icemanrd19
11-30-2017, 05:57 PM
When installing a rear sway bar how does that effect the daily driving, auto cross, and overall handling of the car? When is a rear sway bar worth it and what are the disadvantaged?
A rear swaybay is used to stiffen rear roll stiffness which will help if the car has understeer. On the street I find stiff bars to be pretty enjoyable, they reduce the body roll and make the car "feel" fast.
icemanrd19
12-02-2017, 02:01 PM
Installed my buddies today. Def can tell the difference going around turns. Car does feel "faster". How do you know which sway bar hole to put the link in? Each link gives you more pressure
David Pozzi
12-05-2017, 12:05 AM
Find a safe test area with a constant radius curve that is flat, not up or down a hill, ideally around 40 mph. Perhaps a freeway on ramp. Run the car around the curve and get your speed up to where the tires are slipping or making noise. You should have neutral throttle, just maintain speed. Note where the steering wheel is pointed, it helps to put a piece of tape at top center before you test. Note steering angle at lower speeds, then note if you are adding more steering input as you go faster around the curve, or are you adding less input?
If adding more input, you are understeering, (Tight) = stiffen the rear bar: shorten the arm on the bar.
If adding less input, turning in less, - oversteering (Loose) : soften the rear bar: longer arm. If you have a lot of oversteer, you will find yourself steering opposite the direction of the curve.
More rear bar stiffness adds overall roll stiffness, - the car leans less, the rear is more "active" less steering input needed, makes the steering more responsive to inputs. Takes load off the front tires so they can respond faster to inputs.
Down side if you go too far, easier to spin the car out, hard to control rear, it wags and over-responds to steering inputs. Can make it hard to put the power down on corner ext.
A little understeer is a pretty safe setup, keeps the rear from spinning out when you get on the power.