Front Sway Bar Combo

[SHOGUN88]

I am currently collecting parts for when I redo my suspension. The setup will be 26mm rear bar, new tpr and poly bushings everywhere, Eibach Springs and either Sensatracs or Konis havent decide yet. Now im not sure what bar I should have up front Ive read many differnt opinions. I have a 24mm bar but im not sure if ill use it. Either its going to be 20.6, 22, or 24mm and this car is open-diffed.

Thanks

 

[Rubix]

With a 26 mm rear bar you will probably want at least 22 up front, i'd probably go with the 24 if it were me.

 

[shobote]

Depends on how you will use it; for street use, stick with stock Gen I front sway bar. Same for high speed road course. For tight road course or autocross, the samller front like 20.6 will allow more roll for quicker turn in and less push. Unfortunately, the front sway bar is not easy to change out like most RWD cars, so changing form one venue to another is not really an option.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

Go with the 24 front bar.

 

[Shoaz]

The answer depends a lot on what you want to do with the car and what sort of springs it has.

My guess would be the 22mm bar would be the most likely for general use, assuming your springs are in good shape and well balanced front to rear.

 

[38SHO]

I normally like the 20.5/26 route or the 20.5/23 option

right now i'm just running a 26 rear and no front

 

[blue2ndgen]

I will be running a 20.6/26 with tpr bushings and Tokico/Eibach, but with a quaife. It should be done by the end of the week, I'll let you know. Should be interesting.

 

[shobote]

I will be running a 20.6/26 with tpr bushings and Tokico/Eibach, but with a quaife. It should be done by the end of the week, I'll let you know. Should be interesting.

You are better off with OEM bushings versus TPR; TPR will compress and deform after a short while and the sway bar will become loose in the fittings. Replacing front sway bar bushings is also no picnic on a SHO. IF you go Polyurethane bushings, they are only good if they are greasable. as they squeak like crazy when used on sway bars.

 

[bubba]

24/26 seems to be the way to go! and I wouldn't use the tpr on everything, I would use the guide sdpatt linked me. I might be able to find it for you

 

[GeneSHO]

For your reading pleasure:

http://www.panix.com/~awinbow/sho/suspension.html

 

[NJSHO]

Ive had all combos of front sway bar in my car now with a 26 rear. Id say go with a 22 for daily use and 20.6 if you are going to do track/autox stuff. To tell you the truth the 20 upfront isnt even that bad for daily use as long as you remember the rear is going to be a little loose. The benefit of going with a smaller sway bar on the stock diff is that the inside wheel may have a little more traction which may prevent spinning one wheel (in a corner), which may delay/prevent tranny explosions.

 

[SHOGUN88]

24/26 seems to be the way to go! and I wouldn't use the tpr on everything, I would use the guide sdpatt linked me. I might be able to find it for you

Yeah I plan on tpr in the rear and poly energy bushings in the front and keeping the red oem bushing.

 

[bubba]

Yeah I plan on tpr in the rear and poly energy bushings in the front and keeping the red oem bushing.

I would put poly on everything, but a few things. It seems to work in Eric Vervalin's car! I have rode in his car a few fun times. and it's pretty solid.

 

[SHOGUN88]

I would put poly on everything, but a few things. It seems to work in Eric Vervalin's car! I have rode in his car a few fun times. and it's pretty solid.

Im just scared thats its going to squeak like crazy

 

[bubba]

Im just scared thats its going to squeak like crazy

I have never heard anything like that on his car, and just for fun he took me on some pretty bumpy roads, and I didn't hear anything. Just have to make sure you get them tight

 

[blue2ndgen]

You are better off with OEM bushings versus TPR; TPR will compress and deform after a short while and the sway bar will become loose in the fittings. Replacing front sway bar bushings is also no picnic on a SHO. IF you go Polyurethane bushings, they are only good if they are greasable. as they squeak like crazy when used on sway bars.

Well It's easy for me because I have the sub-frame out. I figured I'd go with the tpr to stiffen up the 20.6 bar, but I didn't know it would deform. Do you think I should go buy new stock bushings? I didn't want to spend the money on another size bar and new bushings. I wanted to see if this combo wasn't to tail happy for street or road course.

 

[Shoaz]

Ive had all combos of front sway bar in my car now with a 26 rear. Id say go with a 22 for daily use and 20.6 if you are going to do track/autox stuff. To tell you the truth the 20 upfront isnt even that bad for daily use as long as you remember the rear is going to be a little loose. The benefit of going with a smaller sway bar on the stock diff is that the inside wheel may have a little more traction which may prevent spinning one wheel (in a corner), which may delay/prevent tranny explosions.

FWIW, this is very sensible. For a street car, especially one that may occasionally get loaned out to or driven by friends or family members, I think the 22mm (or thereabouts) is a good pick for a front bar if the rear is 26mm. If it's only ever going to be driven by people who genuinely know how to drive a loose car, the 20.6/26 combo will offer some advantages on an autox or road course. If the car never sees an autox or road course, it's pretty hard to justify that combo IMHO.

 

[NJSHO]

Just got back from 2 days at the track with the 20.6/26 combo, and I have to say thats the only (easy to get combo) to have for track days. It turned a track that frustrated me with the 22/26 into a much more enjoyable experience. Instead of scrubbing rubber off my tires in the corners, the car actually turned.

 

[blue2ndgen]

That's good info. Is that with or without an lsd.

 

[NJSHO]

With a Quaife. Similar results should happen with an open diff.
When I mentioned scrubbing rubber off, i ment from the car pushing in the turns, not from spinning inside wheels.