to be the (mostly) general consensus that there's no reason to upgrade the front swaybar on Passats...just go with a 25 or 28mm rear sway bar.
But before you do that, I'd do what PaulS said, although if I were you I'd get better shocks first. Upgraded springs + stock shocks = no no. Get some Bilstiens on there, and you should see a pretty big improvement. After that yes, get wider/lower profile tires. The stock tires on Passats are horrid. If you don't want new wheels the Bridgestone Potenza RE950 tires in the 205/60/15 size are a nice +0 upgrade. Otherwise, you'll want to go with larger wheels and something like a 225/45/17 tire.

 

[Bob V]

Re: Front sway bar (KrisC)

I put front anti-sway bars on all my Volvos but with the suspension setup and geometry of the new Passat, it's a big mistake to just mount a front bar. I know because I did it at the same time I put on Bilsteins... and I suffered annoying understeer for about a year. When I finally put on springs, it corrected a little but replacing the OEM bar on the front made the handling just right.

 

[Mykes]

Re: Front sway bar (PaulS)

How about a front stress bar (strut brace) like the one from Wet Works?

 

[PhilHVW]

Re: Front sway bar (Mykes)

quote:[HR][/HR]How about a front stress bar (strut brace) like the one from Wet Works?[HR][/HR]​

Although they look cool, strut braces don't really do all that much to stiffen the structure. If you've already done everything else to the suspension and you're racing then it's a performance enhancement, otherwise they're mainly for show.

 

[jerryf]

Re: Front sway bar (mjmjames)

Everyone here disagrees with me on this, but on the advice of Anthony at Greedspeed, I installed a front sway bar on a 2001 wagon with 16" wheels and Bilsteins and stock springs. I wanted a tighter front end for more precise high speed cruising on grooved freeways and this is what Anthony recommended. IMHO he was correct. If you focus entirely on understeer then perhaps the rear bar is for you.
Note that the 2001 Audi A4 sport suspension includes shocks, springs and a stiffer FRONT sway bar.