<VV> Z-Bar on a 63

[Tony Underwood]

At 11:35 AM 1/22/2007, tkalp at cox.net wrote:
>So,  what is the advantage of a Z bar over the U shaped bar?



The early 'Vair suspension with swing axles benefits from a z-bar via 
its providing camber compensation and transferring body roll to the 
front of the car.   It helps keep both rear tires planted on the 
pavement by allowing the rear of the car to "roll" axially.   It 
*does* depend on a stiff front sway bar to keep everything on the 
straight and narrow.

You could say that a z-bar behaves exactly opposite of a standard 
anti-roll sway bar.   Early Porsches and VWs had their choice of 
z-bar aftermarket offerings.   I'd like to check out an installation 
of such on an early 'Vair.

...I've also given some thoughts to how well a modified early 'Vair 
would do with a ZRS suspension... not only simpler but it's lighter, 
only requires a single shock and spring (ala horizontal strut) but it 
provides almost infinite roll center-transfer to the front.    Makes 
me wonder where to go looking for the right spring-shock combo, 
although the z-bar in an early would likely be less work to install.

Ya see...  there's this '63 Spyder ragtop project here under a cover, 
with the rear suspension assembly already out of it, waiting for 
spring.    I'd be curious as to what can be done with it.   And, 
obviously I'd be foolish not to stand on the shoulders of those who 
already did most of the hard work.



tony..