Axle rubbing sway bar

[AbuNigel]

Hey guys

So i brought the bug down a few threads to have it sitting right for the summer, and I'm having some minor rubbing issues once again.

I seem to rub the passenger side axle on the sway bar when i do full or nearly full right turns.

I know all the options with adjustable endlinks, cutting the sway bar out, getting an aftermarket sway bar, even grinding down a part of the sway bar.

It doesn't even quite rub depending on the incline of the ground I'm driving on, so i feel like it has to be just barely rubbing when it does... Although the noise is not pleasant...

I just don't want to break an axle. Doesn't sound too cool.
There is a ring of rust on the axle where it rubs the sway bar. But idk how much the integrity of the axle is actually being compromised. It's not slamming anything, and the rub is infrequent and at very slow speeds when it does occur. I can usually manage most of my driving maneuvers without turning to that extent. Plus I'm going to raise it up at the end of the summer again.

I don't think i'm that low (24.25" I believe) so I feel like i shouldn't be having to worry about much, but I don't want to end up feeling like I was an idiot for something I did or didn't do..

HALP!!! lol

[MiG]

What does it sound like?
Do you have or can you take any pictures of the point of contact?
How low is that 24.25" anyway? Where are you measuring from?
My bug is pretty low (coilovers) and I don't have any rubbin' . . yet!

One more question. lol
Do you hear anything when your on a stand still and if you turn your wheels?

Sorry, I killed you with the questions!

[SMG]

1.8T GTI's and Jettas had swaybars that were much more accomodating for the axles when lowered. 2.0's and TDI's got a crappier one that rubs like crazy when you reach a certain ride height.

I had a Neuspeed one in my 2.0 for a few years but last year switching to air ride I was too low even for that swaybar so I just run without now.

[AbuNigel]

how is it without one? Some say no difference some say it's the worst thing in the world.. the vortex for you, right?

I don't autox or anything...obviously...
But if i bring it up a bit while i'm at school and my parents are driving I don't want to have really compromised anything for their driving experience etc.

Worst case scenario and I just run with it and rub here and there, are my axles really in danger? Idk how sturdy these things are, if it's already old and I should get a new one anyway or what..

Ugh this stuff is so stressful...

[SMG]

I forgot to say in addition to what I said about GTI's and Jettas that I assume they are also different on the 1.8T NB vs the 2.0 and TDI. That's where I was going with that...

I notice no difference with the front swaybar out, but I'm running a skidplate and some people have suggested that running a front skidplate stiffens up the front end as much as a swaybar does. That makes perfect sense to me considering the skidplate is completely boxing up the subframe and it's made of solid metal. I never really understood how a swaybar that used plastic endlinks with rubber bushings ever did much of anything anyway.

Axles are pretty tough but they won't put up with bouncing off anything for long. When the axle hits the swaybar it's being stopped dead while still being pushed upward and since the axle shaft isn't going to bend the CV joint takes the hit.

[AbuNigel]

yea, well it rubs, not on the top of the sway bar loop (I know some people have this problem,) but rather, when i'm doing a tight turn it rubs on the inside of the front of the loop kind of.
So it's not something that HITS when i hit a bump or something, more it gradually comes closer and closer and eventually comes into contact and proceeds to rub.

Maybe this is what you're assuming. But i wouldn't describe my problem as that the axle is bouncing off or having any real sudden contact.

[Zuri]

I'm having a somewhat similar problem. Rubbing of what I assume is my axle to swaybar. I put adjustable swaybar end links on, and after some adjusting there's still some rubbing noise. But my noise is mostly heard if I'm going 40mph+ around curves in the road or doing really sharp turns such as parking.

It's just taking me some time to figure this problem out...and my NB is only lowered 1". Hoping it's not noise due to something else.



...going to keep an eye on this thread to see what others may have to say.

[lenswerks]

I am 25-1/2 floor to fender, which is 14" from center of my hub to fender. ~1-1/2 lowered with springs. Anything lower than that from all that I have read will have the potential for SB hitting axle. I read this in the install instructions for KW coilovers and other install instructions.

