Best Front Beam Adjuster: Avise vs Sway-a-Way

spongeworthy · Post by **spongeworthy** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:53 pm

Hello everyone.

I'm looking for opinions on the best front beam adjusters for handling the abuse of off-road use.

The Avise ajuster vs the one Bugpack, Empi, Sway-a-Way etc sell.

69bajakid · Post by **69bajakid** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:11 am

I have never had any adjusters fail...prob because i have never put them through allot of abuse..

but i have installed and used lots on street cars and a few mild bajas..

and the china empi jobbers are GARBAGE! thin steel..junk aluminum..junk grub screws..JUNK! dont use them..i welded in one and had to cut it out just because i could not bear to look at it any longer..

the SAW adjusters i have were much better quality..all around.. same style as the empi.. but just better..

BUT IMO i like the Avis style.. i have had a few sets of the avis adjusters and they seem to be fail safe..easy and quick to adjust...great quality..easy to install

i would go with the avis..unless someone here has had a problem with them?

Cale

petew · Post by **petew** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:09 am

i've got the bugpack ones in my beam. i was told the avis were better, but i've never had an issue with mine. i'd personally say what ever you can get cheapest wins.

takotruckin · Post by **takotruckin** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:12 am

i've always heard the avis style were junk for offroad. i think ricko had one fail on him.

Post by **Leatherneck** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:27 am

Avis style are not the pick of the litter, the others will hold up better and take the abuse.

Street guys have better luck with the avis type.

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:14 am

Avis adjusters wont hold up off road. i made it all of 30 ft. before both of mine stripped out the teeth. Go with the SAW.

bajaherbie · Post by **bajaherbie** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:12 am

'nuff said....

Big Dave · Post by **Big Dave** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:39 am

My adjusters (not Avis type) lasted a couple years, but finally stripped all the threads.
Do the cut and turn--that is the only way to ensure you'll have no problems.

spongeworthy · Post by **spongeworthy** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:06 pm

Thanks, everyone.

I think I'll search for some real Sway-A-Way adjusters if I can find them. Most shops stock the super-crappy Empi adjusters and it seems that Empi can't make anything right these days.

As a side note...Years ago, Gary Avise himself made me a beam with his famous adjusters. He had a shop in Stanton at the time. It worked great on my lowered street Bug.

Projectile Motion · Post by **Projectile Motion** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:13 pm

Short of the pricey offroad shop near my house Eshocks is the only place I can find the SAW adjusters. Also for what it is worth most of the class 9 guys seem to prefer the cut and turn method. Good luck.

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:27 pm

I'm no OHV person but my observation is that there maybe three Avis adjusters;
The ones Berg sells, coarse teeth DYI install
Puma type pre-installed in replacements beams coarse teeth
Clone adjusters much cheaper than the Berg ones, fine teeth

After installing real ones and puma beams, I bought and gave away the clone adjusters.