GermanLook Forums - Coilovers - Why keep the Torsion bars?

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- - Coilovers - Why keep the Torsion bars? (https://www.germanlook.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11219)

owdlvr

April 5th 2011 14:34

Coilovers - Why keep the Torsion bars?

So I've spent the morning reading through as many of the coil-over threads as I can find, but what I can't find an explanation of is why you might want to keep the torsion bars when moving to coil-overs?

I do understand the issue of stressing the upper shock mount with the full load, but assuming one installs a 5-bar Kafer Bar, is there any reason to retain the torsion bars vs. a unibal or GWD bearing?

Ultimately I'm looking for a way to easily raise and lower the back end of my beetle for changing from a gravel rallyX setup to a road or track setup. Indexing spring plates each time is not a realistic solution.

-Dave

vugbug71

April 10th 2011 21:19

i believe that even with the torsion bars, coil overs can adjust your ride height a few cm. I think the better the coil overs, the better you can adjust and fine tune the suspension. I think coil overs tend to give a "bouncy" ride compared to torsion bars and good shocks

evilC

April 14th 2011 08:07

Fitting the coilovers to the existing TBs has the advantage of light spring rates and therefore little strain on the damper towers. The standard TBs also have the advantage for a street car of rubber/poly doughnuts to reduce the NVH.
Coilovers/Uniball provides maximum control for competition use that will require a Kafer Cup Brace at least to take the coil loads.
In a nutshell I would suggest adding coilovers to the TBs for a street car and pure coilovers for a competion only car.

Clive

owdlvr

April 14th 2011 12:16

Thanks Clive, that helps.

-Dave

T5WOB

April 19th 2011 15:27

i am in the same boat of what to do . was going for front and rear coil overs and a uniball. thought i was over doing it a bit .as i wont to remove the bars as well .has any one got a link on the kafer cup brace so i can see what it look like and how much they cost .is it like a anti roll bar .thanks martin

chug_A_bug

April 19th 2011 16:22

check out Lanner site makes killer stuff and at a great price....

http://www.vdubengineering.com/products/kafercup.htm

Chris.

vugbug71

April 19th 2011 20:10

there is also this one
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifie....php?id=679776

owdlvr

April 19th 2011 23:12

The samba link is a 3-bar setup, but apparently without Torsions the 5-bar is the one to go with.

-Dave

T5WOB

April 20th 2011 09:33

thanks guys :)

evilC

April 21st 2011 08:43

I have been toying with the 5-bar KCB installation in our '03 SB that still allows the use of the heat exchangers (I get cold toes dontcha know). The 3-bar unit for me is a non-starter as the 5-bar one does what it should, which is to triangulate the rear structure to be able to carry considerably more supsension and torsional loads. The 3-bar unit does what?

I concluded that the 5-bar KCB does not need to be fabricated with adjustable knuckles as long as it's built for a specific vehicle. (that doesn't apply to a drag car with big HPs as it would be beneficial to preload the unit to conteract the engine torque). With no adjustable knuckles it ought to be cheaper and easier to fabricate. All the knuckle joints should act through the centre of the joint (not like the Samba example) so as to retain the simple pin joint structure. The bar material should be steel so that the under hood heat doesn't affect the primary loadpaths as well as being resistant to catostrophic fire loads

Clive

coolrydes

June 2nd 2011 03:44

here is our new all 4130 chromoly one. 100% bolt in....

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/812819.jpg
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/812818.jpg
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/812816.jpg
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/812817.jpg
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/812820.jpg

-Alex-

June 4th 2011 09:20

Remmele sells similar kit, but there is no arms, you must use existing arms or uppgrade to 944 aluarms.

To me just aluarms look better :)
Coilovers cost 859€

Uniball system 938€

http://www.remmele-motorsport.com/images/fahr4.gif

http://www.remmele-motorsport.com/images/fahr17.gif

coolrydes

June 7th 2011 02:10

SuperRSi

June 18th 2011 17:04

Remmele parts are very nice to look at but almost impossible to get in the U.S.
Too bad as a lot of us have tried...

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