I'm sure this has been covered but I searched and couldn't find it. Why is the Euro rear sway bar smaller in diameter than the US? My guess is the Euro is solid and the US bar is hollow. Which one is the higher rate?

 

What year are we talking about?

 

IIRC, the bar changed between 79 and 80 for both Euro and US. Thinner is later and hollow.

 

Both are 79

 

Same period ROW and US models had same suspension parts. There are only two exceptions to this rule. ROW cars got S brakes and thus also S hubs 1½-2 years earlier than US models, 2 years hos S models and 1½ for 4.5L ROW. Early '86 MY US cars still used S suspension.

There were changes done to rear bar in middle of MY but that was in '81 MY and both market version got it at same time. As US model production was higher at that time VIN where change took place is higher than in ROW cars. US bar is not original. It should be 21mm thick, same as ROW version.

 

Okay the parts were the same within 79 MY why did Porsche choose to install the thinner bar on the Euro? I would have thought they would want the Euro to handle better than the US version so a thicker bar would be in order....or was it just that the Euro was a lighter car?

 

"Bigger" sway bar does not mean "better" handling. If there is a significant difference they were probably trying to dial in more understeer for the US market.

 

They didn't. Both ROW and US '79 used exact same bar from the factory. Your US car bar is not original part.