Installed it this past saturday the morning of a drifting event at the track. As soon as I took it out for a test drive I could already feel a difference. The front end seemed to be noticably stiffer and the steering was more crisp then before. Once I got to the track and fully used this part to the extreme is where I noticed a big difference. The front end under extreme force stayed together and felt alot better. I highly recommend Spohns Adjustible wonder bar to anyone who needs a wonderbar.

... did you already have a wonderbar? I'm thinking about picking up the spohn piece to replace my GM one whenever their 3 point strut tower brace comes out...

nah I never did have one before. So I dont know fully how much better it is then the stock one. But soon me and CrazyHawaiian will be comparing the stock vs. the adjustible spohn.

Id def. like to know if a Adj. one is better then a stock one?

What would you need to adj. a wonderbar for?

Let us know how the comparison goes.

Spohn says it's so that you can apply preloaded tension...

Can anyone enlighten me as to what exactly that means, and how it can help performance?

That would mean you bolt on the bar then adjust it to make it shorter. Which would put the bar in tension and have force pulling inwards on both frame rails.

I'm sorry but, (no offence or disrespect meant towards Mr Spohn), the preload will have no more or less affect on stiffening the framerails for flex as long as your mount bolts are not slipping. Once they are locked down the brace will not allow any flex movement inward or outward. Now if your bolts are bad and slipping for whatever reason (which shouldn't happen) or your frame is bent from a wreck or such, then the adjustable wonderbar can be suited to fit within the perameters you are working with. In this case, hand tighten the bolts then extend the wonderbar against the bolts sideways then torque them down- no more slipping side to side.

Yeah. I just wanted to hear someone else say it first.

There's no advantage over a normal wonder bar if the bolt holes are precise. Seems like it would just increase the stresses on that weak part of the frame. It may have an affect on the fatigue(life expectancy) of the frame if you preload it tighter than the force the steering box puts on it. Keeping the frame under either compression or tension instead of both could help...maybe...a bit. Or it might not. But you'd never really know.

I would agree that preloading would have questionable benefits.

The only other thing I can think of that would make the wonder bar more effective is to weld it in. That way it wouldn't rely on the bolts to keep the chassis in place during hard cornering. But I'm not even sure is this would have a measureable benefit. But in theory it would certainly stiffen the chassis up more than having it bolted on.

Anyway, just a thought.

I agree with you guys also. With all due respect to Steve and his great product line, I don't see an advantage here. You want it stiffer? Weld the thing in there. No flex...

Ed

adjustable just sounds so much better

... and there ya have it It's a gimmick. Who else offers an adjustable WonderBar? Nobody. If, say, somebody DID offer an adjustable WonderBar then a potential buyer is baited into thinking that it is better. Bang - new sale. There is absolutely NO REASON that you would want to spread your frame apart or to cinch it together. In fact, I'll go out on a line and say you DO NOT want to do that. Stick with a regular aftermarket WonderBar. The stock WonderBar is flimsy. But, there is no need to invest in an aftermarket adjustable one ... unless you have a need to bite the gimmick.

Tim

Some people seem to get the idea that you pull on the bar like a come-along. The instructions state to tun the adjuster one turn after the bar is mounted. With fine threads, one turn is around 1/32".

It's not a gimmick. I have had nothing but very positive feedback from everyone who has installed it. It's an option, if you don't think you want it, then get the std. bar. We've always offered multiple options on our parts, and this one is no different.

Steve

Anyone selling their old wonderbar????? I need one!!!!!

Well Steve, I have a GM piece right now, and when your 3 point strut tower brace for TPI's comes out, I think I'll be picking up your adjustable wonderbar to go with it.


:rockon:

Steve is there anyplace online I can go read about this? What type of gains are possible? Or can you recommend a book or anything? I kind of understand what these guys are saying but then I kind of dont. I would like to learn more about it. Since I will be pushing the car to its limits like Revlimit, I really want to know how this piece can help me.

Thanks!

I have a 84 Z-28 with sfcs and a strut-tower brace . Would I recognise a difference in handling by installing the wonderbar?

Very minimal notice when installed. But what you are mainly after is to strengthen the frame area near the steering box and components mount to avoid any cracking of the frame. This is why GM added the wonderbar to the Irocs- because the wider stock tires they came with caused a greater flex load to the frame and they were cracking without the wonderbar.

My car was converted to right-hand drive because I live in Australia. I noticed that the power steering box was flexing and I had it removed and put quarter inch plate made into a box and then re-mounted the box to that. It really strengthend that area and I am very happy with the results. I have no flexing in that area. Would I still notice a difference? I do feel that it may help on making the tires last a little longer because the front end would be more stable. Am I right?

Whoi did the conversion? Got any pics of your interior? I've only ever seen 1 rhd Camaro.

I'd like to see that right hand drive car too...kewl.

Ed

will get some pics soon.

It counts on how you drive your car to how much you will notice it. I push my car around turns like crazy doing 80mph drifts, sliding down straight aways at 60+mph, etc. So I'm putting a **** load of stress on my cars frame and what not. so for me? I noticed the wonderbars difference big time! I have sfc's and a STB also. But others say you dont notice a difference. Its all up to how you drive.

And I'd also like to see pics of this RHD camaro O_o I was atcually considering trying this for the hell of it (yes that sounds crazy but yea I am O_o)

Thanks for the info. Will have to wait till I can get them to Australia at a good price.

ish.. that car needs alittle TLC

That's my jig car. The only thing we use it for is to build parts on. Yes, it's in SAD shape, but it does the job

Steve

i know this thread is really old but i dont wanna get in trouble with some moderator telling me its an old thread. so, why did you get an adjustable one? just curious...

the idea is that you can put some preload into the front frame to help stiffen the steering up a little more.