1LE Rear Sway Bar (Already Searched)

[01MaroIL]

searched and couldnt come up with any threads with good info.

Is this a solid upgrade or is it not worth the time? What benefits can be seen with this upgrade? Thanks in advance.

[andrew.brandon]

without getting a larger front bar you will have more oversteer. if you can only choose between the front or the rear get the front, unless you plan on getting the front soon after the rear. my $0.02

[01MaroIL]

will the combination of the two be a worth while modification?

Or should i try and find different ones that are stronger/larger?

[V6Bob]

"searched and couldnt come up with any threads with good info"

You've gotta be kidding. This has been discussed many times here. Just search "sway bars".

The bottom line is that I believe, on stock V6 springs, this is a very bad idea. The short reason is that the rear bar doesn't prevent roll to any significant degree, it's a suspension tuning device. It's meant to go with 1LE springs. On stock V6 springs it will make your car handle worse, and I believe dangerously worse.

[95Batmobile]

I'd listen to V6Bob, he's the suspension guru.

Hey V6Bob, do you deal with BMWs at all?

[V6Bob]

"Hey V6Bob, do you deal with BMWs at all?"

Sure. I've owned a BMW K75RT for ten years. What do you want to know?

:D :D :D

[hockeyman]

This is sorta my fault. I posted the 1LE swaybar, but forgot to mention the springs. I want to upgrade my front springs to the LT1 springs with a 1" drop. Haven't gotten around to it though...yet.

[shenanigans]

A thicker rear sway will help a bit in keeping the rear straight and flat at launch.


Though like said increaseing the rear and not the fornt will cause a bit more oversteer.

[Dominic]

V6Bob is good with suspension, but suspension is a very controversial subject. If you want to try swaybars, keep the old ones in case things get out of hand. I recommend a 32 or 35mm front with a 19 or 21mm rear depending on your needs. I am running a 32/21 setup but plan on moving to a 35/21 setup in the future.

[V6Bob]

And Dominic is a nice guy and a hard working moderator. :D

But I sincerely disagree with him on sway bars. There is _no way_ a 21 rear is the hot setup with V6 springs, especially 98+.

It's not fast on the track. If you're going fast through a corner you can't nail the gas from the apex out. The outside rear tire is overloaded and will give up.

It's not safe on the street. The oversteer is way too much, especially if it's wet out.

And it doesn't matter much what your front bar is. The increased camber control of a big front bar somewhat compensates for the increased weight transfer. Of course, that can't happen at the rear.

The fast V8 guys don't like 21 rear bars much. They're a worse idea on stock V6 springs.

[ May 28, 2005, 11:17 AM: Message edited by: V6Bob ]

[Dominic]

true, you need more front spring or more front bar to be competitive. The rear needs to be as compliant as possible to work well. I am switching to a 35mm front bar soon anyways [img]smile.gif[/img]