I am putting on H&R SB in a week so that I can go lower, installing KW coilovers at the same time.

I recommend you get a H&R sway bar and be done with it. You have to drop the sub-frame to do it. But once done you'll be set and not have to worry about it. If you're like me and don't have the desire to do this yourself, I think most dealers would charge ~100$ for the install. I would get some better end links as well.

[AbuNigel]

yea, i want to keep an eye out for an H&R or hotchkis sway bar, as that would be ideal. New they are just so expensive though and they go really fast on the vortex so it's kinda tricky =\

Luckily though I feel like I may be able to do the install myself so that would lighten costs a little...

[AbuNigel]

still need HALP!!

VWVortex.com - H&R/Nuespeed sway bar

[Fl_bug]

Originally Posted by AbuNigel

still need HALP!!

VWVortex.com - H&R/Nuespeed sway bar

Just take it out. People say your car will ride like crap afterwards, but for 95% of driving, its perfectly fine without it. Says me and about 8 other cars in my local club that has been without them for years.

Your choices are either raising the car, removing the swaybar, or removing the swaybar and replacing it with another one with a larger whoop thingy.

My vote, remove it for now and later down the road if you feel you need it, put it on. But for now, take it off or raise the car to save your axles. The first thing to go will be your CV boots. If they rip, don't bother buying new ones, just save up for new axles right then and there. That has happened to 90% of people with swaybar rub, including myself, but i raised my car back up.

[AbuNigel]

well i bring the car up for my parents while i'm at school, and I've heard driving without a sway is fine when lowered, but not cool at normal ride height =\

I think I might buy a brand new H&R 22mm sway and brand new VF endlinks off this guy for $250 all together.

I just wish someone could provide me a picture or something to confirm that the HR sway will provide the proper clearance I need

But yea, it doesn't rub THAT much, FL. Most of the time i can avoid turning the wheel to that extent, and when I don't have a passenger it doesn't seem to do it.

Also I saw yesterday that the passenger side is slightly lower than the driver's. So I think I'll raise it up just a few threads. I think I overestimated the additional driver side weight when I was adjusting my coils. I left some extra thread on the driver side, but it seems like they will be best at the exact same adjustment.

I'll see :P

[lenswerks]

I don't have a photo, my floor jack is on loan, but do have a H&R 26mm front SB installed and sitting 24-3/4 in the front without any rubbing. Also using the ECS adjustable end links. You mentioned you were sitting at 24-1/4, so not sure what the result would be for you. If I were that low I'm pretty sure my tire would be touching the strut.

What size are your wheels and tires?

[FastAndFurious]

When i use to run coilovers on my beetle i upgraded to a H&R anti sway bar, allowed to drop the car without rubbing on the axle. I have since upgraded to air suspension and got rid of the sway bar, and i dont notice that much difference without it.

Honestly just take the damn sway bar out and drive it like that, its not going to make a difference if your that low that your axle was rubbing on sway bar in the first place, the lower you go the stiffer the car is going to be and if you have damping adjustable coilovers, i would suggest you set them at stiffest setting. Too low, and any kind of play in the suspension components will put you at higher risk of breaking the drivers side axle. Ive broken my drivers side axle 3 times before upgrading to DSS level 1 which has held up really well. Depending on milage I'd do a front suspension refresh kit to keep things nice and tight and get rid of sway bar, which is pretty useless when the subframe hangs 2-3 inches off the floor anyway.

[Wingnut_rb]

Just take off your endlinks and tie your sway bar ends up out of the way with tie wire and drive it a couple of miles to see if you like the difference in ride. If you don't like it, throw the endlinks back in. If you like it, take the sway bar out. Saves the hassle of R&R if your not happy.

[MiG]

Originally Posted by Wingnut_rb

Just take off your endlinks and tie your sway bar ends up out of the way with tie wire and drive it a couple of miles to see if you like the difference in ride. If you don't like it, throw the endlinks back in. If you like it, take the sway bar out. Saves the hassle of R&R if your not happy.

Good tip!

[SMG]

Excellent tip. You won't notice a difference.