Hey I know you mention @5:47 that the Eurosport X brace does not clear 02a/02j. Just FYI - I run a Gokraut X-Brace on my 1.8t mk1 w/ 02A and it clears just fine. Love the x-brace.
KenBaby14 thanks for the info! i’ve heard conflicting answers on this over the years but more and more starting to hear they work with the newer transmissions, gonna go ahead and pin this comment to the top 🤘🏻🤘🏻
I have yet to find a video that is this informative, much appreciated. My dad just retired and is planning on gifting me old work truck, a Mk1 Caddy. I appreciate the info. I know it’s an old post but it’s really informative. thank you
In my opinion the K-bar alone is probably the best suspension upgrade you can do an a Mk1-platform car. In europe thesecame standart on all convertibles and mk2 Sciroccos that left the factory on 15"-wheels. In some german documents Volkswagen also mandates the K-brace in case you want to legalize 15"-wheels or bigger on a car that came with 13" or 14"-rims. Over here there were also two different sizes of front sway-bars and three different sizes for the rear twist-beam axle. The biggest front bar only came on the Caddy pick-up truck. The smaller one was introduced for the mk1 GTI, but can also be found in many late model convertibles and Sciroccos with 1.8l 8V engines. The smallest 18mm rear-bar is said to have come standart on non-GLI Jettas, which didn't had a front bar. The medium 21mm-bar came on all cars that had the small front sway-bar, the big 23,5mm-rear bar only came on the rare Scirocco 16V. Anti-roll-bars don't work if the car has barely any suspension travel or super stiff spring. That's why some track-drivers and some cars that ride super low don't have them. I retrofitted the "GTI-setup" to my mk1 Golf combined with Eibach Pro-Kit springs and noticed significantly less body roll in fast corners with the sway bars than without. Fromt lifting the car on jackstands I can tell that the front strut bar is reducing body flex, but personally didn't notice any difference while driving. Also there are many different types on the market that might differ in their effectiveness. Mine is a "straight beam with tabs"-style made from aluminium by Matter in 1982. At least in the german community barely anyone is driving rear strut bars anymore. They mess up the sheet metal, barely reduce body flex and don't stiffen up the rear suspension at all, since the upper mounts of the rear struts are mounted fully flexible. Back in the day people bought complete kits with front and rear braces and a simple bolt-in roll cage from companies like Wiechers for amateur racing, but these guys have mostly switched to fully welded in roll cages nowdays. Sadly the X-braces do not exist over here. Some years ago on the german mk1-forum we discussed on how to make them. I did some research and was quite suprized that you could already buy them from off the shelf in the US. And you are right about the loss in comfort that comes in with poly-bushes. I replaced the front control arm ones, all sway-bar bushings and the rear axle main-bushes with the stuff from Energy-suspension. It made the car rattle like crazy and enormously unpleseant to drive on bad roads. Since there are alot of bad roads in my area I probably wouldn't do this again.
thank you very much for taking the time to write that all up! always cool to hear these types of things that differ by region/country. i definitely think the rear swaybar is somewhat pointless on all the mk1's other than the pickups. there's just far too much flex and movement back there due to the leaf spring design. the rabbits and gti's all seem to be much tighter in the back making any additional or upgraded swaybar kinda unnecessary, and in some cases a downgrade.
The biggest upgrade I found of these was a front lower chassis leg brace, I made one from some scrap steel, took about 20 mins to fab and weld up. cost less than $5. just a simple bar from one side to the other. the front top strut brace i also made and it did help but not as noticeable as the lower.
Great video man, I'll definitely be looking for an X Brace and front sway bar for my Rabbit Pickup. I'm pretty sure I have a strut tower bar somewhere...
Fabio Silva yeah man x brace is a great way to go as long as as you’ve got the ground clearance. if you have trouble getting a eurosport one, id hit up s&p even if you’re running an 020 trans. whatever he’s working up should still provide the same gains 👌🏻
Hello from Portugal Thanks for showing the bars, in particular the power ones.I’m going Oto loja here in Europe but i don’t think Tietê will be like these. I have a Vw golf GTI mk1 1.8 16
Could you please let me know what is the thickness and the diameter of the still pipe on that cross-bar. It is hard to get in in my area and i would like to make it. Does anybody have any dimensions /drawing for it?
