hotchkis is having that gtg this weekend and thet are having a sale so if apg96 is still looking or anybody in socal wants to get a deal this weekend is your chance, i will be there.

 

ride comfort is not affected by swaybars because it allows the back wheels to move up and down at the same time, together, as long as they travel the same distances, same with the front. As soon as the right front goes higher than the left (hard right turn), or the left goes higher than the right (hard left turn) , the swaybar twists. the thinker the swaybar, the less the twist, and less body roll, and better the handeling!

so... if you go over bumps the swaybar just moves up and down with the suspension, so your shoks just absorb the bump, but if you try and turn, the bar twists, and keeps the car flatter, therefore distributing the weight on the tires more evenly...

its a great idea actually, i wonder who first came up with them... its so simple, yet so effective...

 

i honestly cant wait to get my swaybars. i really didnt think my springs and shocks would be a huge difference, but WHOAAAA....my car seriously handles 100 times better with the neuspeed race springs and my bilstein shocks. its marvelous. im thinking that after my sway bar set is gonna be sweeeeeeet.

 

Old thread, but I would like to get sway bars for my 2009 A3 8P and wondering what are the proper settings to balance out the car. Ideally the car should neither over or understeer and exceeding grip would be a lateral slide. I can't find data on the weight distribution or any initial settings for the bars. I was planning to get the hotchkis bars since I run them in my BMW e46 Track car and they are great. That was a very well known formula, full stuff in front and least stiff in the rear. Does anyone have experience with the settings on the A3?

 

I have a 2013 8P with the factory handling option. An Audi shop I trust told me that replacing the front bar is involved because the front subframe has to come off and simply bolting it back usually results in unpleasant noises. Doing it right requires a bushing kit and some machine work. On their advice I bought an H&S rear bar and installed it with good results. I tried replacing the front bar bushings with polyurethane but I couldn't quite get the access I needed.

 

an excellent tip, thanks

 

Upgrading the front sway bar on your 2013 8P with the factory handling option can be complex. The Audi shop recommends a meticulous approach, involving front subframe removal, proper bushing kit installation, and machine work to prevent undesirable noises. Although polyurethane bushings were challenging to install due to limited access, successfully fitting an H&S rear bar yielded positive results, showcasing the intricacies of enhancing your vehicle's handling dynamics.

 

Choose a rear sway bar size based on your vehicle's make and model, consulting the manufacturer's specifications or seeking recommendations from automotive forums. Thicker sway bars generally provide more stiffness, but the ideal size depends on your driving preferences and intended use.

 

well your opinion looks ok to me.

 

For the 2009 A3 8P, aim for a stiffer front sway bar to reduce understeer, and a slightly softer rear sway bar for balance, possibly similar to your BMW E46 setup, though specific data for the A3 may require experimentation or consultation with Audi enthusiasts.