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In case anyone is interested in reducing the roll of the car (especially those with the coil spring conversions), I just installed an uprated Korean made front Anti Roll Bar in my XJR and it really reduced the body roll of the car. The ride seems to be slightly stiffer than before, but I prefer it that way.
The ARB comes with a set of Polyurethane bushes and it was strongly recommended that these be lubricated properly preferably with IPD Aqualube Sway Bar Grease. It's probably too early to say for certain but up to now ( 2weeks), there has been no noise from the PU bushes. This was, to me, a really worthwhile modification. I am looking forward to having the uprated rear anti roll bar installed too, but that has to wait for my planned Quaife differential upgrade one day.
I didn't note down the dimensions of the ARB, but it was much heavier than the stock bar. The dimensions can be found in this thread, which was where I got the contact from.
I'll be very interested to see a "total package" review, once the rear bar is installed.
I will certainly put it up once the rear is installed, but I think that will still be while away since I have to sort out my Quaife differential first and install both together.
Thanks for the info klfong. Any chance of more pics, or detailed write up on the install? I have a mid rise lift, engine support bar, and am no novice on repairs, but this is my first cat...
Thanks for the info klfong. Any chance of more pics, or detailed write up on the install? I have a mid rise lift, engine support bar, and am no novice on repairs, but this is my first cat...
Sorry, all work done by my indy. I just pays the money...... Have a look at Cambo's suggestions. It was really worth it though. Now waiting for my rear diff conversion which will be when my rear uprated bar goes in....
One thing we all need to keep in mind when it comes to sway-bar and it's stiffness. Just realize the larger the sway-bar resistance, (bigger bar) the less independent the suspension becomes, and the more the influence of wheel jounce is transmitted to the non-affected, opposite side wheel, reducing traction, especially in cornering.
Having said that, there comes a point where you start to affect DSC and what it expects in vehicle dynamics in it's control of the vehicle. Also, when you replace struts with Arnott for example, you also lose the ability of DSC to stiffen up the shocks during hard turns.
yeah...I know what a sway bar does. Ive replaced with stiffer ones in my Audi, my Mercedes, my Alfa, and my Saab. Further, I've ditched the air suspension in my XJR for strutmaster coilovers. As most people who have gone the coilover route will tell you....increased body roll is a result. I don't have a VDP, I bought an XJR. Pillow ride is not what im looking for.
yeah...I know what a sway bar does. Ive replaced with stiffer ones in my Audi, my Mercedes, my Alfa, and my Saab. Further, I've ditched the air suspension in my XJR for strutmaster coilovers. As most people who have gone the coilover route will tell you....increased body roll is a result. I don't have a VDP, I bought an XJR. Pillow ride is not what im looking for.
I'm glad to hear it. Jaguar does actually know a little something about vehicle dynamics. When you remove the Bilsteins, you lose the advantage of variable shock rates, and the ability for the yaw sensor to compensate, either front/rear or left/right damping from 30/70 to 80/20 to stabilize roll. Of course changing the suspension brings it's own problems. But the fact still remains that the stiffer the roll bar, the less independent the suspension becomes. I don't mind I-beam suspensions, they have their place, (like on a truck) but it isn't really appropriate, and can in effect, decrease traction during cornering, not improve it, and can cause either understeer or oversteer by improper coupling.
Last year, I replaced the originals (115k/12yr old) with Bilstein B4's and was pleasantly impressed with how the cornering dynamics improved with new shocks.
Sorry, not from me yet. I haven't gotten my Quaife differential sorted out yet so the rear anti-roll bar hasn't gone in yet, but I'm very happy with the improvement with just the front bar. Much better than the original Jaguar XJR unit for cornering when you've changed to coil-springs. I estimate I should get the rear bar done maybe by mid to late 2017, together with my Quaife differential hopefully.
Maybe someone else can comment if anyone else has tried this.
Can you tell more of a handling character of the car now? Is it still oversteer or it became more neutral now? Which tyre size and compound/treadwear you are using now? I guess increased rear bar will get you back to stock behaviour plus added quife let you drift in every corner i think This car handles great and feels like a golf car but sometimes looses too much tire contact because of heavy roll, not speaking of "transitions lag" when you move this boat from one board to another)
Can you tell more of a handling character of the car now? Is it still oversteer or it became more neutral now? Which tyre size and compound/treadwear you are using now? I guess increased rear bar will get you back to stock behaviour plus added quife let you drift in every corner i think This car handles great and feels like a golf car but sometimes looses too much tire contact because of heavy roll, not speaking of "transitions lag" when you move this boat from one board to another)
The main effect that I notice now, with the front anti-roll bar in only (the back is still waiting for my Quaife unit to go in, hopefully soon since it has arrived.....) is a very significant reduction in body roll after I did the coil spring conversion previously. It now handles so much better (flatter) than with the original anti-roll bar + the Arnott's coil springs, and I dare say even better than with the original sports air-springs with the CATS.
I don't really notice the understeer (but then I'm used to comparing it with my 1992 AWD Mitsubishi GTO TT VR4 which, in it's original form, had quite a bit of understeer). I'm looking forward to having the Quaife , and the rear ARB put in soon :-)
Ok, the rear ARB finally went in. The car does feel more balanced but the effect of the rear bar was not as clearly felt by me as compared to the effect when I first put in the uprated front ARB. The car does corner very nicely and very flat now and it is really quite "chuckable" and yet, it gives a comfortable ride and is not "hard" as my Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4.
I'm not sure how much of this handling improvement is also contributed by the Quaife that also went in at the same time, and also I had all my rear suspension bushes/arms changed as they were very worn. The car really feels like new now and handles really well. I think this was one of the most significant handling upgrades that I put into the car. i feel it is really worth doing, especially for those who converted to coil springs.
This closes my suspension chapter of modifications.... now if only the twin scroll was still available....:-)
Maybe I'm way off here but has anyone tried to just slide the bar out the side after removing the bushing brackets? Could it be possible to angle it out?