Whiteline RSB + Liftoff Oversteer

[GT3]

I'm too accustomed to my WL RSB now, but these were my observations immediately after installing and testing one:

"A Whiteline adjustable rear sway bar was fitted to my Polo GTI yesterday and I did some extensive testing/driving with it fitted.

Here's the pros and cons:

On the positive side - it dramatically stabalises the car when cornering, eradicates the bounce and excessive roll and understeering characteristics of the stock Polo GTI. Once I became familar enough and accustomed to the car's new handling dynamics, I was able to drive the car at a much faster speed, which indirectly makes the car a hell of a lot faster. I had it on the softest setting and I don't understand why you'd want a harder setting, there is virtually no sway or roll whatsoever. It's also got neutral handling characteristics - very race car like.

On the negative side -

There is quite a significant transfer and distribution of weight as a result of the increased load directed to the rear. It "feels" as if the rear of the car is raised and the steering has become very light and less direct. Not sure I like that. It's as if there is no flex left in the rear to respond and balance things out. It's ok once you get used to it, and a good (and wise) driver will know when the car is reaching its traction limitations, but otherwise, it provides a false sense of security (zero roll) and a less experienced driver would easily exceed the car's handling threshold and lose it unintentionally. No probs if you're a race car driver but ....

In conclusion, I have mixed feelings about the sway bar. It's difficult to go back to a stock set up once you've driven the car in the new stable and well, much faster mode. But it comes at price - safety !! ..and you'd have to drive it carefully in the wet because who knows where that traction threshold is in wet conditions."

[Guy_H]

It will be hard to test - I would have hoped that Whiteline would have already tested it.

Yes but whiteline designed the RSB to compliment the rest of the car without making any other mods. I understand if you don't want to recommend them to your customers but the way it is read here is if you put a rsb on your car your going to have an off, no questions asked.

Do they also make a front swaybar too? how do they reason that adding one on the rear makes athe Polo perfect & adding one on the front would make it dangerous again? - I really stand by my comment, regardless of driver experience.

I suppose the best test would be having to do a lane change at 100kmph - they do this at the large vehicle maneuvering area at Mount Cotton - those who have done the SDT days (level 2) would have experienced this.

This is something that could happen to any driver on the highway at any time, those who have done it know that a stock polo will BARELY make this lane change with an experienced driver - the ESP goes nuts & shuts the cars down in an effort to keep it in a straight line.

How many people here have had to do an emergency lane change at highway speeds in a Polo GTI ? (either in real life or at driver training?) - I know I have, & certainly Sam, Eddy and quite a few others that have done the SDT days.

Maybe we should start a poll on that

I also agree that chipping some cars (Polo) can also make them a handful to an inexperienced pilot. I suppose the only saving grace is the brakes, as poor as they can be at times, will at least pull you up from high speeds well once (generally not time & time again).

And a lot of it all comes back to driver training for the L plates, they just don't teach you accident avoidance when you get your "L" plates do they? (Its been a long, long time since I got my "L" plates )

[Timbo]

It will be hard to test - I would have hoped that Whiteline would have already tested it.

Do they also make a front swaybar too? how do they reason that adding one on the rear makes athe Polo perfect & adding one on the front would make it dangerous again?

AFAIK, Whiteline undertake quite considerable testing, but I'll let them or their agents respond, if they choose to.

Yes, they make a 22mm front, either fixed or adjustable; the rear is 20mm and again the choice is fixed or adjustable. Adding one to the front just dials back in some understeer, so it's "safe" (although if you've ever experienced the plough understeer of a HQ Kingswood or most 4WDs, how it can be described as "safe" eludes me ). Personally, I wouldn't bother although I would simply comment that replacing the stock front bar with an adjustable one at least gives more options.

As to that manoeuvre...have you tried it in a Porsche 911?

[Guy_H]

As to that manoeuvre...have you tried it in a Porsche 911?

You mean a "widow maker" yes I have. Give me a 997 Turbo with lots of electronics any day

[Flaps]

I would have hoped that Whiteline would have already tested it.

Since my car(ex Ash's) was the 'test' car for WL sway bars on a Polo, I doubt it.

[insanekiwi]

I had rears fitted first, and liked the better 'turn in' response. Did have one scary episode of almost having snap oversteer on windy road.

Now I have fitted the front sway bar (whiteline) as well, and feel the car is more balanced. It won't try to oversteer like before, but feels more controllable, able to corner with more confidence and knowing what to expect...

I am happy with both front and back. Track day was only done with both fitted, and the car felt really balanced and never felt unsafe at any point. Never felt the snap oversteer either with it.

[GT3]

Apparantly this is Timbo and MACCAA in action testing the WL RSB. As you can see, no snap-oversteer

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5rpMzE...eature=related

..and WL gave the thumbs up after seeing how well the RSB worked on this Polo:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9QVL7k...eature=related

[GTIJNR]

On the negative side -
but otherwise, it provides a false sense of security (zero roll) and a less experienced driver would easily exceed the car's handling threshold and lose it unintentionally.
and you'd have to drive it carefully in the wet because who knows where that traction threshold is in wet conditions."
[/I]

When its snap oversteer depending who drive what and doing whatever i rather b safe than sorry... i rather slam a wall slightly head on "under under" than wack it side way or in the asss "over...SH*&T over"... wierd huh, may be i'm unexperienced lol.
its a cheap mod and great value for money but on high speed or uncontrolled public (wet)road ... dunno
and y making ur rear end more dependent like?

[GTIJNR]

I would definitely put a RSB on to have fun on a track but will REMOVE it for every day else i'm on public road...