Need to prove someone either right or wrong, does a drag car need a rear swaybar?
#1
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
He seems to think that it doesnt. This came about when installing my rear end today and the fitment on my 25mm Spohn swaybar is horrible. Its extremely close to the bottom of the rear end cover. Anyhow, he is so sure that it would be ok for a drag car and serves no purpose. What do you guys and gals think of that?
#2
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Yes its very important. If you dont have one, the shocks and springs are all that tie the body/chassis and axle housing together. Since in drag racing you use soft springs and shocks for weight transfer, there isnt much to prevent the body from rolling and you will lose power to accerlate forward while the car is twisting.
#3
8 Second Club
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Need one... no it does not NEED one... it will help ALOT and keep the car flat but a drag car does not NEED one. I have been 8'0's at 170+ with no sway bar. Just to make sure we are on the right page.. i take it by "rear sway bar" you mean a "drag sway bar"?
#7
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
SilverGhost: I know that these past 2 threads deal with the same issue, but on one I need to clarify whether a swaybar is really needed or not to prove someone right or wrong and the other I needed to know what I need to do about the clearance because I dont trust that the car doesnt need a rear swaybar. So I need to know what I need to do about the clearance. Thanks.
Trending Topics
#8
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Bowman, he means any swaybar.
You can race without a rear sway bar, but do not expect to launch straight if you have a lot of torque and sticky tires.
A torque arm is to plant the rear tires and act as a lever to against the mount so the axle doesnt lift up and lose traction. A torque arm doesnt focus on side to side body roll.
Just go for a short test drive without the rear sway bar in, and take your friend. You both will see what I am talking about when I say the body will roll in the back. Dont take any high G turns though.
You can race without a rear sway bar, but do not expect to launch straight if you have a lot of torque and sticky tires.
A torque arm is to plant the rear tires and act as a lever to against the mount so the axle doesnt lift up and lose traction. A torque arm doesnt focus on side to side body roll.
Just go for a short test drive without the rear sway bar in, and take your friend. You both will see what I am talking about when I say the body will roll in the back. Dont take any high G turns though.
#10
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Do what I said and go for a test drive. Try launching as hard as you can on the street and let me know what you find out. If your car doesnt torque(sway) to the side on the launch, you either have the weakest LS1 of all time, or very stiff rear springs that they are taking the load.
#11
9 Second Club
iTrader: (119)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Beasst.........
tell him to take it from me. i just did a rearend swap with a freind of mine over the weekend, switching back to a 10 bolt for now, (long story), and my 12 bolt had a BMR extreme sway bar on it. however, to install the ex. sway bar, the lower bracket, i think, needed to be removed and we had no way to mount the stock one back on so i drove my car home about 30 miles without one, not to mention no front either.
VERY NOTICABLE & VERY SCARY!!!!!
car is parked until i can get the bracket to put on a rear sway bar. A MUST HAVE!!!
hope this helps answer your question.
later,
Dave
tell him to take it from me. i just did a rearend swap with a freind of mine over the weekend, switching back to a 10 bolt for now, (long story), and my 12 bolt had a BMR extreme sway bar on it. however, to install the ex. sway bar, the lower bracket, i think, needed to be removed and we had no way to mount the stock one back on so i drove my car home about 30 miles without one, not to mention no front either.
VERY NOTICABLE & VERY SCARY!!!!!
car is parked until i can get the bracket to put on a rear sway bar. A MUST HAVE!!!
hope this helps answer your question.
later,
Dave
#12
TECH Addict
iTrader: (8)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
A few years ago I tried running without the sway bar. The car launched fine, but I did not like the way that it handled at speed. I put the factory sway bar back in. This was on my Firebird. Sixty foot times were identical 1.41's and the runs were made back to back at Carolina Dragway.
I run a six cylinder spring on the drivers side and a 1995 Formula spring on the passenger side with an air bag set at 15 -20 psi. The shocks are HAL's set at 5 clicks.
Daren
I run a six cylinder spring on the drivers side and a 1995 Formula spring on the passenger side with an air bag set at 15 -20 psi. The shocks are HAL's set at 5 clicks.
Daren
#13
9 Second Club
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: on the dyno tuning in MD
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I wouldn't run without one - cars gonna twist up on launch if you have any power (and no air bag) and it is gonna be a scary ride on the big end. Why wouldn't you want one - there is no advantage to not having it
![Icon Confused](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies2/icon_confused.gif)
#14
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
No, you don't NEED one if you use an air bag. It will launch pretty straight and smooth. I don't have a rear sway bar at all on my project car and it launches straight. I do however plan on adding a BMR X-Treme unit after the heads, cam, front clip install. Here is a video of it launching recently at the track, this was just a test of how well all the pieces work together down the track, not a full pass. ![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
Click on the image to watch the video
![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
Click on the image to watch the video
![](http://jenibellaracing.com/videos/9_19_2004_04.jpg)
#15
LS1Tech Co-Founder
iTrader: (34)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
1) No rear bar sucks, did that, car was very inconsistent at the track and was sloppy at speed
2) Stock is okay for a long time until your car leaves all cocked.
3) I like my Spohn drag bar a lot.
2) Stock is okay for a long time until your car leaves all cocked.
3) I like my Spohn drag bar a lot.
#16
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: detroit rock city
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
i ran my car on the street with no sway bars at all for the first few months i had it....no problems......i had a guy tell me the same thing, that at the strip i don't need them.......well, i went to the track once with none, and once with an eibach in the rear, and it helped my launch a whole lot......without it you're kind of only planting one side good.......my e.t.s were a tenth better consistently on tires that were a few thousand more mile worn......
#17
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
i like running no sway in the front, but in the back i find the thickest one possible. personnal preference. ive have done the rear sway delete and i tell you drivin in reverse at 20mph plus get interesting when you go to turn.