RE: [tech] suspension - Front upper stress bar Q's

["Neal Tovsen" <sixteen.volt@gte.net>]

Conventional wisdom on the subject is that the chassis should be as stiff as
possible. The idea is to let the suspension do it's job to the greatest
extent possible in controlling wheel angles and movement. Suspension is
designed and tuned to match the driving conditions. Chassis flex effectively
changes the spring rates of the suspension. If the chassis flexes, it
introduces uncontrollable and unpredictable spring forces into the system,
defeating the purpose of a carefully-tuned suspension. Of course, any
automotive chassis will flex, but less is better.

The Autotech bar is definitely larger radius, but I don't know the relative
wall thickness of the tubing. It is also aluminum, which needs larger tubing
to match the strength of a smaller steel tube. Look at a high-end aluminum
mountain bike frame vs. a high-end steel frame, and you'll see what I mean.

Neal

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> [mailto:owner-scirocco-l@scirocco.org]On Behalf Of Randy Block
> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 6:52 PM
> To: 'Neal Tovsen'
> Cc: 'scirocco-l@scirocco.org'
> Subject: RE: [tech] suspension - Front upper stress bar Q's
>
>
> Neil,
> Luckily the holes in the bar were only about 1/16" off but the fact that I
> was able to flex the bar to get it on made me a little concerned.
> I've seen the AutoTech bar and it looks thicker (stiffer) than
> the Neuspeed
> unit and mounts to the top with a ring (creating a kind of triangulation).
> The thing I'm wondering is, is stiffer better or should there be
> some flex,
> kind of a "weak link".
>
> Randy B
> 81 (Mars) Scirocco S - Techtonics Tuning 1847cc 8V
> 81 (Cosmos) Scirocco S - future Oettinger 16V project
> 87 Jetta GLI 16V - daily driver
>
> 	-----Original Message-----
> 	From:	Neal Tovsen [SMTP:sixteen.volt@gte.net]
> 	Sent:	Monday, January 15, 2001 2:31 PM
> 	To:	Randy Block; scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> 	Subject:	RE: [tech] suspension - Front upper stress bar Q's
>
> 	I got a Neuspeed off my winter beater, but couldn't fit it to the
> good car.
> 	Bolt holes were a good 1/8" off, and it wouldn't bend that far. I
> don't know
> 	if it was the bar or my car that was bent, but I'm tempted to say it
> was the
> 	bar considering the car it came off of.
>
> 	When I got a used Autotech from a lister, I decided to go for it. It
> has the
> 	center adjustablity, and I really like knowing that I'm not adding
> strange
> 	loads to the suspension. The bar *seems* to be quite strong when
> adjusted
> 	properly. You could lean on it with all your weight and it doesn't
> wiggle up
> 	and down or anything.
>
> 	Neal
>
> 	> -----Original Message-----
> 	> From: owner-scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> 	> [mailto:owner-scirocco-l@scirocco.org]On Behalf Of Randy Block
> 	> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 3:28 PM
> 	> To: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> 	> Subject: [tech] suspension - Front upper stress bar Q's
> 	>
> 	>
> 	> Ok,
> 	> Since were on the subject of suspension components.
> 	> I am currently running a Neuspeed upper strut tie bar, always have
> on my
> 	> A1's
> 	> What are others running that they believe to be better and why?
> 	> I have always had my doubts about the Neuspeed unit due to small
> 	> tubing dia.
> 	> and possible flex at the bends.
> 	> I have had to BOW the bar to get it to fit before, this seems to
> discredit
> 	> the functionality of the bar, right?
> 	> Should the bar have SOME flex in it?
> 	> I have seen other designs that seem to provide more stiffness,
> Dick W's
> 	> square tube bar, Craig's stainless bar, bars with much larger
> tubing dia,
> 	> etc... etc...
> 	> My guess is the reason the Neuspeed bar is so common is simply due
> to the
> 	> #'s made and the low price.
> 	>
> 	> I guess my question is:
> 	> Is STIFFER better, or should there be a little flex in the upper
> strut tie
> 	> bar.
> 	>
> 	> Thanks,
> 	>
> 	> Randy B
> 	> 81 (Mars) Scirocco S - Techtonics Tuning 1847cc 8V
> 	> 81 (Cosmos) Scirocco S - future Oettinger 16V project
> 	> 87 Jetta GLI 16V - daily driver
> 	>
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