whiteline RS2 FARB possible purchase

[Stick Insect]

I think I've started something now.....

I sent a mail to Whiteline asking if they fancied making an RS2 FARB replacememnt and recieved a very nice mail from them.

as follows: but mail address removed

Hi David,

Thank you for your reply.

We are always keen to make new parts, but we must have a guarantee of
sales in order to justify our R&D especially for older and lower volume
cars, and therefore the following requirements must be met:

1. We will need a firm order for a minimum of 20 units. In this case,
this will need to go through our UK distributor
http://www.whiteline.com.au/dealers_uk.htm

2. We will need a test vehicle to be made available at our Sydney
workshop. Unfortunately, we do not have Audi S2 in our current contact
list.

We have seen Audi 90 Quattro, I don't know if this is the same as on
Audi S2, but due to the front link odd kinked shape and inclined
installation, I am not sure if we could do an adjustable version. But,
if you are after a replacement type non-adjustable swaybar, I think this
may be possible.

Are you after fixed or adjustable front swaybar?
What is the size of Audi S2 OE front swaybar?
What size are you after?

Lastly, from a technical side, I am wondering why you want to increase
the front swaybar, as Audi is known to have large amounts of understeer.

Please let me know if you are able to meet our requirements, to take
this to the next step.

Regards,
Wojtek Rogulski
Technical Support
---------------------------------------------------------------
* Tel: +61 2 9603 0111
* Fax: +61 2 9820 2500
* Web: www.whiteline.com.au
Go flat-out with WHITELINE Automotive
---------------------------------------------------------------

What do you say chaps?

David

[Corey]

We are one of the Uk distributos outlets, we may make up the numbers and be able to get the best price possible.
And it may be possible to make a car available to them, we have a couple of customer's out there with S2's

[AudiS2Au]

If it is for a short period of time they require a car for in Sydney, I should be able to help.

[rs2coupe]

We are one of the Uk distributos outlets, we may make up the numbers and be able to get the best price possible.
And it may be possible to make a car available to them, we have a couple of customer's out there with S2's

Put me down for 2 please.

Adjustable would be cool but not necessary just as long as the part is in same or better specs as RS2 FARB.

Corey can you reply PM kindly?

[Rusty]

Looks like you have indeed started something David! With the price of the RS2 FARB being twce what it was last year this is a very worthwhile ecercise!

Re:- Understeer, tell them that you like understeer and want to increase it because you can!

[Jamo]

I asked whiteline the same question a few years ago, they declined because at the time they didn't have a U.K office.

With the fiasco of Demon Tweeks they setup a U.K office.

Good work David

[S2central.net]

Guys - this is great... but as the man from WhiteLine says - lets NOT get this thing made that its so rigid it makes the car undriveable with horrendous understeer.

In my opinion the big advantage here is going to be cost. I would like a FARB that is adjustable some way between the S2 and RS2 stiffness. OK maybe adjustable to be more stiff than RS2.

They will easily sell 20 of these things if it does the above at a good price.

We need to think of someway to get tests done on a sample to objectively quantify how it compares with S2 and RS2 FARBs on a variety of settings. Needs to be done on same car on same tyres on same test track.

Isn't there a standard handling test which involves the car going round a circle at gradually increasing speed to determine when the front or rear loses traction... The earlier the front breaks away then the more understeer you have.

I'm not the expert on this, but please don't rush into specifying some bonkers rigid FARB.

[Rusty]

RS2 seems to have been enough for most on here so using that as the nominal setting would seem to be the way forward. The main factor in all this for me is price as the RS2 FARB has now become prohibitively expensive and a sensibly priced copy is required at a minimum, adjustable or not.

[S2central.net]

That would be a good compromise if it cannot be made adjustable... ie No more rigid than RS2 FARB.

[Stick Insect]

Thanks for the offers of help everyone.

We need to decide if we want a direct replacement for the RS2 bar or if we want a stronger unit.

If we could get an adjustable unit then we could have it as the RS2 on the weakest setting and then go up in torsional rigidity



Suggestions please!

David

[AudiS2Au]

I wouldn't mind if it was adjustable and say the middle position provided the same stiffness as the RS2 FARB, inside position a bit stiffer than that, outside position a bit softer (half way between stock S2 and RS2)

[rs2coupe]

I wouldn't mind if it was adjustable and say the middle position provided the same stiffness as the RS2 FARB, inside position a bit stiffer than that, outside position a bit softer (half way between stock S2 and RS2)

I like this suggestion

[S2central.net]

I'd go for that too - IF it can be made adjustable.

If its not adjustable then RS2 stiffness is where it should be.


Paul

[Rusty]

From my research on another thread in EKTA, S2 item is 26mm, RS2 item is 27mm.

I would agree with the S2+, RS2, RS2+ adjustable in case you wanted to run a standard 26mm S2 FARB on the rear or even a Doug 7A setup! Otherwise RS2 copy.

With the 5 S2 style FARBs that are available to fit the rear (23mm, 24mm ,25mm ,26mm & 27mm), this could yield the ability to really tune the handling of the S2 (coupe) and the array of RARBs available for the avant wouldn't rule them out either!

[Jamo]

RS2 is 28mm