I just picked up a Eurosport xbrace. I was underneath doing exhaust work and did a mock with the xbrace up. Do I need to get new or longer hardware to install?
no your factory hardware should work. just make sure it’s all in good health and that the nuts on the rear of the control arms have completely threaded. the front control arm bolts are plenty long to accommodate.
absolutely! one of the best parts about these cars is that despite their low power(even the gas motors leave something to be desired) is their handling more than makes up for it. why not make it better?
What do you mean "you people"? Lol!!! I've a 1.7 engine on my 4 door stock Rabbit; is there any difference depending on the what engine a car has if I want to install a sway bar? Thanks! (subscribing right now)
Jesus Camarillo-Reyes thanks! still chasing an elusive spark issue and with other factors i don’t anticipate a great year for it but still hope to get som POV videos and whatnot with it.
Hey I know you mention @5:47 that the Eurosport X brace does not clear 02a/02j. Just FYI - I run a Gokraut X-Brace on my 1.8t mk1 w/ 02A and it clears just fine. Love the x-brace.
KenBaby14 thanks for the info! i’ve heard conflicting answers on this over the years but more and more starting to hear they work with the newer transmissions, gonna go ahead and pin this comment to the top 🤘🏻🤘🏻
@@mk1rabbithole No problem! I'll send a pic over next time I have it on the lift so you can get an idea of clearance.
Autotech made the original triangulated lower brace with a single cross bar before the Eurosport. I got a few back in the 90s for my pickup and Jetta.
I have yet to find a video that is this informative, much appreciated. My dad just retired and is planning on gifting me old work truck, a Mk1 Caddy.
I appreciate the info.
I know it’s an old post but it’s really informative. thank you
In my opinion the K-bar alone is probably the best suspension upgrade you can do an a Mk1-platform car. In europe thesecame standart on all convertibles and mk2 Sciroccos that left the factory on 15"-wheels. In some german documents Volkswagen also mandates the K-brace in case you want to legalize 15"-wheels or bigger on a car that came with 13" or 14"-rims.
Over here there were also two different sizes of front sway-bars and three different sizes for the rear twist-beam axle. The biggest front bar only came on the Caddy pick-up truck. The smaller one was introduced for the mk1 GTI, but can also be found in many late model convertibles and Sciroccos with 1.8l 8V engines. The smallest 18mm rear-bar is said to have come standart on non-GLI Jettas, which didn't had a front bar. The medium 21mm-bar came on all cars that had the small front sway-bar, the big 23,5mm-rear bar only came on the rare Scirocco 16V.
Anti-roll-bars don't work if the car has barely any suspension travel or super stiff spring. That's why some track-drivers and some cars that ride super low don't have them.
I retrofitted the "GTI-setup" to my mk1 Golf combined with Eibach Pro-Kit springs and noticed significantly less body roll in fast corners with the sway bars than without.
Fromt lifting the car on jackstands I can tell that the front strut bar is reducing body flex, but personally didn't notice any difference while driving. Also there are many different types on the market that might differ in their effectiveness. Mine is a "straight beam with tabs"-style made from aluminium by Matter in 1982.
At least in the german community barely anyone is driving rear strut bars anymore. They mess up the sheet metal, barely reduce body flex and don't stiffen up the rear suspension at all, since the upper mounts of the rear struts are mounted fully flexible. Back in the day people bought complete kits with front and rear braces and a simple bolt-in roll cage from companies like Wiechers for amateur racing, but these guys have mostly switched to fully welded in roll cages nowdays.
Sadly the X-braces do not exist over here. Some years ago on the german mk1-forum we discussed on how to make them. I did some research and was quite suprized that you could already buy them from off the shelf in the US.
