Hollow or Solid Sway Bar

[silver69camaro]

I think this thread is going nowhere pretty quick.

[Skip Fix]

"Losing the weight would be nice, but would there be much difference in the cornering capabilities between the two bars? Any advice would be great." So in fact cornering comparisons for a similar sized solid and hollow was the initial question.

Since it is advertised by the manufacturers and said by folks here -the hollow has the same torsional resistance as solid(although one statement was that they are often made larger to be sure they do) due to torsion in the outer portion only and they are better in performance because they are lighter-usually 8lbs or so. It should then pull more gs and have a better lap time if it is in fact better and has an advantage over the solid-not a wash-ie perform the same. Otherwise it is a coin toss.

My entire question was -can we in fact measure this difference between these two bars? Your comment the solid bar has no advantage does not mean the hollow one does have one unless it can be measured. A simple engineering and scientific concept-it is not different if it can not be measured. And all I have questioned-can we measure a 8 lb difference in a cornering car.

Here's a quote from David Pozzi "and not something you are going to be able to measure." Which is my contention.

If not we get back to the coin toss for the decision.

He made a decision, it performs as he would like so we're OK with how it handles-but is it "better"?

[wmhjr]

I give up. I'm going down to my shop in a little while and will hang barbells on my sway bar.

[David Pozzi]

There's a reason I didn't post in this thread sooner. It seemed like it was going to go on and on and on no matter what. I think enough information has been discussed that anyone could make an informed decision on what anti roll bar is best for them.

Skip Fix, what exactly do you want, a vote?
I don't see the point in further discussion, but I'm not going to lock this thread.
David

[MrQuick]

It seems to be one of those threads where everyone is arguing in agreement. I could be wrong.

vince

[Roadrage David]

mmmmm just pickt this tread up and i think its a good one. Nothing wrong with a serius discusion. I have something to say myself . i didnt go tru all the posts so it might have been said alredy, But if there is no mesureble diferense in a hollow ore solid sway bar, could it be that when you have a all out race car with all the ""exstra"" weight savings on the car that are availeble today , that the hollow sway bar is the one to go for, iven the hollow sway bar critics should see and understand that the ""mutch"" lighter car would not put the hollow sway bar under enoughf presure to have it work any diferend then a solid sway bar!!!!!. just in case i runn Helwig solid up frond!. nothing in the rear as i have a mini tubt car with fat tires. simple Hodkish coils DSE leafs koni classic shoks.( no airbag ore coil over stuf just stuf that works) only cars that past me on the former F1 cirquit in holland was the Ariel Atom and a 2010 corvette C6 Z06. i had to let them go due to radiator cooland leak producing smoke!!. caught some c5 c6 corvettes and brand spanking new saleen mustang and new shelby mustang. my car weights in at 3692 lbs with halve a tank, and im the 320 lbs fat guy driving it!oohh pasenger weights in at 175lbs.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbq-y...layer_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opza1...layer_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSWpn...layer_embedded

[Skip Fix]

David I guess arguing ineffectively with wmhjr that neither bar has an advantage if track times/performance are the same regardless the advertising or engineering theory. Around too many engineers and scientists to take statements as truth without measured backup.

[wmhjr]

I'm convinced. I rode my harley to work today. It had less than half full fuel tanks and I couldn't notice any difference in performance, so I'm not going to fill my tanks anymore. Tomorrow I'm going to check whether or not there is any difference in performance if I disconnect my lights. I'm testing everything on a 1 mile stretch of road, and anything that doesn't result in measured performance differences is going to be discarded.

[zbadone]

Wow, this thread has really taken on it own life. I appreciate everyones input, but like WMHJR said, I was just wondering which bar someone would choose given that the bars were the same diameter, very close to the same price, and that one happened to be hollow vs solid. If they performed nearly the same, then I believe it would be to my advantage to have less weight on the car. Also, just an FYI, the hollow Hotchkis bar was actually $20 less then the solid so I figured it was a win-win. Do love this new bar however. It really keeps the car flat and doesn't push out the front end at all. Maybe I'm just not pushing it hard enough......

[Skip Fix]

"Tomorrow I'm going to check whether or not there is any difference in performance if I disconnect my lights" Well the correct theory to test there is disconnecting the alternator to reduce the HP draw spinning it uses Why do you think so many drag guys are hooked up to battery chargers between runs? Although depending on the electronics and ignition you may loose more than you gain as some folks that do that test have found.

zbadone-glad the sway bar deal worked out and gave you the performance you wanted-after all that's all it is about anyway.Since the two choices would probably be a wash in performance on your car the the hollow was cheaper it was a win-win. The rest is just engineering theory exercises unless you want to buy that solid and do a back to back test them for us

FWIW my old NMCA Top Stock RAIV motor was dynoed with 3 different intakes(all made within 1 hp of each other even the factory HO intake vs the aftermarkets).2 additional on car tested. Had 5 cams, 2 different header sizes, mufflers,2 rear gear ratios,shocks, as well as different timing/jetting setting-so I really don't believe in real world testing to prove what the theories are at all;) So what can I say I guess I'm not so bright to want to try things-even free mufflers for the manufacturer that swore theirs will go faster.

[JRouche]

Do love this new bar however. It really keeps the car flat and doesn't push out the front end at all. Maybe I'm just not pushing it hard enough......

Ya know, Im guilty. I missed the part where you had already changed the bar. My bust. I woulda stopped the exchanges.

Really glad you got the handling you were looking for, and it sounds like you have some extra confidence to take the car a lil deeper or faster into the turns if you want to. But you got some flattening out of the ride and that exactly what you were prolly looking for huh? Good job. JR

[John Wright]

What I got out of this thread.....with regards to hollow vs solid bars.

With the Hollow bar:

You get to upsize the bar (due to less weight to keep the same front end weight), and gain more bar rate by using the larger, lighter bar.....and that this thread is powered by the Energizer bunny.

[silver69camaro]

Next topic: Mild steel vs. 4340 sway bars and how rate is affected. Discuss!

[John Wright]

Next topic: Mild steel vs. 4340 sway bars and how rate is affected. Discuss!

Hollow or solid?<bwhahaha>

[Roadrage David]

So who sells the most up to date hollow sway bar!!.
I sold my engine and my transmission . and my new aluminium pontiac engine is in the making 730 NA hp with 700lbs feet of torque 5000 rpm torque line!!!!!!!!! 475ci and totally streeteble due to the variable rokker system(finally) lots of weight sayvings are going to be added as wel like lexan windows fibre glass doors and fenders mind you il turn my 6 point roll cage into a 12 point set up. Rear and frond fenders will go 3 and 2 inches out al this with the alredy fibre glass frond and rear bumper and the fibre glass hood.
Gas tank will be replaced with a inboard tank behind the seats. al this stuff should put the weight distribution and beter balance in between the wheels. my gues is a hollow sway bar would fit right in there. the helwig bar works perfect but weighs a ton........