New sway bar setup

[Firehawk N Wv]

Hey guys its time to finish off my suspension and all thats left is my sway bars. Im going to be installing v8 sway bars with 32m front/19m rear. Im also gonna finsh those off with Energy Suspension poly bushings and endlinks for both bars. You guys think this will be overall a good setup with the sway bars?

[hockeyman]

Re: New sway bar setup

What kind of springs and shocks do you have planned or installed already?

From what I've picked-up from reading prior posts, if you're upgrading the swaybars, you'd benefit from upgrading the springs too.

[Firehawk N Wv]

Re: New sway bar setup

I have Bilstein shocks on the car that was put on in the Fall. I havent upgraded the springs and probably wont due to the car being a DD and most of the roads being so sh#tty around where I live. My nose would drag even more than it does in some place now. If I ever do switch out the srpings then Im gonna get the Hotchkins springs cuz they only drop the car 1" all around.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: New sway bar setup

Hey guys its time to finish off my suspension and all thats left is my sway bars. Im going to be installing v8 sway bars with 32m front/19m rear. Im also gonna finsh those off with Energy Suspension poly bushings and endlinks for both bars. You guys think this will be overall a good setup with the sway bars?

No.

You have the same rear springs as a V8, but softer front springs. Either get a smaller rear bar (17mm) or a bigger front (35mm).

[Firehawk N Wv]

Re: New sway bar setup

I have stock springs that came on the car. I have a 19m rear bar in my room and Im getting a 32m front bar.

[matt3989]

Re: New sway bar setup

yeah he knows that, he's saying that with the stock springs your gonna be to stiff in the rear, because of the softer front springs you're gonna probably get oversteer,

you should either get a bigger front bar (so the front is as stiff as the back), or get a smaller rear bar (to allow more flex). seeing as you all ready have the rear bar, you should get a bigger front bar.

if you wanna find out for yourself install your front bar first then get a feel for how it drives, then install the rear bar and drive around, your backend is probably gonna get loose around turns

somebody who knows more about these suspensions will probably jump in and correct any mistakes in what I said and elaborate

[Firehawk N Wv]

Re: New sway bar setup

A buddy of mine who is also on this forum (Silvachris) has installed a 32m front and a 21m rear and he said he got oversteer from that so now hes installed a 19m rear. He says that seems to feel a bit better so I was going with the same setup.

[silvachris1]

Re: New sway bar setup

A buddy of mine who is also on this forum (Silvachris) has installed a 32m front and a 21m rear and he said he got oversteer from that so now hes installed a 19m rear. He says that seems to feel a bit better so I was going with the same setup.

Yeah. I've got the Eibach Pro-Kit and Bilstein HD's. I was running the 1LE bars up until this weekend. 32mm up front and 21mm in the back. Got a bunch of other suspension stuff done too. I know what everybody says about needing to match bars with springs and such, but I only got a little oversteer. I've autocrossed on that setup quite a few times too. I just got a 19mm bar the other day because that's what everybody says I "need" with my springs, and whatnot. We'll see, but so far, the difference is minimal. It feels a tiny bit less responsive on turn in with the smaller bar, but that's all in my head. The car doesn't really feel like it's any more planted in the curves, but I haven't pushed it yet, and wont until I feel comfortable with it. If this 19mm bar takes that last bit of oversteer away, I'll keep it, but it better start feeling more planted and responsive when I push it.

[V6Bob]

Re: New sway bar setup

No.

You have the same rear springs as a V8, but softer front springs. Either get a smaller rear bar (17mm) or a bigger front (35mm).

You have the right basic idea. V8 bars and V6 springs are a bad combination. Bars need to match springs.

But the bigger front won't balance the car. Because of improved camber the bigger front bar does little to change the balance of the car.

If the car had independent suspension all around you'd be right. But with a live axle rear, the rear bar is far more powerful in setting the balance.

Firehawk N Wv - The big rear bar will feel fine, even lively, in normal driving. But when you really need handling (emergency swerve or wet weather) it can cause the car to spin, due to oversteer. Sway bars are probably the trickiest suspension mod. There's a lot of bad information on the Net about them. Did you know the rear bar does almost nothing to control roll? It's just a suspension tuning device. And did you know that a bigger bar _reduces_ traction at the rear of an fbody in a corner? It's downright dangerous to use bars because some guy on the Net recommends them (yes, I include myself). You need to understand this mod.

On a live axle car, it is better to have a rear bar that's a little too small than one that's a little too big. The rear end needs all the help it can get, to maintain traction in corners.

[Firehawk N Wv]

Re: New sway bar setup

So is a 32/19 setup wrong for my car overall. Should I go with a 17 if i can even find one. Ive thoguth abut getting a set of Hotchkins 1in lowering springs because I dotn want a bigger drop than that cuz of the roads around where i live. Would that help balance the car back out. Im a little confused.

[matt3989]

Re: New sway bar setup

I've heard some people say that after switching to a stiffer aftermarket spring they dont rub any more than usual because of the firmmer spring, obviously that depends on what kind of coditions cause the rub, your approach angle will be more limited, but you might not rub because of dips in the road

as for the bars I would be interested to know how it turns out either way, they are a future mod for me

You might want to give Sam Strano a call and see what he suggests, he is supposed to really know his stuff

[Firehawk N Wv]

Re: New sway bar setup

Well I think Im going to order the Hotchkins springs to finish off the suspension for sure. Same Strano, Ive heard that name before. Who is he again?

[V6Bob]

Re: New sway bar setup

Well I think Im going to order the Hotchkins springs to finish off the suspension for sure. Same Strano, Ive heard that name before. Who is he again?

Sam Strano is a vendor and an accomplished fbody autocrosser. He's unusual in that he'll spend time with people on the phone, discussing setup. Of course, he wants you to buy from him, but you're not talking to an order guy. He's the real deal.

Before you call, have in mind that he'll want to know every non-cosmetic mod you've made to your car, and what you're trying to accomplish. It also would be good to read the sticky above about his ideas.

[Firehawk N Wv]

Re: New sway bar setup

Where can I get his number?

[Firehawk N Wv]

Re: New sway bar setup

My suspension sets as of this right now.
-stock rims 16 in for winter Nitto 450 extreme 245/50/16 all around
-17in boyd rims for summer Nitto 555 extreme 275/40/17 all around
-BMR strut brace
-BMR lower control arms
-BMR panhard rod
-Edlebrock torque arm
-Billstein HD shocks
-proabably gonna order Hotchkins 1in drop springs
-then the I will have both sway bars with the 32/21 setup
Both will be v8 bars with Energy Suspension bushings and endlinks

I just want the car to feel stiffer going around curves when i drive it hard. I also want to finish out my suspension. Also help keep as much tires on the ground when driving normal and drag racing. Im going tomorrow to pick up the rest of my Energy Suspensino components. I just need to find a 32m front bar cuz i have the 21m rear bar in my room right now.