Internal sway bar... stupid or possible?
 

My bus has coilovers up front. That handles the suspension. I still have a few (3) leaves in each torsion tube to connect the control arms to.
My idea is this, Take out the leaves and replace them with some solid round stock. Don't use the anchor point in the center of the beam but allow the bar in each tube to twist against the other side in cornering... this is basically what a sway bar does. I could even devise a way to preload the bar but don't think it would even be necessary.
Thoughts?



Jeff-

Would work. I believe thats what they use on the rear axles of the ION/Pursuit/Cobalt. Saw a show where they machined out the sway bar and replaced it by welding in a 3/4 piece of round stock. Weld both end it place with no preload, and you should be fine. I say go for it!

That's how the type 3 anti-roll bar works, I have no idea but maybe it could be adapted for you?

Rich

Panel, If I read you correctly, this system already exists. Red9design makes a coilover suspension with through-rods in the front beam. You could also buy those rods at prowlers.com for 55$.

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Pete, I've been checking that show out also!

Rich, I'll prolly start from scratch since I've got a narrowed beam and am about to do some heavy fabricating on my lower control arms anyway.

Kleinporsche, I had seen the Red9 stuff but it looked like their through rods were kinda small? I'm gonna try to cram as big a piece of round bar through there as I can, with the weight of a bus and all.


Jeff-

Would the rod need to be tempered or made from "sping" steel? I would think a shop that can make coils could fab up the rod.

Good point, did cross my mind. I was gonna ask the guys over at the local fab shop I use what they thought. They're not hot rodders like us but when it comes to deciding on use of metal and tolerences, they are slick! They always laugh at me because I waaaay over engineer everything... "is this for a bulldozer?" :laugh:
For me, it can never be too strong!


Jeff-

New beetles use this type of rear suspension member also. I think that it would work out great. keep us posted.

ya, type 3s use this on the upper control arms. since its basically a straight rod, i would think it would be easy to make bigger ones. but i havent had one all the way apart to see how hard it would be.

-Ryan

it won't work,

the front leaf springs do 3 things.
1 .they hold the car up in a twisting action(you can aliminate the job by having coilovers holding the car) OK.
2 thay stop the tralingarms comming out of the beam.?!?
3 thay stop the tralingarms going into the beam.?!?
(the 4 rubber rings that are on the front beam are only there as grease seals! NOT suspention bushings!! if you remove the anchor point in the center of the beam the suspention will move everywere!!!!wear out the grease seals and smash the outer barrings!!!!
good luck.
P.S put the anti-rollbar on the outside.(so you can adjust it :eek: for going around corners :eek: ,setting up the car :eek: with the the driver in the car :eek: )

Excuse my ignorance but how do you tune an anti roll bar?
Dont they just bolt on?
:confused:

adjustable ones have a few holes on the ends that you can bolt the link that connects to the suspension arm, the further out, the more leverage and vice versa.

Maybe you could use your own leaf springs (all of them), just removind the anchor point in the midle of the beam.
as for the Grease seals, you could try machinning nylon to replace them, you would solve the problem of the suspension moving.
The only way to know if it will work is trying
I´m gonna do this on my drag race beetle, but I´m a bit far of start messing around with the front suspension setup.

Marco, I agree with everything except #3, I'm using 1 inch round bar which is as large as will fit... it is a slip fit and will have the support of the center anchor point, it just wont be anchored. 1 inch round bar is a heck of a lot more stable than a stack of leaves, there will be very little slop.
Ordered some 1 inch 4340. Gonna do all my machining and have a local place heat treat up to spring temper. Will keep everybody posted.


Jeff-

Jeff,

I'm curious as to the reinforcing of the lower arms. Is that for the coil-overs? Any pics?

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