RS4 Sway (antiroll) Bars Opinions?

2.7 V6 30v biturbo - 380 bhp
Golich
Top Gear
Posts: 1539
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2003 7:28 pm
Location: Aberdeen

Post by Golich » Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:52 pm

[quote="don"]Golich, I have the stock RS4 suspension (low miles), but am going the fat H&R anti-roll bar upgrade. There is quite a significant increase in stiffness at the rear.

In my experience with other cars the anti-roll bar upgrade alone does make a difference, but I will let you know after a test run. Personally, any lower and my car would not make it out of the driveway so coil overs are out. Though I do think some uprated shocks would be a worth while purchase. quote]

I've noticed on other cars that a significant improvement can be had simply changing the ARB and leaving the stock springs and dampers alone. But each setup is different.

Let me know how you get on.

I guess I need to finally get myself along to meet to see for myself what different set ups act like and to put a face to some of you lads :wink:

don
3rd Gear
Posts: 467
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 3:42 am
Location: Sydney, Australia
Contact:

Post by don » Sun Sep 18, 2005 2:30 pm

Finally, got around to installing my H&R sway bar kit today. :D

The H&R 22mm rear bar looked very serious next to the puny 15 mm stock bar. The front H&R bar at 32 mm looked only slightly larger than stock by 3 or 4 mm.

Install was quite easy for the back but the front was a little difficult by myself and the left bar mount didn't quite sit flush with the idler arm bushing. :? Not sure if anyone else has had this problem? I think it will be ok though and I will check it for positioning in a few weeks.

I set both bars on the maximum setting.

I went for a spirited test drive around the streets this arvo and the upgrade is certainly noticeable. On fast second gear corners the car sits noticeably flatter and tighter through the corner. The understeer tendancy is significantly reduced and this is particularly noticeable when accellerating from stop through a tight corner. The car steers much much nicer now under power from a standing start and turn in is also noticeably better.

I managed to get a slight bit of oversteer happening on one corner requirng very minor correction.. not sure if the ESP caught it, but it was a little unexpected. Though I could occassionally get the car to do this even with the stock bars.

Haven't managed any high speed cornering yet, but I will go for a more serious drive in the next few weeks.

Note that I am running on stock RS4 springs and shocks (~17k). However, with out doubt the H&R 'fat' bar upgrade alone is well worth the effort and minor expense if you don't want to go coil overs or the full quattro GmbH.

User avatar
PhilT
RS246.com
Posts: 8713
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2003 2:03 pm
Location: South Yorkshire

Post by PhilT » Sun Sep 18, 2005 8:19 pm

Would agree the H&R bars make a huge difference. I have also experienced a little oversteer with these.
RS246 Shop - RS246 Window Stickers and RS6 Keyrings

Current : 2016 Audi SQ7 & Radical SR3 Supersport

Ex : 2010 Nissan GT-R Premium Edition, 2014 Audi S3 Sportback, 2007 Audi Q7 4.2 TDI, Clio 172 Cup, B5 RS4, C5 RS6+ (249/999), S2 Coupe, Ex-Police Senator 3.0 24v, Ford Escort 1.3

flashyg
5th Gear
Posts: 1157
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 3:36 pm

Post by flashyg » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:16 pm

The new bars having had the old H&R is far better in high speed corners.
Not saying I am a high speed cornering man though!
The car does grip the corners far better with the bigger bar at higher speeds.
This is where the difference is very noticeable as the G is bigger and the car can resist this in a much more noticeable way.
I have not found the oversteering to be any more severe with the new bar, this did surprise me and I am very happy with this.
Basically the bigger bar is way better.
The understeer is definitely reduced. This in my opinion makes the car much safer.
This may be contrary to safety opinions but I like my car to go where I tell it and if it has a problem with that then I am happy for the back end to move the car in the required direction drastically if this is necessary. But the car has never failed to remain well under control. I hope this can continue.
G

Golich
Top Gear
Posts: 1539
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2003 7:28 pm
Location: Aberdeen

Post by Golich » Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:24 pm

Good report guys. I'm going to give serious thought to these.

User avatar
TWH
4th Gear
Posts: 675
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2004 5:02 pm
Location: UK

Post by TWH » Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:24 am

Hmmnnn, I've got the smaller H&R rear bar on order - might see if I can change that!
2001 Avus Silver RS4, APRacing 6pots - Gone, but not forgotten :(

andream88
3rd Gear
Posts: 462
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 4:33 pm

Post by andream88 » Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:34 pm

What about H-Sport ones?
http://www.hotchkis.net/p-731-extreme-s ... r-set.aspx

I'm going to buy them for my Rs4!

