Rear sway bar...Is it worth it?
#1
Foghorn Leghorn
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: I reside in a near constant state of amazment.
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Rear sway bar...Is it worth it?
Since I've been showering the love on the Fastback here as of late, what with the addition of an 8" Trac-Loc and AC, I've been kicking around the idea of upgrading the sway bars.
I've decided to go with a 1" front sway bar to replace the iddybiddy factory piece but I am undecided about a rear sway bar. I only drive her on the street, no autocross or anything like that so would I benefit at all from the addition of a rear sway bar?
Thoughts & suggestions are appreciated.
I've decided to go with a 1" front sway bar to replace the iddybiddy factory piece but I am undecided about a rear sway bar. I only drive her on the street, no autocross or anything like that so would I benefit at all from the addition of a rear sway bar?
Thoughts & suggestions are appreciated.
#3
Do you have limited slip or an open diff? How is your front suspension stiff/loose? On a limited slip a rear sway bar will help reduce over steering or at least be able to do it in a more predictable manner provided you don't over stiffen the rear in comparison to the front. If you have an open diff you'll make over steer worse regardless.
#4
Foghorn Leghorn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: I reside in a near constant state of amazment.
Posts: 2,923
It's an 8" traction lock.
The front end is rack & pinion steering, fresh factory upper & lower control arms with a 1" Shelby drop on the uppers & koni shocks.
The front end is rack & pinion steering, fresh factory upper & lower control arms with a 1" Shelby drop on the uppers & koni shocks.
Last edited by fastbackford351; 10-09-2015 at 05:43 AM.
#5
Sway bars are a very helpful suspension tuning tool, but whether or not your car needs one is TBD. I say go without a rear bar for a while, and find a safe place to push the car to its grip limit and see how it reacts. My car WAS understeering, but I changed the springs and will go for different alignment settings (haven't done this yet) and will see if I would benefit from a rear bar. I have an open diff so keeping the car understeering might be beneficial. My plan is to get the car more sorted once its on the road. Just welded in the outer shock tower plates today...
#7
You'll find the 1" front will be sufficient for your needs. what I noticed once I upgrade the front sway bar, was the amount of body flex and suspension movement there is in these cars. I've got a very similar set up to you in my 66 and I've got a 3/4" rear bar that's still in the box, 2 years later, never found a need to put it in. My suggestion, try subframe connectors before the rear bar.
#9
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