No front anti-sway bar=a better ride

[KoolBRZ]

I've gone to a lot of time and trouble to try to get a better ride on the street from my BRZ. I've tried Airlift coilovers, KW V3, Hypermax GT IV, Bilstein HD, used FR-S suspension and if it's too soft I get bounced around, and if it's too stiff I feel every wrinkle on the road. Then I read a thread by @captain_snooze where he had his anti-sway bars removed, and AST5200 coilovers installed. He liked the new ride so much I decided to try removing the front anti-sway bar from my BRZ. I also installed my Bilstein HD's with BRZ front springs, (27 N/mm), and FR-S rear springs, (37 N/mm). I'm not getting much leaning yet, because I still have on my stock rear anti-sway bar, but I'm going to remove that one as well, just to see how it rides. Best of all, this "fix" is completely free, unlike a lot of suggestions out there.

[Racecomp Engineering]

I do not recommend simply removing your front swaybar and then driving quickly.

- Andrew

[Poodles]

Here we go again...

[donoman]

Sounds promising!

If the ride is really better than a possible solution is lighter swaybars. ;-)

[sittinSideways]

Are you trolling?

If you are, begone.

If you aren't, why did you get a BRZ in the first place if a luxurious ride is so important to you that you're willing to go through this much effort?

[Fastbrz]

I'm not going to comment on the swaybar but I will say this. Whatever you do to the car you will never be satisfied. If you get more power you will always want more. Do what you wish but I promise you that your hunger will consume you and your wallet along with it. It's a love hate relationship that in your heart you must find a compromise or the cycle will never end.

[D_Thissen]

Hope you don't get into an accident and hurt someone else...

[Andrew025]

You'll probably be better off if you remove both bars.

[KoolBRZ]

This isn't like I removed the steering wheel, you know. The car has such a low center of gravity a sway bar isn't really necessary for street use. If you want to worry about me, worry because I have an OFT with the new "pedal dance mode". Now that's dangerous.

There is a hollow front sway bar available for these cars. I may just remove the rear sway bar and install the hollow front bar and call it good. It's obvious that the stock sway bars are too stiff for daily driving, but what I'm trying to find out is, if it's better with just the front bar, just the rear bar, or without both bars. After all, if Formula One cars can run without sway bars, why can't my BRZ?

I'll take some videos for all the doubting Thomas's out there. If I can still corner without sway bars, then who needs them?

[Crazy Drew]

Hey everyone, I removed my springs, shits cash. Glides over everything like a true land yacht. Lexus could learn a thing or two from how I mod cars.

[Kostamojen]

Add a lift kit, some tall mud tires, and do some off-roading while you are at it.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by KoolBRZ

Then I read a thread by @captain_snooze where he had his anti-sway bars removed,

You have made the error (again) of an either/or argument. I said in my damper review what my spring rates were and the anti sways I was using. Those sways are/were among the stiffest available for the BRZ/86/FRS. Therefore those sways made up a large percentage of total roll stiffness. Removing the stock bars from stockish springs is not the same scenario.

You do realise (oh wait, no you don't*) that increasing the percentage of rear roll stiffness (by decreasing the front ) will increase the tendency to oversteer.


*

Originally Posted by KoolBRZ

You'll be surprised how much more oversteer you get just by softening the rear springs.

[NissanGuy]

Originally Posted by KoolBRZ

This isn't like I removed the steering wheel, you know. The car has such a low center of gravity a sway bar isn't really necessary for street use. If you want to worry about me, worry because I have an OFT with the new "pedal dance mode". Now that's dangerous.

Your OFT does what with who for how many jellybeans?

My Altima handled FABULOUSLY with no front sway bar. Stock, it handled exactly how you'd expect. Removed, it'd go through corners sideways and on its door handles. Throw in some bushings and coilovers, presto-chango, Formula D finalist.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by KoolBRZ

It's obvious that the stock sway bars are too stiff for daily driving,

No, it is not obvious. You are stating opinion as fact. It may be too stiff for your liking but that does not make it too stiff per se.