W201 anti-sway bars? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kiato4 · #16 02-23-2003, 03:33 PM

Just fab a custom rear swaybar not too hard. I think 2phast (www.2phast.com) used a ford focus rear strut bar. Glen, strut bars are a generic name. What they do is stiffen the car side to side. It's like swaybars, a rear one will stiffen and give more oversteer, but both front and rear bars will promote very neutral handling. it helps the car not to flex no matter what kind of suspension is on there.

kiato4 · #17 02-23-2003, 03:34 PM

Whoops i meant to say just fab a custom rear strut bar.

Glen · #18 02-23-2003, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2.6L
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS

Yeah, I've seen 2Phasts pictures. The point is that there is very little loading on the shock (not strut) towers on our cars. Second, our chassis are fairly stiff to begin with, there's not much flexing like in a 911 or 924/944 where I believe strut bars were first used. I guess I'm trying to say that from a performance standpoint, I think they're worthless.

2.6L · #19 02-23-2003, 08:34 PM

Quote:

I guess I'm trying to say that from a performance standpoint, I think they're worthless.

That I agree with. I've pushed my car to the limit around some turns with stock suspension. I was amazed how stiff my 89 2.6l was.

jasondew · #20 02-23-2003, 09:23 PM

i got my rear bar due to an mistake by my mechanic. i asked him to get a price quote on the strut brace and the rear shock tower brace, just out of curiosity, and a week later he informed me that the rear bar had arrived. since it was already there i check to see how it would install. it ended up being too short. we're still trying to get bekkers to take the bar back.

as others said, on the 201 chassis there is no real need for a rear tower brace. the only load the towers see is from the rear shocks, which is many many times less than what the front strut mounts see.

crhenkel · #21 02-23-2003, 09:42 PM

Did you buy and install the front strut brace and did it fit well?

Speedtek · #22 02-23-2003, 11:01 PM

I think the front strut bar is also a waste but it looks pretty. But for myself why add weight to your car. I am already trying to figure out how to reduce the weight of my car. (I am going to part with my electric seats for a set of sportier seats from a "J" car. I think I will be saving 70 lbs?)

jasondew · #23 02-24-2003, 12:05 AM

i'm also planning on replacing the power seats with some corbeau seats to drop some weight. i think the weight drop will be more like 40lbs though.

2.6L · #24 02-24-2003, 09:01 AM

Since my interior is shot to hell. I wanted to install power seats redo the interior get it looking stock etc......but I'm going with racing seats power seats are not worth my time money or energy

2phast · #25 02-24-2003, 07:16 PM

Both bars used on my car are extremely light, so the idea of "adding weight" really does not apply.

The rear bar on my car was a failed front chassis stiffening bar project. With a few extra dollars invested, it was converted for the rear.

Is it worth it? Hmmm, my 190 handles extremely well and is very neutral on the track, hard to say if the rear bar made much of a difference since I did both bars and the sways between track days.

If you want to fab a rear, use my instructions, just don't spend over $30 to do it.

crhenkel · #26 02-25-2003, 04:44 PM

2phast,
did you fab both the FRONT and the rear bars? I am much more interested in teh front bar and looking for someone who has fabrication info on how they did it. Yours both look good. Rear bar looks nice, but I think I want to try the front bar first, since I don't track race...streets....maybe....not track.

IF you have any infor onthe front bar fabrication please let me know, if you bought it...where...I have heard some don't fit.
Christopher

Potomac Pat · #27 02-26-2003, 12:25 PM

My only issue w/ everyone wanting to use the front strut braces is this................

Yeah, it will help some, but what is the point in doing so if you bolt it up to the stock Mercedes strut mounts which are RUBBER !!!! You will still experience a certain amount of flex.

Check out RC Imports to see what I mean. Rick has made an aluminum replacement for the stock rubber ones. !