And you are right about the loss in comfort that comes in with poly-bushes. I replaced the front control arm ones, all sway-bar bushings and the rear axle main-bushes with the stuff from Energy-suspension. It made the car rattle like crazy and enormously unpleseant to drive on bad roads. Since there are alot of bad roads in my area I probably wouldn't do this again.
thank you very much for taking the time to write that all up! always cool to hear these types of things that differ by region/country. i definitely think the rear swaybar is somewhat pointless on all the mk1's other than the pickups. there's just far too much flex and movement back there due to the leaf spring design. the rabbits and gti's all seem to be much tighter in the back making any additional or upgraded swaybar kinda unnecessary, and in some cases a downgrade.
The biggest upgrade I found of these was a front lower chassis leg brace, I made one from some scrap steel, took about 20 mins to fab and weld up. cost less than $5. just a simple bar from one side to the other. the front top strut brace i also made and it did help but not as noticeable as the lower.
hell yeah, any little bit helps on these tin cans. they flex more than people realize.
I have zero suspension mods apart from cheepo lowering springs/shocks and 15" wheels. Some corners get pretty scary 😂 Got to get on this
For a road car. The lower front struts brace .doesn’t it make the road feel better or worse
All the way from South Africa, many thanks for this awesome content. And explanation on all stabilizer bars and shay bars,
Liked subscribed. 💯🔥
i appreciate you and your support!
Hell, Isghaaq Jines. Do we have local manufactures of these stabilizaers and shay bars. I need them for my MK1 velocity
Good video! Thx, never knew there was a rear anti sway bar for the caddy. Now I know cheers
glad to help man! its a game changer if you're chasing some handling tweaks.
Great video man, I'll definitely be looking for an X Brace and front sway bar for my Rabbit Pickup. I'm pretty sure I have a strut tower bar somewhere...
Fabio Silva yeah man x brace is a great way to go as long as as you’ve got the ground clearance. if you have trouble getting a eurosport one, id hit up s&p even if you’re running an 020 trans. whatever he’s working up should still provide the same gains 👌🏻
Hello from Portugal
Thanks for showing the bars, in particular the power ones.I’m going Oto loja here in Europe but i don’t think Tietê will be like these. I have a Vw golf GTI mk1 1.8 16
Sorry
Vw Golf mk1 1.816v engine.
I have Tó See if they can be used with this engine.
Best regards
Mário
my eurosport x brace clears my 1.8Tw/ 02j just fine on the mk1
Could you please let me know what is the thickness and the diameter of the still pipe on that cross-bar. It is hard to get in in my area and i would like to make it. Does anybody have any dimensions /drawing for it?
I recently picked up the front and rear Neuspeed sway bars with the heim joints in decent shape but cannot find the brackets for them.
yeah the brackets always seem to be a bit tricky to find. nice score finding both front and rear though!
Big thanks for the product links!!
I just picked up a Eurosport xbrace. I was underneath doing exhaust work and did a mock with the xbrace up. Do I need to get new or longer hardware to install?
no your factory hardware should work. just make sure it’s all in good health and that the nuts on the rear of the control arms have completely threaded. the front control arm bolts are plenty long to accommodate.
@@mk1rabbithole you’re the man.
Do you believe that this would work well for the stock diesel rabbits?
absolutely! one of the best parts about these cars is that despite their low power(even the gas motors leave something to be desired) is their handling more than makes up for it. why not make it better?
Where can I get you man I need that on my Mk1
What do you mean "you people"? Lol!!! I've a 1.7 engine on my 4 door stock Rabbit; is there any difference depending on the what engine a car has if I want to install a sway bar? Thanks! (subscribing right now)
Congrats on the 1K subscribers. Get a bit of ads going for a few bucks for future videos 👍
thanks man!! appreciate all the support big time. channel is under review to start all that, should be a few days.
Great info the truck is awesome
Jesus Camarillo-Reyes thanks! still chasing an elusive spark issue and with other factors i don’t anticipate a great year for it but still
hope to get som POV videos and whatnot with it.
Precio amigo
Thanks for an informative vid..
Michael Bonner and thanks for the continued support!
You think that is chassis reinforcement?
Check out this chassis brace.
m.ua-cam.com/video/dEjutnq0hqA/v-deo.html
Transformed the truck.
now i’m fully convinced you only subscribe and comment on my videos to assert how much more right you are about things.