bigger sway bars worth it over stock? - Aftermarket Product Review - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

samiam91RS · 07-04-2008, 12:39 PM

so, i pretty much went through the whole suspension front and back all i need now pretty much is some sub frame connectors, however the stock sway bars are there so when i first got it i figured ok thats cool, since i wanted to buy hotchkis sway bars. now, whats difference just size? anyone have stock size versus aftermarket size? or what size our 3rd gens use?
i just want to make sure ill get bang for my buck as i want to squeeze every bit of potential for the suspension. so after that hopefully ill be set, so im not sure weather to go with hotchkis, UMI, spohn etc.

JamesC · 07-04-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samiam91RS

i just want to make sure ill get bang for my buck as i want to squeeze every bit of potential for the suspension. so after that hopefully ill be set, so im not sure weather to go with hotchkis, UMI, spohn etc.

Bang for the buck? How about the OE hollow 36mm and solid 24 combo? Potential? Humm, you might ask yourself what you wish the car to. Oversteer, understeer? Probably drive yourself crazy trying to decide unless you have track experience (would me anyway).

JamesC

samiam91RS · 07-04-2008, 01:18 PM

its not a track car or anything just something to carve curves for a daily driver, a good street machine. your saying the OE ones are 36 and 24? im looking up some now and hotchkis is 1 in and 1 7/16 so you think these would tighten up the roll more?

JamesC · 07-04-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samiam91RS

your saying the OE ones are 36 and 24? im looking up some now and hotchkis is 1 in and 1 7/16 so you think these would tighten up the roll more?

Some Camaros, 89-92, and some 'Birds, 86-92, had the 36/24 combo, a combo which is usually associated with higher performance. I like mine, but I'm sure there're other opinions to come.

JamesC

Stephen · 07-04-2008, 01:55 PM

All GTAs got the 36/24 combo..1LE Camaros got the 36/24s...Not sure about the IROCs & later moel Z28s.

I wouldn't spend the $ on aftermarket ones for the street. Get some 36/24s, a Wonder Bar, a STB, SFCs & call it a day.

SteelTownMadDog · 07-04-2008, 02:02 PM

If all you're doing is street cruising, then the stiffer bars are probably fine. But if you track it, or autocross it, then you have to tune according to what the car is doing. Right now, I have the 36/24 combo with the Eibach Pro-Kit, but the car is WAY too loose on throttle coming out of turns, so I will be trying a 19mm bar in the back and see how that feels. If that's too much, then I'll probably settle on a 21 or 22 rear bar.

Stephen · 07-04-2008, 02:06 PM

Yes, for the track, stepping DOWN the size of the rear bar does help. And you ca always find somebody to trade you their smaller bar for your big one, or just sell yours outright & make $.

//<86TA>\\ · 07-04-2008, 02:16 PM

i recently swapped from a 1" rear bar to a 19mm one. Like said above, bigger is not necessarily always better, it all depends on what you are doing.

The hotchkis bars are just a tad larger that the 36mm bars, not really work the large extra cost, just pick up a front bar form ebay, TDS or here on TGO, same with the back. Have to see how it feels for you and swap them accordingly. The stock bars are really quite plentiful and available in a large variety of diameters, plenty fine for tuning.

The one issue i had with the Hotchkis rear bar, its formed a little differently than stock and was waaaay too close to my shocks for comfort.

samiam91RS · 07-04-2008, 02:41 PM

oh yea werent you the one that called them and told them about the issue? i think i remember reading about that. hmm well i suppose i can just stick with the stock ones, i mean i just wanted to know what the hype was all about, like maybe a difference between day and night with just going a bit bigger. btw what is STB? never figured that out.
no autocrossing just the everyday nascar style driving on the california twist turny highways, and a to-be-incredible street machine...

JamesC · 07-04-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samiam91RS

btw what is STB?

Strut tower brace. Check my Car Details for a pic (of one type).

JamesC

samiam91RS · 07-04-2008, 02:57 PM

ohhh the thing that connects the top of the struts in the engine compartment..i figured i knew what it was just couldnt puzzle it. brain fart.

3rdgenmaro · 07-05-2008, 08:30 AM

I just installed the wonderbar and 24mm rear yesterday. I already had a 36 on the front. I love it. Big difference over the original bars on the car.

samiam91RS · 07-05-2008, 05:41 PM

so your saying the aftermarket bigger ones over stock are better then original? keep in mind this is stayin a street car

Stephen · 07-05-2008, 05:58 PM

No....The aftermarket ones are only slightly bigger & NOT worth the extra cost. In fact, for the rear, a 21mm-ish is better than the 24mm rear.

84 1LE · 07-05-2008, 09:28 PM

Depends on how stiff your springs are too.Softer springs will need bigger bars(GTA).Stiffer springs with smaller bars(z28).This is the way GM set-up the GTAs & Z28.Z cars controled body roll with there stiffer springs while GTAs did the same w/ softer springs & bigger swaybars.I have both hotchkis bars on my 84, but my spring rates are softer than most use.Im running the Ground Control set-up with the softest spring.I cant remeber the rates anymore though.

samiam91RS · 07-20-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 84 1LE

Depends on how stiff your springs are too.Softer springs will need bigger bars(GTA).Stiffer springs with smaller bars(z28).This is the way GM set-up the GTAs & Z28.Z cars controled body roll with there stiffer springs while GTAs did the same w/ softer springs & bigger swaybars.I have both hotchkis bars on my 84, but my spring rates are softer than most use.Im running the Ground Control set-up with the softest spring.I cant remeber the rates anymore though.

oh ok, well im not sure if the eichback pro kit is soft or hard (thats what i have now) along with the stock sway bars that came on the RS. the wonderbar, is the extra bolt on that goes to the front correct? is that a bolt on that makes a significant difference?

