A tale of two sway bars

[zlexiss]

Well, the 32/19's went on last night. 1LE endlinks all around, prothane bushings up front, and the stiffer GM OEM rubber bushings in the rear. Scarcely had time to take a few spins around the block before the autocross today.

It took about 4 runs to get comfortable. Then I really started testing the limits, and dropped 2 seconds in 2 runs, and I know there's more there when I get the tire pressures sorted out.

What a difference. With neutral to light throttle, the car still understeers. Not as much as before, but it's still the default mode and that's the way I wanted it. With good throttle control, neutral 4 wheel drift and oversteer were both possible and controllable, especially on the looser back section of the pad we were on.

It just felt better and more controllable than the push, push, push of the stock setup. Slaloms are so much easier when the car stays flat. More speed through all corners. My times were a lot closer to the V8 F-bodies than before, can't wait to see how we PAX out. My traditional ride-alongs and experienced F-body mentors also liked how the car was acting under my control.

Disclaimers: This offer is only valid in Tucson, Arizona, where it doesn't rain and it never, ever snows. Results may not apply in northern climates. Braking during turns will take enough weight off the rear end to loosen it, without the control the throttle gives. If you think the throttle is an on/off switch, or that "Subtlety" is a perfume for women, don't change your rear bar - you won't be happy. Listen to V6Bob and just do the front.

-Jeff

[V6Bob]

"With good throttle control, neutral 4 wheel drift and oversteer were both possible and controllable, especially on the looser back section of the pad we were on."

The fact that you can get oversteer with the throttle applied smoothly leads me to believe that your setup, while better than before, is not yet optimal for autocross.

Here's my opinion, for what it's worth. If you had a smaller rear bar, you'd be able to get on the gas sooner and harder, and get better lap times. "Controllable" slides and fast are not the same thing. You probably need to give up a bit in the slalom, where there is little time to be gained, for better acceleration off the important corners, those which lead onto straights.

Road and Track recently tested a Lotus Elise, widely considered to be the best handling street sports car, and one with few compromises. "There is some understeer noticeable in the tight stuff, and the rear absolutely refuses to come around..." I think that's where you (or anyone who wants good handling) want to be.

Suggestion: Video (or have someone video) the consistent winners at an important corner. Have someone video you. If your rear end is noticeably sliding around the corner and theirs is not there is time to be gained.

[ November 24, 2003: Message edited by: V6Bob ]</p>

[zlexiss]

I'm going to find out a lot at Evolution School on Saturday. The rear was solid coming out of corners in second gear, I just had to hold back at the hairpins until I was straightening out the front wheels, which I pretty much had to do before. The drifting was on a long sweeper at the back half of the course, while testing the limits a bit. I felt I was faster the run before with solid grip, though Abe (Camaro SS driver) thought I didn't really lose any time on it.

Autocrossing in Tucson is wierd at times. The back half of the pad (its the parking lot of the dragstrip) is so loose it's virtually rallycrossing, and the front is just average road grip. Lots of sand and dirt all over the track too..

Right after New Year's is the next Sierra Vista event, where the fresh concrete tarmac provides a great autocross surface.

There's room to tweak the response when I get shocks and springs from Sam in the spring. His initial recommendations were 400/150 springs, revalves, and 32/19 or 32/21, he wasn't sure which bar would be better.

-Jeff