Confused by Front/Rear Sway bars? Here's a Tutorial

[Jackass-Jeff]

Front wheel drive cars w/ fully independent suspensions shouldn't be 3-wheeling.

[RichD978]

it was too long to read... but the pictures scared me... wouldnt the car flip

[Jackass-Jeff]

it was too long to read... but the pictures scared me... wouldnt the car flip

It's never too long to read if you want to learn

How would the car flip? That's under ridiculously hard turns (autoX)... I doubt you'd be daily driving like that... (unless you're Mark or Milton... haha)

[RichD978]

guess im just used to seeing 4 tires on the ground

[Nutty101]

Haha! Amazingly it seems freaky but you realize really quick that you have just as much control as when all four are on the ground. Our cars can pull that stuff off. It is more about the driver than the car in some cases. The solara seems to be one of them.. In the right hands the car is one insain piece of equipment. It's about pushing the car, while stock they may not be the best out there they can still hold to the road really good. Upgrade the suspension and you can go even further. be prepared however it puts alot of strain on parts and causes parts to fail quicker than they should. Part of the game.

[cdssolara]

Good read! A lot of information on a tricky subject. I have one comment and a question:

A big bar at one end of the car causes weight to transfer quicker at that end, which reduces the other end of the car's tendency to slide. That's how the bars have an impact on oversteer and understeer.

Can you explain how a stiff rear bar that causes the inside rear tire to lift off the ground transfers weight to the front end? I don't see how this is possible unless the car is decelerating.

[Jackass-Jeff]

the rear is stiff as hell... compression on one side will also be applied to the opposite.

Since the front can flex (FWD), it will have grip. The RIGHT TURN will force all the weight of the car to the left side. Since the rear has a bar, it will loose traction and break loose. In breaking loose, the weight is still transfered to the left side and the bar helps compress the right side as the left is compressed. Since the right compressed, it may lift slightly (compressed!!! remember COMPRESSED!!) because of the compression caused by the left side.

[cdssolara]

I understand what causes one side to lift up, but that wasn't my question. I probably didn't phrase it correctly. I want to know how the bigger rear bar gives the front end more motive traction, especially in a situation like the last picture where the inside rear tire is off the ground.

the rear is stiff as hell... compression on one side will also be applied to the opposite.

Since the front can flex (FWD), it will have grip. The RIGHT TURN will force all the weight of the car to the left side. Since the rear has a bar, it will loose traction and break loose. In breaking loose, the weight is still transfered to the left side and the bar helps compress the right side as the left is compressed. Since the right compressed, it may lift slightly (compressed!!! remember COMPRESSED!!) because of the compression caused by the left side.

[TRD_solaRa]

Very informative Jeff. Props man & mahalos for the lay out

[2002greenhornet]

Superior write-up, man. Thanks big time. I love learning how and why things work.

A quick question about the TRD RSB: The "track" setting effectively makes it stiffer, correct? In other words, equalizes the compression from side to side more? I've been wondering if there's any reason NOT to put mine on track setting. It can't be that extreme a difference, can it?

[Jackass-Jeff]

Superior write-up, man. Thanks big time. I love learning how and why things work.

A quick question about the TRD RSB: The "track" setting effectively makes it stiffer, correct? In other words, equalizes the compression from side to side more? I've been wondering if there's any reason NOT to put mine on track setting. It can't be that extreme a difference, can it?

newbs will oversteer into walls =D hahahaha

i actually took that from a Forum... from a guy that drives... A TERCEL rofl!!

[cdssolara]

It's not an extreme difference, but it's noticeable. I'm currently using the TRACK setting on my rear bar, along with the stock front bar, and my car will oversteer if I cut a corner too hard. You just have to be prepared for it. When I had the Whiteline front sway bar along with the TRD rear on TRACK, the car just felt stiff at both ends, which made it feel like it was going to understeer if I hit a corner too hard. It's amazing how much of an impact these bars have. If you're going to put the rear bar on TRACK, just play with it a little in a parking lot before you get aggressive on a winding road or you might be surprised.

Superior write-up, man. Thanks big time. I love learning how and why things work.

A quick question about the TRD RSB: The "track" setting effectively makes it stiffer, correct? In other words, equalizes the compression from side to side more? I've been wondering if there's any reason NOT to put mine on track setting. It can't be that extreme a difference, can it?