Cheap upgrade for Rodeo

[Dallas4u]

Alright, my in-laws are in town, visiting from Dallas. We had to take the Rodeo to show them around Oregon this weekend, and I have to say... it corners like a slug!! Man, I dreaded having to drive that thing. It's not bad for in town use, but stock, this thing is not fun to drive on long trips. Power is not great, and cornering... I may as well tell everyone to go ahead and slide into each other in the back seat because the turning side becomes slush on every turn 30mph or above.

My question... anyone here happen to know the correct bushing sizes for the swaybars? I want to at LEAST replace these to give it a bit better cornering ability. I searched the trail talk boards, and found someone mentioned 1" front, 3/4" rear on their late model Amigo, but no mention of a late model (2000) Rodeo. You can find them pretty damn cheap ($9.95 a set on JCWhitney.com), but I just want to make sure I'm ordering the correct size. After this, possibly shock replacement and/or springs... whatever I feel like doing. I don't drive it often, but when I do, I feel out of my element.

[Hotsauce]

IMHO, I would replace the shocks first. They are probably worn already anyway.

As a fellow SC VX owner I assure you that just bushings will not appease your quest for decent cornering, Much better to swap in a set of Calmini bars instead.

John C.

[Dallas4u]

Let me state that, in the 3 years that my wife has owned this Rodeo, it stays on the road 100% of the time. Also to note, in the past year, the Rodeo has probably been driven a total of 400 miles TOPS. Before that, it was driven to work and back, and I would drive us in the VX on the weekends. I would doubt the stock shocks are worn, even though they suck none the less.

Nothing WILL appease me when it comes to the Rodeo, but I won't drive it much if at all.

[paultvx]

Adam,

Since you're asking for X and getting Y... I thought I'd be a smartass and give you the same thing, Y.

http://www.pureisuzu.com/98-2001_3_lift.htm

It'll take care of your handling issues and man... you'll have your very own mini monster truck to intimidate the block with. You'll be able to crush all the junkers that show up to visit that house across the street for 5 minutes at a time. ;)

And look! You can get a really cool looking bumper too!

http://www.pureisuzu.com/winch_bumpers2.htm

Yeah, yeah... I know. Some people... ask for X and they give you Y. :D

Seriously though... I thought I had found something earlier today on Energy Suspension's site but it was for the older Rodeos. They may have something that might work... if you know the diameter of sway bar. Got a caliper if you need one to find the diameter.

Universal swaybar bushings: http://www.energysuspension.com/swaybb.html

[Dallas4u]

What about dropping it 2"-3", and putting some fat ***** 20"s on it... that'll make it corner better I bet! ;)

All kidding aside, my wife takes public transportation (big in Portland, and free to Corps employees), so she RARELY drives. When I say rarely, I mean maybe once every few months... MAYBE. This trip through Oregon with her parents is the most driving the Rodeo has seen since our trip up here from Dallas back in November of last year. And before that, it was driven to work and back, and that was it. It's a 2000 and has about 24k miles on it.

I looked on Energy Suspensions site as well, and saw they had a set for the older Rodeos. If I could just find out what diameter the swaybars are, it would be a piece of pie... cake, piece of cake. I'll just post on Trail Talk and see if someone can let me know. I know this is a VX board, so I didn't really expect anyone to know off hand (unless they have modified a late model Rodeo, or something with similar swaybar dimensions).

[paultvx]

You know... you could trade the Rodeo in for that other car you were talking about. The other car would handle so well, you'll be disgusted with the VX. Unless you're one of those who insist the VX is the greatest thing in the world, can tear it up at the track with nitros and outhandle a 350Z. ;)

[Dallas4u]

Shhhh... don't tell others that I've been looking at something else. I'll be crucified!

Besides, my wife has put the kabosh on that idea right now.

[Anita]

Oh Adam....

the fireworks would really begin!

I would start that ;eekr; .... poll I've been threatening to start... ;eekr;


;Dr;

[Dallas4u]

The poll would actually be interesting to see, but I want YOU to be the one to post it!

