I am undecided weather to keep the sway bay on my front beam (on my manx). The car will see as much on road action as offroad. Any comments/wisdom would be appreciated!:bounce

I would recommend taking it off, and putting it down the middle of your long tie rod to strengthen it.

You won't notice too much difference in body roll with or without the front sway bar. So don't worry about that issue.

no sway bar helps with axle articulation offroad.

I left my sway bar on for about a year, then removed it. Can notice no real differance in body roll. I drive my buggy to work 40min each way to work, so it gets onroad lots more

i use a bigger than stock on the front of my beetle which i use for motorsport ( both on and off road) and have no dramas with it on there.
i personally prefer it there!

Thanks guys- I guess the verdict is in- 2 to 1! Remove the sway bar it is.

I agree, get rid of it. Even on my '76 kombi with the swaybar removed, (I broke it!:o) the handling was acceptable for an 'offroader'. It did display some extra body roll, and was a bit more twitchy in crosswinds, but I put up with it because of the extra articulation it allowed. I wouldn't imagine it would be any disadvantage on a buggy.

hi Vee Dubbers
i have an offroad buggy and people have told be to take the sway bars off!
now i think it will help as it only for offroad use and its a home made buggy
so please reply and let me know if it a good way to good or tell me if it's a No go
cheers

bump
so should i take them off?

If you want greater wheel articulation, then 'Yes'.

having never offroaded in a vw (well a little in my old driver but only places you could get a full bodied car with skinny tyres) so i'm only speeking theoretically...
in the pics you put up ages ago you were driving on a smooth paddock if that is the normal surface (and higher speeds are the norm) i'd say leave it/them on as you will get better traction on smoothish surfaces. if you are climbing creek banks and alike (lots of slow speed stuff) taking them off could well help... ie you might have more wheels on the ground etc.
of course if you normally drive fast and the thing always understeers dropping back to a stock one (if it has a HD one) or ditching it altogether might help.

Mine has been removed, this was the advise of those who had done lots of Off Roading in VW's before.

Have a look here for some of their antics.

http://www.offroadvw.net/manxclub/Nanango/index.html 

I would also confirm that its better NOT to have them when entirely used for off road. They are really only needed on flat surfaces...
The anti roll bar stops the loong axle travel needed when going in rough places...
Actually, many many years ago, I broke a front anti roll bar.. and left it off until Rego was due and I had to put one back on...
Lee

Take it off, play with your shocks if you feel you need to stabilise! you need the wheels too work as independently as poss while negotiating obstacles.:thumb

I broke 2 on my baja, like Wes said ,better up the guts of the tie rod.

Swaybars will also make a car slide more on the dirt.

How much body roll could a buggy get anyway? :o

On the other side of the argument, I've seen buggies in action and they tend to lift a front wheel, even when they don't have a swaybar. I think removing the swaybar is a definite advantage on a heavier vehicle, but I'm not so sure that it's worth the trouble in something as light as a buggy. (Not counting Brad's monster buggy of course!!:P)

Edit: Hahaha, I just checked out the site daz posted. Man, you guys need some decent off-road trails up there!!! I know its steeper than it looks in the photos, but I didn't see anything there that I wouldn't have thrown the old '76 kombi at, seriously!!! :o You all better come down to Vic and try some of our tracks out.

When is dyno gonna fit a dozer blade to his front beam? :P

[Edited on 9-10-2003 by KruizinKombi]

Quote: "Edit: Hahaha, I just checked out the site daz posted. Man, you guys need some decent off-road trails up there!!! I know its steeper than it looks in the photos, but I didn't see anything there that I wouldn't have thrown the old '76 kombi at, seriously!!! You all better come down to Vic and try some of our tracks out. "
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Kol,

Having towed your Kombi out of a bog on Fraser Island, I feel I am in a position to comment.

You would have no Hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:vader

But feel free to prove me wrong, When are you up next?
We will organise an off road trip on your behalf.

Hugs and Kisses
Darryl

Kombi V's Buggy now we are just getting silly :P:P

Never been on a trip with a Kombi in the group offroad which hasn't resulted in the kombi getting towed.

Hey Kol, last time we buggy people went offroad with you from memory you didn't even get onto the beach