Sway bars/struts for dummies

[GoHuskies]

Could someone please elaborate as to the pros/cons of the various types of bolt on upgrades?

I see sway bars for front and rear, struts as well. How do these differ and what does each do for the car

[bizzybear]

non-expert post... just my understanding... correct if i'm wrong...

each bar is designed to add rigidity to the area of where it's added... a stiffer chassis allows for less body flex resulting in a more solid vehicle overall but mostly on turns...

pros: read above... and aesthetically pleasing to some eyes...

cons: add a tiny bit of weight??

[David_PA]

You give up some softness / comfort for stiffness, better control in turns.

Like GoHuskies, I'd also like to know whether bars front or rear do the same thing as stiffer springs or struts, or whether there's a different kind of control given by a sway bar than by springs / struts.

[CrzyKly]

glad im not the only mod noob here

[forumonlooker]

Chassis stiffening is a more subtle effect than suspension. Sway bars will reduce the roll of the car through corners by having a stronger "bridge" between the mounts. Other chassis stiffening bits do the same, though you need to make sure you add them as needed. By stiffening one area too much while the other side isn't the same, could actually cause too much understeer/oversteer and hinder the performance.

Springs and struts will normally lower your car, thus lowering the center of gravity, as well as fine tune the compression of weight on tires through corners. One can get a more pronounced ride adjustment from just a suspension change than any one chassis enforcement but that is also why it is so much more expensive.

[GoHuskies]

Originally Posted by forumonlooker

Chassis stiffening is a more subtle effect than suspension. Sway bars will reduce the roll of the car through corners by having a stronger "bridge" between the mounts. Other chassis stiffening bits do the same, though you need to make sure you add them as needed. By stiffening one area too much while the other side isn't the same, could actually cause too much understeer/oversteer and hinder the performance.

Springs and struts will normally lower your car, thus lowering the center of gravity, as well as fine tune the compression of weight on tires through corners. One can get a more pronounced ride adjustment from just a suspension change than any one chassis enforcement but that is also why it is so much more expensive.

A difference of almost $1600 between the Cusco front struts and coilovers


More on the strut note: What's the difference between front & rear, as in how adding a bar there affects the car. Looking at my own car I feel worried on street turns with the car rolling a bit to much as well as the grip on broken pavement.

[human668]

Usually a thicker rear sway bar introduces oversteer. A thicker front sway bar introduce understeer. On a FWD which tends to understeer, a rear sway bar will counter that.

[91CRXTC]

so im thinkin for a FWD would pretty much want a softer front and harder rear. Feels good on m crx in forza 2.

[bizzybear]

Originally Posted by 91CRXTC

Feels good on m crx in forza 2.

[91CRXTC]