E60 H&R Anti-Roll bar adjustment

[ess530i]

just found out that the h&r anti roll bars are adjustable and i had the chance to adjust them during my last visit to the workshopthe front bars have two holes (stiff & loose setting)the rear bars have three holes (stiff, medium & loose setting)orignal setting when i installed the bars: front (stiff) + rear (medium) = perfectly balanced handling but slightly uncomfortable on the rearalternate setting 1: front (loose) + rear (loose) = comfortable but car drives like a boat, even worse than before installing the bigger anti-roll bars. plenty of under & oveer steer. pointless settingalternate setting 2 (current): front (stiff) + rear (stiff) = almost no difference with original settings in term of comfort & handlin performance. however the mechanic cautioned that having too stiff anti-roll bars may cause a part of the chassis to break under heavy load...can someone confirm this?my conclusion: no point having adjustable anti-roll bars coz the comfort setting drives like shitlet me have your comments guys...

 

[turbology]

however the mechanic cautioned that having too stiff anti-roll bars may cause a part of the chassis to break under heavy load...can someone confirm this?

my conclusion: no point having adjustable anti-roll bars coz the comfort setting drives like shit

let me have your comments guys...

LOL. No!!
It will not cause chasis problem.
Maybe the mount for the anti-roll bars will come loose. No problem if torque correctly.

Stiffer setting should be the most inner hole, and softer setting should be the outside one. (harder to bend on inside hole)

At the original settting ( F-stiff R-medium), you says your rear is slightly uncomfortable. How so ?
Please understand that anti-roll bar only work when the car is under centrifugal force.
If you travel in straght line, example on highways, anti-roll bar are not doing anything(almost), and shouldn't affect comfort unless you hit bumps

 

[ess530i]

LOL. No!!
It will not cause chasis problem.
Maybe the mount for the anti-roll bars will come loose. No problem if torque correctly.

Stiffer setting should be the most inner hole, and softer setting should be the outside one. (harder to bend on inside hole)

At the original settting ( F-stiff R-medium), you says your rear is slightly uncomfortable. How so ?
Please understand that anti-roll bar only work when the car is under centrifugal force.
If you travel in straght line, example on highways, anti-roll bar are not doing anything(almost), and shouldn't affect comfort unless you hit bumps

yes the inner hole mounting will produce stiffer setting & u're right dat in straight line (even road) the bars have no effect on comfort but msian roads r made of about 50% uneven road & bumps & dats where i felt the effect...

btw i still wonder whats the outer holes (loose setting) for...

 

[B33mEr]

yes the inner hole mounting will produce stiffer setting & u're right dat in straight line (even road) the bars have no effect on comfort but msian roads r made of about 50% uneven road & bumps & dats where i felt the effect...

btw i still wonder whats the outer holes (loose setting) for...

Gurus ... pls correct me if i'm wrong ... so here goes Front (loose) + Rear (stiff) = will promote oversteer especially if you have a staggered setup like mine front 225 rear 255. dats why H&R have a loose setting whereby you can adjust and set what feels right for you

Strut bars are more or less d same thing but it's more for steering responsiveness and stability i.e. swerving at 120kmh to avoid collision with a bloody kembara dat suddenly want to make a u turn ...

 

[turbology]

Strut bars are more or less d same thing but it's more for steering responsiveness and stability i.e. swerving at 120kmh to avoid collision with a bloody kembara dat suddenly want to make a u turn ...

How is the strut bars "more or less the same" ????!!
Does strut bars modify camber, toe, or caster of a wheel ? NO!
If no, how it help "steering responsiveness"

The job of the strut bar is too reduce/maintain chassis flex during centrifugal load , thus providing a more rigid chassis to let suspension do it job.

Same thing for struct brace, lower body brace, etc etc. To avoid chassis/body flex.

ess530i : In your case, the only way to improve you comfort are 1. reduce your rear struts thickness 2. softer spring/damper
or yet, ask your passenger to ride a cab. LOL
This might sound weird, have you try soft+medium setting for you rear ? Yes, 1 side is softer, the other side is medium (or hard). Giving more flex to your anti-roll bar will help comfort.
Front : stiff-stiff
Rear: medium-soft ( or hard-soft )
How thick is your rear bar ? how thick is the ori ?

 

[B33mEr]

How is the strut bars "more or less the same" ????!!
Does strut bars modify camber, toe, or caster of a wheel ? NO!
If no, how it help "steering responsiveness"

The job of the strut bar is too reduce/maintain chassis flex during centrifugal load , thus providing a more rigid chassis to let suspension do it job.

Same thing for struct brace, lower body brace, etc etc. To avoid chassis/body flex.

err ... i'm talking from experience and my understanding. Bro if d vehicles is more rigid does it not make d chassis more responsive to steering inputs??? sharper and quicker turn-ins as a result of a stiffer chassis ???

 

[loafer]

By reducing chassis flex, your cars handling characteristics improve. Both the strut brace and ARB works by applying a similar concept which is by reducing flexing under centrifugal load. In the ARB's case it is a torsion bar which is resisting body roll motions and is connected to your suspension bits.

Less chassis flex = improved handling for your vehicle = better steering response.

What B33mer said is correct.

 

[turbology]

ARB and strut bar are not the same, and does not apply "similar concept"
For some vehicles, especially newer one, it has improved design on strut tower which make a strut bar pretty much useless.
To improve steering respone, one should also look at tires (sidewall stiffness, thickness, compound), springs, tires pressure, damper settings, camber and toe settings and etc.

 

[B33mEr]

ARB and strut bar are not the same, and does not apply "similar concept"
For some vehicles, especially newer one, it has improved design on strut tower which make a strut bar pretty much useless.
To improve steering respone, one should also look at tires (sidewall stiffness, thickness, compound), springs, tires pressure, damper settings, camber and toe settings and etc.

Errr ... bro never did i say strut bars is d end to all solutions when it comes to improve handling. it is one part to many variables and variation in a car possible to make a car better in handling and responsiveness. If you have strut bars which i'm sure you have installed in your ride... take it off and do a slalom test then put it back on and repeat d test. I'm sure you will agree d struts do improve in terms of handling dynamics and steering response of your car

 

[initialM]

interesting discussion here.

 

[arifferio]

strut bar = chassis strengthening component to support suspension to reduce chassis flex.
anti roll bar/sway bar = increase suspension roll stiffness n resistance to body roll in.
both increase car handling by reducing delay in steering response.

upgrading both parts...u will only feel the different when attacking corner at high speed....
straight road...i think it wont improve much.... more depending to suspension setup it self...
saya punya 2 kupang...