Sway bar settings. Why not run stiffest setting all the time?

wdkwang

I'm reading most people say that running aftermarket sway bars on medium setting is ideal for daily driving and stiffest for track days. I understand running on the stiffest setting takes away from comfort but is there any real negative factors. I was thinking whenever I get the Hotchkis, why not run them on stiffest all the time. Someone enlighten me please

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Scott @ RA

Sway bar settings generally do not have an impact on how "stiff" your ride quality is, per say. That is usually directly impacted by spring rates and shock valving (mostly high speed in compression), etc.
Stiffening up the sway bars generally only effects the side to side transfer of weight more commonly referred to as body roll.

So yes, you absolutely can run your sway bars at the stiffest setting for the street, (I prefer it and do it all the time). The only likely adverse effects you may have by doing this is less grip on wet roads and the car having more of a tendency to want to follow the grooves in the roads a little more.

6MT

But I run mine in the middle.

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Red__Zed

And the fact that your endlinks probably won't hold up.

Kingbaby

+1

same here...

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kenchan

all good posts above.

op -you have to setup the swaybar to COMPLIMENT the suspension's overall dynamics. you cant just slap something on and expect it to handle like a race car when one might be running some shitt tires or something stupid.

m4a1mustang

These bar settings are often a personal preference, too. Some like a stiffer rear bar while others like it a little softer. There is really no right or wrong.

Bottom line is to play around with your settings and fine tune them to your liking.

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gmr19

Don't stiffer sways help the tire's contact patch on the road? How does this reduce wet grip?

I'm thinking about getting some Stillen sways on OEM suspension to reduce body roll. Will this condition wear out any other parts prematurely? Would probably run medium setting front/rear.

cossie1600

you want your suspension to roll in the rain

m4a1mustang

Indeed. In some racing series where it is allowed teams will disconnect the rear sway bar to help with grip in the rain.

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gmr19

I'm guessing the weight transfer to the outside wheels helps with grip?

Endgame

I have a question....

The PowerHouse Amuse Z34 runs stock sways (only have coilovers so as far as I can tell). They ran a MUCH faster time at Tskuba than the Nismo Z with stiffer sways. The Amuse Z does have 15 more ponies than the Nismo, but that does not seem to be enough to justify a 2 second advantage on that track.

Is it better to go sway less for the track??

xdeslitx

driven by the same person?

cossie1600

stiff suspension is pretty much like sway bars. sway bars are just cheap ways to modify your car. a nice coilover setup is almost alwats better

Endgame

No. I think Keiichi Tsuchiya was driving the Nismo Z34. Someone else drove the Amuse Z34. That gave the upper hand to the Nismo as Tsuchiya is by far the best driver of the BM crew.