Adjustable sway bar question

[Hrant]

I have Comptech adjustable sway bars set at neutral holes and want to know what is the difference between: increasing the stiffness of the front sway bar by one hole position vs loosening the rear sway bar by one hole position.

I have Bilstein's on lower perch and the front sway bar is hitting the battery tray of my 98-T on heavy g loads [this is a common problem with all aftermarket sway bars that we have found on other Ts as well .....].

I know both will increase understeer but is there a significantly or noticeable difference between the two in the handling on the track and/or on the street? Will one increase understeer more than the other? I am leaning towards the front being stiffer to avoid the clunking of the sway bar on the battery tray at the track as that will shorten the sway bar's arms and thus the clearance from the tray .... but I also like the comfort of cruising on highways as my driving combo street/track is 70/30 percent mix .....

Please no guesses.

[This message has been edited by Hrant (edited 11 February 2003).]

 

[Lud]

Hrant I (and probably others) would like to help, but you are asking for a definitive and objective answer to a subjective question.

Yes, both will increase understeer. However, that does not mean they are equal. It is certainly possible to have a neutral handling car that is not cornering to it's maximum capability.

So while they will both reduce understeer, they will not result in an identical setup because you are talking about the difference between +1 in the front and 0 in the rear versus 0 in the front and -1 in the rear. Obviously overall you will have less body roll with the former setup and more with the latter.

As for asking whether you will find this noticeable or significant, and saying "please no guesses" -- you are the only one who can answer because nobody else knows what you consider significant or what you would even notice.

It's like people asking if a given set of springs and shocks are "too stiff" - everyone has their own definition of "too stiff." Some people think the Zanardi is too stiff, while others run suspensions that are much stiffer and love it.

 

[Hrant]

Good point Lud ....

OK, I will settle for subjective feedback ... but I am trying to solicit input from those who have actually tried both scenarios perhaps on the same track so they can tell the difference rather than the theoretical textbook approach .....

For track it seems most are going with stiffer fronts and/or with less sway bar on the rear, and even no sway bar ..... but on a T, the lean with the oem was bad enough and that is why I went with aftermarket.

While I am happy with the current set up, when I push the envelope further on the track my first worry is a wiggling rear end letting loose (I am on oem 16/17 yoko tires/wheel and getting heat in them seems to be a critical variable) ..... the non-compliance toe link should help but then I am not PD Cunnigham ...... LOL!

A softer rear sway bar will make this more predictable and manageable, but then it will increase the rear body lean no? And a stiffer front keeping the rear the same will do what ....?

I guess I have to go out and try them heh ...?

 

[docjohn]

Hrant- in the real world the degree of stiffness between the outer and inner holes is about 90lbs per shad at ct.That is not too big a difference.I have the front on stiffest and rear at mid stiff.I find there are more noticible changes in track performance with the shock rebound and tire pressures than fiddling with the CT sways.Also you will like the rear bush kit and beam.

 

[supercharged]

For a high speed sweeper is the understeer noticed most on turn in or mid turn?

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

I've been driving and testing with a 96 NSX-T for quite a bit now. In fact, that is the car that we will be using in OTC. I really don't understand the complained that Targa owners has about chassis flex. Even the 96 is stiff enough. Honda did a wonderful job stiffening them.

This particular car, in fact handles better than my coupe!!

So stop using the Targa as a handicap.

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[Hrant]

Now now now Andrie, play fair and show your cards .....

The car your reference has many expen$ive mods - especially in the suspension area ..... and I know the differnece in a T with and without aftermarket sway bars and it is substantial ....

Having said that, I know you have experimented with sway bars, so don't evade sharing your "notes" ..... what did you conlcude ......