sway bars.....please help

[marcus_3050]

I have done searches and all I have found is technical terms that are over my head.

On a 98 car what about a 32/17 combo or a 30/17 combo. I know the current setup is 28/15. I want the car to be safe for everday driving yet a little better handling. I have 1LE panhard and LCA's on order.

[Dominic]

I run the 32/21 and it is definetly safe. I've taken it to the limit at speeds ranging from 20-85mph on small road courses and a few autoX circuits and its personally what I want out of my car. I do need some proper shocks though, the stock ones are horrid.

Nonetheless, a 32/19 setup would be a "safer" setup if you're concerned and will reduce body roll significantly. I would not run less than 19mm in the rear, since IME its the rear bar that makes the most difference.

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

lolol.. i like that "safe".. i meen.. just about any of the sway bar setups you can run will be "safe" the car just wont roll over and explode.. so in that sence its safe...

dont sweat it.. just pick a setup and run with it..

good luck,
Billy

[SilverTAWS6]

I ran a 30/19 on my 2000 Camaro and loved it.
I currently run a 32/21 on my TA, but after autocrossing and all, I might even bump that up to a 35/24 setup. Any setup you want is safe.

Here's an easy way to figure out swaybars. The bar connects both sides so that in turns it loads both sides and increases the spring rate. So if you run bigger bars, they will compensate for softer springs. This is a way to get slightly better ride quality while not sacrificing any handling.

Chris

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

... 24 mm rear??? where are you getting that from?

~Billy

[PiLOTLiTE]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dominic:
since IME its the rear bar that makes the most difference.<hr></blockquote>


Word, I've got a 32mm up front and a 21mm in the back and the car understeers at the limit. While harder to control, oversteer is my preference. I'll be getting a 25mm for the back soon.
:D

[V6Bob]

As usual, I'm not trying to piss anyone off, but I have a very different opinion about swaybars on our cars, and the guy asked for help.

"Here's an easy way to figure out swaybars. The bar connects both sides so that in turns it loads both sides and increases the spring rate. So if you run bigger bars, they will compensate for softer springs. This is a way to get slightly better ride quality while not sacrificing any handling."

This is close to true but the bars actually load the outside tire and unload the inside. More important, you need to know a lot more to choose bars right.

"I would not run less than 19mm in the rear, since IME its the rear bar that makes the most difference. "

Difference for what? It's the front bar/springs that do 90% of the roll control. The back bar tunes the handling and it's easy to go too big. IMO, if a 21mm bar is too big for the fast guys with V8 springs, the 19mm is pushing it with stock V6 springs.

"just about any of the sway bar setups you can run will be "safe" the car just wont roll over and explode.. so in that sence its safe..."

In that sense, maybe. But some combos can make the car harder to control in an emergency situation, even for a professional. As Daryl Waltrip says, the driver's radio message "the car is loose" is often followed by "I'm in the wall". Sway bars are the most powerful suspension mod you can do, and it's easy to screw up.

"I've got a 32mm up front and a 21mm in the back and the car understeers at the limit."

You didn't say what springs you have. On stock V6 springs the 32/21s definitely have too much _oversteer_. You can, however, make the car understeer (or oversteer) by how you drive. Entering corners too fast is the main thing that causes understeer.

"While harder to control, oversteer is my preference"

In addition to being harder to control, it's slow, because the rear tires are working too hard and you can't accelerate as fast out of the corner.

[CamaroRob97]

Iam in the same situation right now. My SLP lvl 1 should be here very soon. Iam Thinking of the 19 or 21. With the lvl 1 springs what would you do v6bob? I can get a take off 19 mm from speedautomotive for 25 plus shipping, i just have to get the bushings/endlinks.

[SilverTAWS6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by AllTheGoodNamesAreGone:
... 24 mm rear??? where are you getting that from?

~Billy<hr></blockquote>

Suspension Technologies sells this bar.
I'm almost positive it's the same bar as Sam Strano from Strano parts runs. He knows a ton about autocrossing and can really help you set up a car nicely for handling (I know he definitely runs ST's 35mm front).

Chris

[CamaroRob97]

Should i run engery suspension endlinks/bushings on my 19 mm rear with my 32 1le endlink/bushings?

[V6Bob]

"My SLP lvl 1 should be here very soon. Iam Thinking of the 19 or 21. With the lvl 1 springs what would you do v6bob?"

I'd ask SLP. The purpose of the rear bar is to tune the handling. SLP has a great deal of experience with that package, I have none. Let everyone know what SLP says.

"... 24 mm rear??? where are you getting that from?
Suspension Technologies sells this bar.
I'm almost positive it's the same bar as Sam Strano from Strano parts runs. He knows a ton about autocrossing and can really help you set up a car nicely for handling (I know he definitely runs ST's 35mm front)."

Yep, he runs the ST 35 front, but not the ST rear. On his F Stock car (292 lbs/in front springs) he runs a 19 rear. On his modified car he has 500 lb/in front springs. Those very stiff fronts combined with the big front bar demand a large rear bar for balance so he goes all the way to a....


21 (sometimes). But, depending on the track, sometimes he runs the 19 on the modified car.

Among the fast guys I just don't see the enthusiasm for big rear bars that I see here. And, with soft front springs and a slightly more rearward weight distribution, the V6 (particularly the 98 and up) wants a _smaller_ rear bar than a V8.

[ May 21, 2003: Message edited by: V6Bob ]

[ May 21, 2003: Message edited by: V6Bob ]</p>

[Arctc Wolf]

oh, don't forget. the bigger rear bar will make ur car wanna oversteer. well, considering we have the wheel well space, why not put smaller tires on front, and bigger tires on rear? the bigger rubber patch will grip better than a smaller one, and w/ a bigger rear bar(meaning front/rear bar size propoertions), it'll handle like b4, but with much less body roll. This is why guys who run drag setups w/ no front swaybar say their car handles a lot like it did b4 on the street. drag tires in rear w/ huge rear sway bar, and skinnies on front w/ no swaybar kinda balance out. it won't oversteer cuz it'll grip, even tho the big swaybar is on.

[6birds]

I have an 02 V6 Bird with stock springs and the 1LE front and rear sways. (32F 21R) This set up works great for me. Much less body roll. A touch more oversteer, but the factory dials in way too much understeer in stock form to compensate for idiots.The pan hard bar and control arms will really do nothing for you unless you auto cross. Get the bars and bushings from GM Parts direct, about $200 shipped. E mail if you need part numbers.

[Dominic]

Properly aligned, and with better shock valving, the 1LE 32/21 setup might be inappropritate.

IME = in my experience.

Running just the 32mm front was nothing like running the 32/21 setup. Adding the rear 21mm made it handle far more like how I intend it to.

Yes V6Bob I know you're not trying to offend anyone, and you're welcome to say your peace without disclaimers.

Thanks for everyone's input.

[FirebirdGT]

I have the 32/21 sway bars, but also have the stock V8 springs - 292 front and 114 rear. This is also the 1993 1LE suspension.

I love the way it handles! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]