Actaul Sway Bar Benefits

[Fubu9009]

I might be the only one on this thread that doesn't like the effects of a sway bar. I guess I was expecting something else. I've read tons of posts which is says it really helps in corners etc, but to me it seemed to make it looser in the corners and more risky. Can someone explain how this works.

I recently installed a progress sway bar on the stiffest setting. So the other night I saw a nice corner which I wanted to test it out on. Stupidly, I took that corner at about 60-70 mph and it wasn't even a highway on/off ramp. To my surprise the corner got sharper as I got in it and the back started to come around. Basically, is swung left and right a couple times but luckily (I don't know how) I regained control. I think I just got off the gas and made small corrections on the steering (close call). I swore I was going to hit the median and or spin out.

As you might, imagine I'm very disappointed. Can someone with more knowledge on this, explain the real benefits from a sway bar and what I should have expected. I guess I should have researched more. I did read recently that it makes the car more neutral by increasing oversteer. But who wants the back to come around. Not me.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[code85]

it just stiffens the rear reducing understeer that most FF cars have.

[-phase-]

i have the progress set on stiffest too..and when i had it installed..it wasn't a 'night and day' difference..but oh well..now i can say i have it and add it to my mod list :D

[MemphisRheins]

Well first off, what kind of tires are you on, secondly what pressure are they at, those two things make a huge factor in your cars behavior.

The rear sway bar makes the back end stiffer, if you lift on the throttle, it will respond with over-steer, which is likely to why your back end went out.

Go to a parking lot, test it there, learn the new way the car responds.

[Fubu9009]

Stock tires, stock pressure. That might explain some of it huh.

So if I would of gassed it your saying It would have kept the back in. I really do need to test it out in a parking lot.

Thanks fellas

[alnug]

with a stiff rear sway....if you have bad tires then that will be the weak link. the sway stiffens the rear and as such there is less roll in the rear...take a corner too fast and unlike the standard sway, which has a certain amount of give...thus allowing both tyres to still remain in contact with the road......a stiffer bar will actually lift one rear tyre off...and so althought up to the limit it may be a slight improvement....as you have found...it just snaps after the limit.

the standard sway at least allows some slip to indicate you're at the limit.

I guess at the end of the day .....you can't expect a HUGE difference especially if you're not really aware what it actually does!....installing bit's and peices to the car isn't going to automatically change it into a rocket.....knowledge is power here...so just be careful.

[Fubu9009]

Yep. That makes a lot more sense now. Cause it was gripping like crazy. Then out of nowhere I almost died! I was like WTF.

Thanks

[chuson]

^^^
Before you wanna have more fun, change your stock tires is a MUST. Stock tires really sucks, and I'm not the only one telling you that.