Speeds8erM-1

iTrader: (28)

Will a bigger rear sway bar with the stock front sway bar hurt handling? I am thinking about getting a BMR 21mm to make the car hook better when it gets running again but I dont want it to hurt handling.

sawedoff

iTrader: (3)

Well oversteer won't be your problem. If you have stock springs on the car, and stock shocks, you may develop understeer. You didn't say what it was that you were trying to do, or how the car is behaving. I know that from the factory they design cars to have understeer, because that is safer for most people. But that does sound like an interesting test though.

Speeds8erM-1

iTrader: (28)

I dont have a clue how the car drives, I havent driven it in two years. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" /> I figure while the 12 Bolt is going in and the rear sway bar is off, I might as well get one. The car has Intrax Springs and stock shocks, I will be switching to another lowering spring and putting new stick shocks on soon. I might put Hals on the rear. I want to hook better but dont want to make the car handle worse.

jyeager

Changes to the rear sway bar shouldn't have any affect on 'hook'. I don't recommend you do that if your goal is to hook better.
If you do increase the size of the rear swaybar you might achieve neutral handling in the turns, or if you go too far you will end up with oversteer. If you don't know what that is and why you'd want it, then definitely don't change your sway bar.

2001bird

I have just installed a 12 bolt and I have the bmr rear sway bar on with the stock front. I haven't had time to install the front. I expected my car to overstear big time but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The car has a slight oversteer but it handles better than before. i have less rear tire rub (315's) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> , less body roll, and the car is more easilly conrolled in a powerslide!

Here are my susp. mods
granatelli springs,KYB agx shocks,bmr stb,kenny brown sfc, bmr lca,bmr aphr,random tech torque arm. and soon to be install Bmr front sway bar to match my back!!!!!!!

PlowTown Missile

if you don't think your rear sway bar help launching, take it off and see how well it hooks <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

Speeds8erM-1

iTrader: (28)

Yes, a bigger rear sway bar will make a car launch better, it will launch straighter. It might not make a big difference but it all adds up.

JimMueller

iTrader: (9)

How much bigger?

I ran a 32/25 in autox and was having oversteer problems. I switched back to the OEM 19 rear bar and the oversteer has drastically reduced in daily driving, I can't wait to get back on the courses.

However, it doesn't launch as good with the smaller rear bar. Rear end tends to fish tail on a launch, whereas with the 25 it would slide just a bit to one side and not move further until I let off the gas.

Depending upon what I see on the course I may try a 21. My research has indicated that larger bars on the rear reduce understeer and/or increase oversteer, all else remaing equal.

BlackBird55

iTrader: (1)

What people have been saying is exactly the opposite of what is true.

Increase in sway bar dia = less traction at that axle.

So

Larger rear = more oversteer
Smaller rear = less oversteer

The F-body's are pretty neutral, depending on how you enter the turn it will over or understeer.

shane p

I would save alittle more money up and buy a front and rear ,putting just the rear on might make handling issues. Change both and it will hook good and handle great. I would also use another brand of spring.

Speeds8erM-1

iTrader: (28)

No because the heavier front sway bar would offset the traction that the bigger rear sway bar would give me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> I am going to a different spring. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> I bought the car with those on it.

RSouth

I have had several size sway bars on my car front and rear. One of the best set-ups that you can put on the car and cheapest to buy is a set of 1LE swaybars from GM. Invest in the heavy durometer bushings. They are much cheaper than polyurethane, and don't bind under load. Your cost for all of this will be close to what you would pay for a rear sway from Hotchkiss. The bigger sway bars are a bit too stiff, they will make your car feel more solid, but you need some flex in the suspension to keep the tire contact patch on the ground. Pick up some heavy durometer bushings for the LCA's as well. Same principle applys here. Take off your LCA/s and take them to a machine shop to have them installed. It is a very cheap mod, but you will be impressed with the results at the AutoX.
I would not Advise putting the larger sway on the rear without changing the front, except as an experiment. As mentioned previously, you will create a fair amount of oversteer.

Speeds8erM-1

iTrader: (28)

There isnt a stock suspension part under the car except the shocks. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> I already have Lakewood LCA's. I dont autocross but I dont want to hurt handling either.

rodent

iTrader: (1)

I have Hotchkis 1" (25.4mm) sway bar in the rear and I haven't had the time to do the front 1-7/16" sway bar yet. YES, it does have oversteer but it sure does take the corners much better than stock. The stock WS6 rear sway bar looks like a wire hanger compared to the Hotchkis. I did the install when I put my 12 bolt in.

<small>[ March 06, 2003, 10:01 AM: Message edited by: rodent ]</small>

Speeds8erM-1

iTrader: (28)

When you say oversteer, do you mean it tends to push?

rodent

iTrader: (1)

I don't how to describe it but the back end wants to kick out when the tires start to spin going around corners.