1st gen, rear sway bar or not?

[Johnny Blaze]

Should I run a rear sway bar on my first gen?

Everyone always says to run one for better handling, it isn't always true is it?

Didn't G-28 actually run slower in the slaloms with a rear sway bar?

[silver69camaro]

This depends on alot of variables, but usually the answer is no on a first gen. Testing will prove the real answer, but from past experience and reading, they usually just give the car an oversteer condition.

[David Pozzi]

If your rear tires are wider than the front tires, a rear bar may be needed.

[ertoys]

Great question. I have the rear swaybar setup brand new sitting in my garage, it was part of my hotchkis TVS kit. I didnt put it on my 67 because I have heard mixed reviews as well.

Doesnt Carl Casinova (forgive the spelling) have it on his first gen?

Looking forward to hearing opinions.

[David Pozzi]

Carl had one, took it off for some reason, needs to put it back on, because I rode in the car and felt it needed a rear bar. He has Guldstrand rear springs and another companies front spring, so doesn't have the full Hotchkis kit, just their front bar.

The stiffer the front suspension, the more you need a rear bar.
The Guldstrand mod raises the front roll center, this stiffens the front suspension a little in roll only.
A VERY large ft antiroll bar or very stiff front antiroll bar linkage or mounts, stiffens the front.
Wider rear tires.
Stiff front suspension but lack of good front geometry will require a stiffer rear in roll to take some of the roll load off the front.

If you installed a full kit like the Hotchkis, then reduced front end weight, let's say you installed an LS1 engine and fiberglass hood, the front suspension would be too stiff for the lower weight, causing understeer.
Your options would be install a stiffer rear bar or softer front bar.

The rear leaf springs will be stiffened in roll if stiffer than stock bushings are used. Solid leaf bushings will REALLY stiffen the rear in roll, because the leaf will be twisted much more, thiis gives a antiroll bar effect.

In the end, you want the car balanced so that when cornering very near max on a long corner in a steady state, IE no acceration or braking, -the steering does not need to be turned sharper or less sharp.

[jeffandre]

I say install the rear bar if you already have it, and spend some time driving your local areas with the bar, get used to the feeling, steering response, reduced body roll, and the other variables that are affected by the rear bar. Then run for a while with one end link removed, which should give you reasonable feedback on the effectiveness of the rear bar in your situation.

I installed a rear bar many years ago and would not go back, but now that I have fat rear tires and a stiffer front end, I will need test the car with one end link removed just to have a better idea of the car's balance and also to determine whether or not the rear bar is the ideal one for my car.

[CliffS]

On my first gen I got dse leafs combined with slide-a-links, wider rear tires and a stiff front suspension. I didn't have the change to drive it yet but is a rear sway bar recommended in this situation?

Cliff

[CarlC]

The effective rate of the Hotchkis bar is low since it is mounted so far inboard. I use it as a small tuning device. Plans that are in the works will eliminate the bar.

[ertoys]

The effective rate of the Hotchkis bar is low since it is mounted so far inboard. I use it as a small tuning device. Plans that are in the works will eliminate the bar.
Carl, I value your opinin. Does this mean on a street driven camaro the bars effect on handling is not worth the effort of installing it?

[CarlC]

I would try driving it first. That way you can evaluate the car before drilling the rear floor pan to mount the Hotchkis bar.

[blackwidow]

anybody want to sell rear sway bar cheap lol mike