Sway bar suggestions for my susp. setup

[ghx407]

I've been searching for some hours, but I can't find a definitive answer...

Should I stick with the stock sway bars?Should I only upgrade to a HICAS rear bar?Should I upgrade both bars?What size bars should I upgrade to, if any?

I use my '93 240SX SE mostly for spirited driving in mountain roads.

I already have a Tokico HP shock/spring matched combo (HPK249) with the following specs: Front spring rate is 170lbs/in=~3.05kg/mmRear spring rate is 150lbs/in=~2.7kg/mm

I also have 17" wheels with wrapped in Michelin Pilot Primacy tires with the following specs:225/45/R17TW 240Traction AATemp. A

If it makes any difference, all four wheels have 25mm spacers to clear the Z32 front calipers, I have front and rear strut bars, and I prefer hollow sway bars.

If you guys need any other info to help me out, let me know and I will gladly post it.

Thanks for your help!!!

[Slappy]

Look through some of the post on this thread , it explains alot about front and rear sway bars...

zerothread/175858

But if you dont wanna read , White Line makes adjustable sway bars. I run Suspension Techniques myself , but it makes the rear of the car not grip as well. If you wanna know what that means , read through that thread.

[naed240sx]

Those spring rates are really weak. No point in even upgrading your swaybars with spring rates that low.

Progress are the best sways though if you still want them.

[ghx407]

That thread that you linked me to was awesome; lots of useful information. This is what I got from it, please correct me if I'm wrong:

To remedy understeer: A stiffer rear bar will "pick up" the inside rear wheel, thus transferring more weight/traction to the front tires while decreasing weight/traction in the rear of the car.

To remedy oversteer: A looser rear bar will allow the inside rear wheel to "sink" to the asphalt, keeping more weight/traction in the rear tires while decreasing weight/traction transferred to the front of the car.

Just to make sure I got things correctly, your car now tends to oversteer more than it did before right? I thought a lot of ST guys said that the ST bars made them more prone to understeer. Are you only running the rear ST bar with stock front bar, are those guys talking poop, or is my lame analysis wrong?

[Slappy]

That thread that you linked me to was awesome; lots of useful information. This is what I got from it, please correct me if I'm wrong:

To remedy understeer: A stiffer rear bar will "pick up" the inside rear wheel, thus transferring more weight/traction to the front tires while decreasing weight/traction in the rear of the car.

To remedy oversteer: A looser rear bar will allow the inside rear wheel to "sink" to the asphalt, keeping more weight/traction in the rear tires while decreasing weight/traction transferred to the front of the car.

Just to make sure I got things correctly, your car now tends to oversteer more than it did before right? I thought a lot of ST guys said that the ST bars made them more prone to understeer. Are you only running the rear ST bar with stock front bar, are those guys talking poop, or is my lame analysis wrong?

Yea , with my driving style , and with my setup , my rear sway bar definitly creates oversteer. Once i start the Auto X season this year , i will be removing it , and re-installing it for drift events.

Not sure what you mean by ST , Strut bar? They are'nt the same as sway bars.....

If your in Auto X / SCCA / NASA , You will want to experiment with running an aftermarket front sway bar , with no or a stock rear sway bar.

The front end of your car "rolls" more into a corner than the rear. If the rear is to stiff to compensate , it wont follow the front like it should. Thats why the rear will tend to lift or lose traction.

[ghx407]

Not sure what you mean by ST , Strut bar? They are'nt the same as sway bars.....

By ST I was referring to Suspension Techniques bars. While searching I ran into several posts of people saying that their cars would tend to plow/understeer after installing Suspension Techniques sway bars front and rear. However, you experience some oversteer with your driving style and setup. That's what provoked my earlier question.

If your in Auto X / SCCA / NASA , You will want to experiment with running an aftermarket front sway bar , with no or a stock rear sway bar.

The front end of your car "rolls" more into a corner than the rear. If the rear is to stiff to compensate , it wont follow the front like it should. Thats why the rear will tend to lift or lose traction.

I will definitely follow your advice, as I got invited to what would be my first Auto X in late March. Hopefully, I can make it. Anyways, those events are what is most similar to what I currently use the car for. Thanks for your help!