Sway Bar upgrades

[Jainuss]

Sorry if this has been covered but i did not find exactly what I was looking for under the search option. I am in the market to replace the sway bars on my 19 ttrs. I do not autocross or anything crazy just some spirited canyon runs. Should i replace both front and rear bars or just rear? I am overall not 100% sure front will get me all that much more stiffness. Thanks for all the info

[Hollingsworth]

Most seem just replace the rear bar to reduce understeer and balance out the car. The front is a more difficult install do to having to remove the front subframe. I choose to go with the H&R rear bar solely because it comes with bushings that are a polyurethane/teflon composite - and theoretically will never require lubing. I have had it on my car for 1.5 years and so far it has been silent. For endlinks, I originally went with Superpro, but I could never get them to fit properly (slightly too long) and they subsequently made a ton of noise - so I removed them and just put the OEM endlinks back on. The OEMs fit perfectly with the H&R bar and everything has been completely silent.

[Jainuss]

Most seem just replace the rear bar to reduce understeer and balance out the car. The front is a more difficult install do to having to remove the front subframe. I choose to go with the H&R rear bar solely because it comes with bushings that are a polyurethane/teflon composite - and theoretically will never require lubing. I have had it on my car for 1.5 years and so far it has been silent. For endlinks, I originally went with Superpro, but I could never get them to fit properly (slightly too long) and they subsequently made a ton of noise - so I removed them and just put the OEM endlinks back on. The OEMs fit perfectly with the H&R bar and everything has been completely silent.

Great info thank you

I am planning to do all three motor mounts and waterpump so i will need to loosen the subframe; so i was thinking of doing the sway bar so i only have to get new bolts once. Just didnt know if it is even worth it if the benefits are nominal. The rear bar seems to be the main improvement.

[Hollingsworth]

While you have the subframe loosened, use the opportunity to install a front subframe locking collar kit (to eliminte the play in the front subframe.) Most of the kits include the 4 new subframe bolts along with 2 locking collars for each bolt. And while you're at it, also install upper and lower dogbone mount inserts.

[McTTRS]

The rear bar seems to be the main improvement.

I would try just the rear first and then the more troublesome front if not satisfied. I favor the 034 model.

[S4Corey]

Sorry if this has been covered but i did not find exactly what I was looking for under the search option. I am in the market to replace the sway bars on my 19 ttrs. I do not autocross or anything crazy just some spirited canyon runs. Should i replace both front and rear bars or just rear? I am overall not 100% sure front will get me all that much more stiffness. Thanks for all the info

In my vast experience on numerous cars that share MQB design, I have always found the front bar makes the front tighter, BUT, at the cost of being to much and causing the front to push similar to OEM when pushing hard.

With all the different combinations, manufactures, and designs from all the options for suspension available, I found there is a good solid base to work with the following things

- Rear sway bar (i too prefer H&R and also 034 - a bar is a bar however and all will do the same thing in similar fashion - so brand choice up to you)

-Rear subframe inserts - prevents over extension/ flexing of rear suspension and is shared components (note that by reducing the flex of the rear subframe, you improve the reaponse in the rear, limit or reduce the overal wear and tear of bushings, aswell as the driveline slop from aggressive launches that puts additional stess on all the other components forward *engine/trans mounts, couplers, ect*

- front subframe collar kit


I find these 3 mods (especially combined with a good alignment), to be the best bang for buck and overall improvement to performance and character, without sacrificing a lot of comfort drivaeability and NVH. To me, this is what Id consider a good foundation of mods that will only improve with greater things down the road (coils, springs, whatever tickles your fancy). These mods drastically improve the cara behaviour in all scenarios for enhancing suspension function/behavior and driveline - all while being on the lower cost, ease of work required, abd with next to none or limiting cons of comfort compared to everything else.

Id strongly recommend those mods first as a good overal base improvement - whether on oem suspension with limited plans of change, or going all wild with the rest

Just my 2 cents and experience across the board