84 1LE · 07-20-2008, 08:19 PM

Rs will have softer springs than Z cars & the swaybars are smaller too.On z28 & iroc's the sring rate is 548 in lbs on RS cars its 350, i believe.The Fr. bars are 30 & 32, Rr.24mm for Z cars & 28Fr/18Rr for RS, IIRC.Eibachs are probably stiffer than Rs springs, probably stiffer or about the same than Zs as well.The wonder that uses a thrid bolt is TDS.Its the only one i know that does.It just an extra mounting point that adds more rigidity to the bar.Allowing to to transfer more steering force to the opposite frame rail to even out the loads placed on both rails.

Jonathan Dyer · 07-20-2008, 08:33 PM

<the wonderbar, is the extra bolt on that goes to the front correct? is that a bolt on that makes a significant difference>
I bought a wonder bar from TDS about 3 years ago as one of my early upgrades. It's satisfying in that it is cheap, makes a difference and is really easy to do yourself at home. Along with sub frame connectors, it's a worthwhile investment.
Jon

91 RS Drop Top · 07-30-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Yes, for the track, stepping DOWN the size of the rear bar does help. And you ca always find somebody to trade you their smaller bar for your big one, or just sell yours outright & make $.

I don't know much about suspensions. Can someone educate me about how stepping down helps for autocross, and what is stepping up good for? From what I know bigger bars are going to make the body roll less, right? how does that play our for autocross? harder to maintain traction?

GoodlookinRS · 07-30-2008, 08:47 PM

The eichback pro kit any good for auto cross? I want to get my car ready also but didnt know if they were stiff enough?
thanks
kevin

too-fast-85 · 07-30-2008, 09:30 PM

Great info. I'm gettin to the point of an upgrade and the sway bars were on my list. I'll be rethinking that. I need to know if lowering springs help any? These are on my list to. Just want a good handling set-up. No Auto-Cross. Wonderbar? Can one be used on a carb'ed car? This will be going on a 85 Z-28. Any added info is welcomed.

Stephen · 07-30-2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91 RS Drop Top

I don't know much about suspensions. Can someone educate me about how stepping down helps for autocross, and what is stepping up good for? From what I know bigger bars are going to make the body roll less, right? how does that play our for autocross? harder to maintain traction?

The bigger bar reduces weight transfer, side to side, which is what you need for the tire to stick. No weight=No traction.

JamesC · 07-31-2008, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by too-fast-85

Wonderbar? Can one be used on a carb'ed car?

Yes. While I recommend the Wonderbar, take note that GM designed it as a Bandaid for the steering box area on the IROC and its 16" wheels. It was never intended as the performance piece that it seems to have become. I doubt that most members could tell whether the bar was installed or not in a blind test.

JamesC

chevyowner02 · 07-31-2008, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesC

Yes. While I recommend the Wonderbar, take note that GM designed it as a Bandaid for the steering box area on the IROC and its 16" wheels. It was never intended as the performance piece that it seems to have become. I doubt that most member could tell whether the bar was installed or not in a blind test.

JamesC

I put one on my car and it felt like it did befor.

84 maro · 08-04-2008, 06:40 PM

okay my car is a daily but i drive it hard I am re-doing my suspension and was wondering if any of you have used the suspension technique sway bars from summit. In my car i either slide the rear end or the front end locks up and just pushes straight for the curb, I'm about to install the eibach sportlines, a UMI wonderbar, either kyb agx's or koni's depending on money flow when i buy, new control arms, front end rebuild kit, the works. I do have new wheels with v tread tires and my traction went up quite a bit and haven't checked out the corners recently but just wondering how you all felt about them or if you have a better option for my car http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1∂=STQ%2D52075&N=700+4294925024+4294908216+4294908198+4294925130+4294839061+4294923769+115&autoview=sku

Stephen · 08-04-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 84 maro

okay my car is a daily but i drive it hard I am re-doing my suspension and was wondering if any of you have used the suspension technique sway bars from summit. In my car i either slide the rear end or the front end locks up and just pushes straight for the curb, I'm about to install the eibach sportlines, a UMI wonderbar, either kyb agx's or koni's depending on money flow when i buy, new control arms, front end rebuild kit, the works. I do have new wheels with v tread tires and my traction went up quite a bit and haven't checked out the corners recently but just wondering how you all felt about them or if you have a better option for my car http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1∂=STQ%2D52075&N=700+4294925024+4294908216+4294908198+4294925130+4294839061+4294923769+115&autoview=sku

Don't waste your $ on KYB's....Just save a little more $ and get the Koni's

As for sway bars, save your $ and just get OEM bars...36m front, 19mm/21mm rear.