Rear anti roll bar rapid 136

[rob w]

Hi

My brothers birthday is coming up.

He wants a rear anti roll bar for his modified rapid 136.

In keeping with the rest of the car, any one know of either another car that has one that will fit, and can get from scrappy.

Or, in we have to some where to buy one.

[hawkeracing]

Bad news ......there is nothing available off the shelf and even the works rally team back in the day never fitted them. I have been unable to find one to buy. There is the odd picture or two on skodavirt of people who have made them and custom fitted them but its not straightforward

[Leeboy]

I might be wrong but is it not the case that for sorted suspension you stick the roll bar on the axle that isn't driven, ie front wheels on rear drive and rear on front drive. If I'm speaking dribble, excuse me...

[hawkeracing]

Best not to run a front  roll bar at all on Estelle/Rapids - it just induces understeer.......I guess a rear one would balance that out but I can't say for sure as I haven't tried.....I don't run a front one on Snotty and the handling is neutral.

[rob w]

Thanks for suggestions. I will try one from a Fabia mk1. It seems to be same diameter between inside of suspension.

[Bonhoff]

I'm with Hawkeracing - We didn't run a front ARB on our stage rally cars either.

[hawkeracing]

Thanks for suggestions. I will try one from a Fabia mk1. It seems to be same diameter between inside of suspension.

 

I have no idea whether a Fabia one will fit or not, but you need to have a plan because you're going to have to fabricate. The ones I've seen mount on the rear trailing arms on either side and then mount to a plate attached to the gearbox crossmember. No drop links or anything like that....no room for them as there isn't a great deal of ground clearance.

Everyone who has posted has suggested not to bother......maybe a bit of a pointer!

[Acco72]

Go with what hawkeracing says, he knows his stuff! (I haven't stumped him yet......!!)

[Kieranzxt]

Peter you are a changed man! When I said I ran the s100 without an arb you were in disbelief!

[hawkeracing]

Peter you are a changed man! When I said I ran the s100 without an arb you were in disbelief!

 

That was 4 years ago....lots of scientific experimentation has happened since then......and much stiffer springs. I would add roll bars to both ends now I have a neutral set up but it's not simple

[Covskoda]

Hi robw, VW Heritage do rear anti roll bars for air cooled beetles, both swing axle & IRS ,about £100 per set, dont know if they would fit,but worth having a chat, have a look at their site, Pete

[hawkeracing]

No, they don't fit.........

[Reallyrapid136]

I'm fabricating a pair up for my 136 rapid in a few weeks , I can knock you up a set if you're interested, making stainless exhaust systems as well for them :p

[rwickham2014]

I'm fabricating a pair up for my 136 rapid in a few weeks , I can knock you up a set if you're interested, making stainless exhaust systems as well for them :p

 

I may have missed the boat as the post is almost a month old, but i'd definitely be interested in an aftermarket exhaust and possibly the anti roll bars. Would they drastically improve handling, or just essential if doing competitive stuff? Have you got any photos of the exhaust? Cheers 

[petergarforth]

I may have missed the boat as the post is almost a month old, but i'd definitely be interested in an aftermarket exhaust and possibly the anti roll bars. Would they drastically improve handling, or just essential if doing competitive stuff? Have you got any photos of the exhaust? Cheers 

 

Aftermarket exhausts are freely available in the Czech Republic from Speedpro (amongst others) - I've bought several and they're pretty good and well priced. From memory its about £500 for a full stainless manifold and exhaust with chrome plating. 

Roll bars really are a waste of time for road use.....and as there is not proven set up for the rear it really isn't worth doing......rear roll bars are problematic due to the suspension set up. If you can find a single race or rally team in Germany or CZ using roll bars on rear engined Skodas I'll buy you a pint

Edited 8 July, 2016 by petergarforth

[skodabluecat]

The rear anti roll bar is called a Z bar and was developed in the UK

[petergarforth]

The rear anti roll bar is called a Z bar and was developed in the UK

For a Beetle not a Skoda though

[KenONeill]

The rear anti roll bar is called a Z bar and was developed in the UK

 

 

For a Beetle not a Skoda though

My immediate thought/question about both cars is swing arm or semi-trailing rear suspension?

[petergarforth]

All Beetles are swing arm......Skoda used exclusively swing arm until 1983 when they began to produce their higher end models with semi trailling. 

[KenONeill]

All Beetles are swing arm......Skoda used exclusively swing arm until 1983 when they began to produce their higher end models with semi trailling. 

Er, Beetle 1302/1303 (from 1971) had front MacPherson struts and rear semi-trailing arms.

[petergarforth]

Oh well....shows what I know about Beetles....I have looked at the Z bar set up though.....and it definitely won't fit either variety of Estelle!

[KenONeill]

Oh well....shows what I know about Beetles....I have looked at the Z bar set up though.....and it definitely won't fit either variety of Estelle!

I didn't mean to suggest that it would; just that generalisations about suspension design don't apply to either car.