Complete noob help with sway bars
 

I've searched a little but prefer help with my specific almost non existent build.

I drive my brz as a daily, I'm not tracking it. My only mod is a k & filter and in the spring,I'll be adding a perrin catback. I'm running stock tires until the end of their life and will tune after warranty is up (4000/36000).

I'm interested in adding sway bars, and the price is attractive. Would I benefit from front and/or rear bars for this non-tracking daily?

What can I expect to notice with this change?

Also, what's the difference between strut towers and front sway bars.

New England roads. Any hep or guidance would be appreciated. This is the first car I've owned that ever had an interest in modding, so my experience is non existent.

Thanks!

When you start adding suspension, ride quality will go down but Ride Fun goes way the hell up! :P Strut tower bars go on under the hood over the engine if i am not mistaken... front sway bars go under the engine....

Ha. I was actually looking at the strut tower the whole time.

I've been looking at perrin and grimspeed.

If your experience is nonexistent, don't mod the sway bars.

Mod the driver first.

-alex

I don't have time to go to tracks.

And when I do have time, when I'm not working 7 days a week, that time is spent with my girlfriend.

I said my experience with modding is nonexistent, not driving.

The first question to ask is what it is you are hoping to achieve.

Looking at your posts I am suggesting a tower bar would be a better investment than sway bars.

Strut tower brace does not alter the steering characteristics of the car; sway bars do if not done front and rear in a balanced manor. The GrimmSpeed strut bar is highly regarded. Have a look here for info: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...grimmspeed+bar

Then my statement still stands with regards to the above mods you are asking about.

Sway bar is one of those things that will make the car feel faster when you transition left to right, however from a mod-perspective you are better off with upgrading tires.

Upgraded sway bars will quickly overload your stock tires in terms of grip and you will be constantly losing traction when pushing the car.

-alex

That's a good explanation. What about front strut bars?

Not necessarily.

What about them? Did you read the link?

Sorry, missed your entire post. Just skipped passed to mav's post.
Thanks

Strut bars will probably be better, there's no real drawback other than it's not really needed for our cars.

I found a better way to explain the roll stiffness argument:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-roll_bar#Drawbacks

In a nutshell: I run coilovers only, nothing else, and it's great for street + track. I am not running out of grip yet and can do fine without sway bar. For most street use, the car will benefit from shocks or shocks + springs. Strut bars will also help but it's not as apparent unless you're riding over some huge potholes.

-alex

Thanks a lot.

I would do coilovers, but it's a pretty huge expense.

Strut seems to be a very attractive price to me.

I'm not clear why you are modding.

A strut bar will bring a little stiffness to the frame. Some people claim a big difference, but the car is already impressively stiff. I doubt most people could notice the difference, at least on this car. I wouldn't waste your money.

A sway bar will reduce roll on turns and increase the spring rate in turns. Too much can cut grip. Too little can cut grip. The stock bars are pretty well regarded, though some people enjoy a flatter corner even if it means less grip in the end. You can also make the car over or understeer with strut bars. I wouldn't fuck with them.

If you wanna drop the ride, get coilovers or springs. If you wanna turn faster, get stickier tires.