WRX rear sway bar: good front sway bar combo?

[LerpK]

I've been doing some research into front/rear sway bar combos. I haven't seen much info on a good front sway bar option with the WRX rear in autox terms. I probably won't actually being autoxing my car, but I am curious about an aftermarket setup that would increase the overall performance/grip of the car and reduce some body roll. I'm not really looking for something that would increase oversteer, and I don't want something too intense obviously. It looks like the WRX rear is a decent (*inexpensive*) option, seeing as it is 2mm thicker than stock, at 16mm.

I'm currently lowered on basic coilovers, supposedly with spring rates at 6k front/7k rear with 225/35/18 Nankangs up front and 255/35/18 Bridgestone Runflats in the rear.

Thanks y'all.

[MarkR171]

Why not just get the TRD swaybar pair? I currently have the pair and plan to go stiffer in front. SCCA CS autocross car.

Proper tires will be a MUCH better performance increase for you though...

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by LerpK

I've been doing some research into front/rear sway bar combos. I haven't seen much info on a good front sway bar option with the WRX rear in autox terms. I probably won't actually being autoxing my car, but I am curious about an aftermarket setup that would increase the overall performance/grip of the car and reduce some body roll. I'm not really looking for something that would increase oversteer, and I don't want something too intense obviously. It looks like the WRX rear is a decent (*inexpensive*) option, seeing as it is 2mm thicker than stock, at 16mm.

I'm currently lowered on basic coilovers, supposedly with spring rates at 6k front/7k rear with 225/35/18 Nankangs up front and 255/35/18 Bridgestone Runflats in the rear.

Thanks y'all.

The reason you typically buy just one sway bar is to fine tune the balance of the car. Replacing just the rear with a stiffer one will absolutely increase the cars willingness to oversteer. Replace both if you want to increase roll stiffness without shifting the balance.

[Summerwolf]

With such a huge stagger and mismatched tires.... I would


A) Buy proper tires in a matching set.


B) You will probably need a larger rear sway due to the huge stagger. Car probably understeers now as it sits.


Fine tune your suspension to your driving style, but you're basically following every step of a thread I remember. "How to screw up your ride and handling, step by step."

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

but you're basically following every step of a thread I remember. "How to screw up your ride and handling, step by step."

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67345

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by LerpK

225/35/18 Nankangs up front and 255/35/18 Bridgestone Runflats in the rear.

Thanks y'all.

You might also want to look at tires that are at least the same diameter as each other. Too much of a difference can make the traction control misbehave. Currently your rears are like 3/4" taller than the fronts.

[LerpK]

Originally Posted by wparsons

The reason you typically buy just one sway bar is to fine tune the balance of the car. Replacing just the rear with a stiffer one will absolutely increase the cars willingness to oversteer. Replace both if you want to increase roll stiffness without shifting the balance.

Right, I do want to get a pair, I'm just asking what a good front sway bar would be with a WRX rear.

[Hyper4mance2k]

I run a Strano front sway bar with a WRX rear. I love it, but everyone is different.
It was a pretty popular setup a few years ago.

[ryoma]

buy a set of adjustable swaybars and you can tune it to your liking without having to buy multiple ones. I personally have Hotchkis but there are some others out there.

[Roadcone]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

I run a Strano front sway bar with a WRX rear. I love it, but everyone is different.
It was a pretty popular setup a few years ago.

I've been trying to find info on this. Have people shy'd away from this now? I'm on Hotchkis springs and would like to stiffen up some of the roll. Do you remember the specs of the strano bar?

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Roadcone

Do you remember the specs of the strano bar?

http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetails.php?PartID=928

iirc the Strano bar is relatively mild, a touch softer than the popular 20-22mm solid bars (Whiteline, Perrin, TRD/Eibach) and only a few are less than that, maybe the 19mm Perrin in the soft hole.

This thread has some of the options, but it's not 100% and I'd double check the numbers.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49659

Edit: If you go for it and decide to buy new, I'm going to offer that it's worth calling Sam up, his website is pretty clunky but it was great ordering parts from him over the phone.

[Hyper4mance2k]

The Strano is also lighter than the stock bar, and obviously lighter than all the other aftermarket options. Mine took a few months to arrive because they are hand made to order in the USA. Customer service could be better, but if you're looking for the best compromise, and you're not in a rush, I highly recommend it. Order it today and have it on your car before next race season.

Originally Posted by Roadcone

I've been trying to find info on this. Have people shy'd away from this now? I'm on Hotchkis springs and would like to stiffen up some of the roll. Do you remember the specs of the strano bar?

I'd think it isn't as popular because many owners of this car are more focused on getting the car as slide happy and as stiff as possible, instead of spending the countless hours it takes to properly set up a car for track or autoX duty.

[PeterFRS]

if you don't want oversteer shouldnt be looking at thicker RSB..
like many have mentioned already...SBs should be last thing to "fine tune" after all suspensions have been dialed in.