[paultvx]

She said "pole". :D

Adam: so no one makes a swaybar kit for the 2000 Rodeo? If body sway is bad, I don't think bushings alone will do it. Maybe that's a way to sell the idea of trading it in? Crucified? Nah... you'll just be called bunch of names by people who never resort to name calling. Right.

[Hotsauce]

Let me clarify my post.

when i said Calmini bars, I was refering to sway bars instead of just doing bushings. I thought the VX and Rodeo had same front and rear suspension. I would think the say bars they make for the VX would fit the Rodeo.

I did not mean to imply that you should build an offroad tonka truck.

John C.

[Anita]

Originally posted by paultvx
She said "pole". :D

:goof::smack:


Okay , okay I fixed it. Not enough sleep lately........:zzzr:

[paultvx]

Beavis and Butthead humor... sorry.

[Dallas4u]

Originally posted by paultvx
She said "pole". :D

Adam: so no one makes a swaybar kit for the 2000 Rodeo? If body sway is bad, I don't think bushings alone will do it. Maybe that's a way to sell the idea of trading it in? Crucified? Nah... you'll just be called bunch of names by people who never resort to name calling. Right.

She won't trade it in. She thinks this is the last auto she'll ever own. If it floats her boat, then it's fine with me. I just want to make sure the next time I have to take it on a long trip that I don't have her hissing and moaning everytime I want to take a corner at over 35 mph. I'm thrown her parents all over the place in the back seat, and she's being thrown against the window. It ain't fun. Plus, it has the typical "look at me, I'm rugged" brush guard on the front... my fault. She liked it, I bought it and mounted it for her.

[paultvx]

Ah the things men do for love. ;)

You know... if swaybars aren't available, shocks will probably do the trick as they affect handling the most... in which case, I'd go with the Rancho RS9000 so you can fine tune it according to the Rodeo's handling dynamics. I still can't believe there aren't any aftermarket swaybars for that thing... the Rodeo has far more aftermarket support than the VX.

Come 2006, if I have $ then, I know what I want...

http://vwvortex.vortexmediagroup.com/artman/publish/iaa_03/article_172.shtml

Remember I said before that there really aren't anything new out there that I feel I have to have? This thing changes things a bit... I can just see a Garrett T4 turbo mated to that 32v VR6 with DSG and direct injection. Having owned a 12v VR6... that's a fantasic motor I would not mind owning again.

[Dallas4u]

http://vwvortex.vortexmediagroup.com/artman/publish/iaa_03/article_172.shtml
[/B][/QUOTE]

BOIOIOIOIOIOING! DAMN! NIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEECE! That is SO nice!

[paultvx]

Offically, VAG is saying it's just a concept car. Off the record, they've been telling journalists the project has already been given the nod to go ahead. Hope it comes to the States in the same form as it will be in Europe... and not a watered down version. They are saying it will compete with the MR2 spyder and the Miata in terms of pricing and will challenge the Boxter and Z4 in terms of performance and value. Mid engined, rear drive, double clutch system with throttle control, direct injection, a motor that just sings when pushed.... can't wait.

[Dallas4u]

Can VW make a somewhat cheap, nice performance 2 seater? Don't get me wrong, I love VW engineering, but it seems they have become a bit pricey as of late. If they came make something that will compete with a Miata price wise, and a Boxter performance wise... I think I may have to be all over it!

[paultvx]

Realistically, I think it will be close to $30k if not slightly over. The Concept R is built on the new Golf V platform and there will be a R32 version of the Golf V... and the R32 that is based on the current Golf IV platform is a 240 hp AWD $30k car. Also, the Boxter and Z4 are well over $40k. So a $30k car would definitely fit the description given by VW. While being more expensive then the Miata... the performance numbers would make it enticing to Miata buyers. But then again, one of the articles also mentioned a cheaper 2.0 liter version would be offered as well... that one would definitely be in the range of the MR and the Miata. As much as I'd like to see the V6 in the mid 20s range... it's still a good value for $30k considering the performance numbers. Having driven both the Mk3 and Mk4 GTIs, quality is one thing VW has down. Yeah, they've gone pricey, but the car market as a whole have gotten that way as well. With that in mind... and considering the overall package for the price... they're still pretty good buys. I was eyeing the 25th anniversary GTI not too long ago. Fun car with decent mod potential.