Thank you
Rs4 b5 06/2001
custom remap - KW V3 - Hotchkis Sways - ASP DTS with poly mount - 034 Street Mounts + Snub with bracket - Apikol rear diff mount and bushes - Gutted precats - DUH Fmic kit - 360x32 floating discs+brembo 6-pot at the front - 710Ns - OEM 18 Hard wheels - JHM shifter/linkage/spring etc - Podi.ca Boost Gauge - Powerflex Bushes - Afterrun mod -

Stigter
4th Gear
Posts: 645
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:49 am

Post by Stigter » Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:15 pm

I noticed the H&R 22mm rear bar made the car oversteer. Which is nice but somehow a little dangerous in the wet. There are some people who are running the 3rd hole setting by using a bracket from MRC I bet thats a complete pig to drive on public roads.

User avatar
mikeyquattro
Top Gear
Posts: 2191
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: Witshire

Post by mikeyquattro » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:33 pm

andream88 wrote:What about H-Sport ones?
http://www.hotchkis.net/p-731-extreme-s ... r-set.aspx

I'm going to buy them for my Rs4!

Thank you
They do look the mutts :thumbs:

If only I had pots of ££ :roll:
Tomorrow is another day

andream88
3rd Gear
Posts: 462
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 4:33 pm

Post by andream88 » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:50 pm

You don't need ££.....you need $$$$ :D
The exchange rate is really favorable at the moment......
Rs4 b5 06/2001
custom remap - KW V3 - Hotchkis Sways - ASP DTS with poly mount - 034 Street Mounts + Snub with bracket - Apikol rear diff mount and bushes - Gutted precats - DUH Fmic kit - 360x32 floating discs+brembo 6-pot at the front - 710Ns - OEM 18 Hard wheels - JHM shifter/linkage/spring etc - Podi.ca Boost Gauge - Powerflex Bushes - Afterrun mod -

User avatar
mikeyquattro
Top Gear
Posts: 2191
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: Witshire

Post by mikeyquattro » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:53 pm

andream88 wrote:You don't need ££.....you need $$$$ :D
The exchange rate is really favorable at the moment......
I know :)

Still not got enough $$!!

Will happily exchange for wife who likes spending lots of ££ :shock:
Tomorrow is another day

don
3rd Gear
Posts: 467
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 3:42 am
Location: Sydney, Australia
Contact:

Post by don » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:22 pm

Stigter wrote:I noticed the H&R 22mm rear bar made the car oversteer. Which is nice but somehow a little dangerous in the wet. There are some people who are running the 3rd hole setting by using a bracket from MRC I bet thats a complete pig to drive on public roads.
I don't notice that my car is bad in the wet, although I am a relatively careful wet weather driver. I think I have over steered a small amount in the wet on a 60 kph corner but I think ESP fixed this.

More important is that the car is perfectly balanced in the dry. I would not say that car over steers any more than stock unless you make it or are taking a 110 + degree corner very fast. Your ESP will should also catch any excursions. At high speed the car is also flatter but uprated dampers/springs or coil overs are really necessary to fix that.

I think the H-Sport bars look ok though not sure if anyone has tried them on the RS4 here. The H&R are RS4 specific and should only be an extra $250 US.

andream88
3rd Gear
Posts: 462
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 4:33 pm

Post by andream88 » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:31 pm

The H&R don't have the support brackets for the rear bar. This is not good, here many people had problems with the subframe.....

ARE YOU SURE that the H-Sport bars will fit our RS4 b5 mikey?

THanks
Rs4 b5 06/2001
custom remap - KW V3 - Hotchkis Sways - ASP DTS with poly mount - 034 Street Mounts + Snub with bracket - Apikol rear diff mount and bushes - Gutted precats - DUH Fmic kit - 360x32 floating discs+brembo 6-pot at the front - 710Ns - OEM 18 Hard wheels - JHM shifter/linkage/spring etc - Podi.ca Boost Gauge - Powerflex Bushes - Afterrun mod -

User avatar
mikeyquattro
Top Gear
Posts: 2191
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: Witshire

Post by mikeyquattro » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:36 pm

Not 100% sure. Best to email to Hotchkis to confirm.
I don't see why the shouldn't fit though...
Tomorrow is another day

andream88
3rd Gear
Posts: 462
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 4:33 pm

Post by andream88 » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:38 pm

I asked you because i don't know if S4 chassis=Rs4 one..... :D
Rs4 b5 06/2001
custom remap - KW V3 - Hotchkis Sways - ASP DTS with poly mount - 034 Street Mounts + Snub with bracket - Apikol rear diff mount and bushes - Gutted precats - DUH Fmic kit - 360x32 floating discs+brembo 6-pot at the front - 710Ns - OEM 18 Hard wheels - JHM shifter/linkage/spring etc - Podi.ca Boost Gauge - Powerflex Bushes - Afterrun mod -

Post Reply

Return to “RS4 (B5 Typ 8D) 1999-2001”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests