Sway Bars for Drag Setup?
 

Hey Guys,

So I did some searching and did not see anything specifically for the 1/4. If there is a thread please attach so I can close this one.

Well I don't do any of the autocross stuff but I am a drag fanatic. I wanted to know if a sway bar upgrade was even needed for my driving habit? If it is a good idea which product would best suite my application as they all seem to be doing good for you guys who like to do laps. :driving:

I can't imagine sways having much, if any, effect on straight line driving.

That's what I was thinking as well but I just wanted to see what the forum had to say.

bump looking for more input

I think you got your answer. Sways only work to control body roll. They do not stop or help squat or anything like that.

I don't think dragsters even have swabars to begin with (first pic I found on google)

http://www.kenskustomchassis.com/images/jr_dragster.jpg

Get a set of adjustable front links for the sway. Adjust them long as you can get them. This will give you more droop when the front of the car raises coming off the line. The only thing that will limit your front wheel travel now will be the coilovers.

front swaybar can help reduce tramlining feel on uneven roads with grooves to keep your car pointed straight, but drag strips are usually flat so i dont think there's really special need. might be just extra weight you dont need.

:confused:? Your Sways do not limit travel at all within limits of the stroke of the stock suspension. If you adjust them as long as you can get them the only thing you are going to do is change the position of the sway as the car sits on level ground.

Most drag guys I know don't run any. Its just extra weight. As others said, sways will do nothing for you at the strip. If you want them, then lighter is better. That would be the only benefit to changing a sway bar is either for lighter or to remove completely.

I properly setup chassis (drag car) will not need sway bars. However, street cars without a cage can and will benefit from sway bars. My buddy put a rather large rear sway bar on his 10 second comaro street car and it had a positive affect on launching a car. But, that car also makes 500 wheel torque and twists the whole chassis off the line. Our cars will probably not net the same results.

^ That makes sense because it will help keep the rear axle on the ground while the body of the car tends to roll.

When I was drag racing my 440 Dart. That was one of the things I did because when the car torqued coming off the line. It would hold the left tire up. ;)

just take them off, save weight

A stiff rear bar would help with wheel hop/traction because it makes the rear end behave more like a solid axle...

I would think, anyway.

Depends, stock bars with stock bushings can effect strait line performance.

The reason, The factory bushings are rubber that bind when moved from there settled position meaning that even unattached they will want to return to the position they were tightened. So as a result they tend to act as additional spring rate (ever so slightly) and will reduce weight transfer onto the rear axle. If you have aftermarket poly bushings with lube they will move freely no bind = no problem.

-Ron

Ron,

Do you think it would be worth it to just purchase a rear sway bar?

Well, it depends on your setup I personally run a reasonably sized rear bar simply so I can reduce the rear spring rate and keep balance in the car.

I will say that it would be worth going to an aftermarket bushing even on the stock bar as it would eliminate any binding associated with the factory rubber body mount bushings.

-Ron

Only track I do is the drag strip, and occasional "spirited" driving on the street. I know they have aluminum bushings but not sure about polyurethane.

Yea, I got no idea but I really never deal with drag racing.. I know the front bar can simply be removed but I have no idea of the advantages disadvantages of the rear bar size but from I hear they are generally helpful to keep the rear bar as it reduces twist/helps with wheel hop and keeps both wheels planted more evenly. I am going to guess though that in drag racing you can go to far with the rear bar size but I am not sure.

Only one way to find out I guess!!