Swaybar: pros & cons...

Car-2-Lo wrote: I have an extra front swaybar that want to install in rear. Question: Is "The Fiero Store's" rear swaybar better than using front bar?

A few people in the club have installed rear anti-sway bars.  Out of the factory, our Fieros understeer.  The purpose of the rear anti-sway bar is to reduce understeer.   Our Fieros are balanced such that if the (anti)swaybars on the front and back are the same stiffness (read thickness), your car will OVERSTEER....fun, but definitely not safe.  Your front swaybar needs to be stiffer than your rear.  Figuring out that balance is the tricky part.  You might consider adding a thicker swaybar on the front of your car also.

The front swaybar on the rear is mounted under the engine cradle.  This will reduce ground clearance under your car.  The Fierostore and other purpose built rear swaybars (I will erroneously call it swaybar to reduce the typing of 4 letters) for our Fieros are bent in such a manner as it does not reduce ground clearance as much. 

Anti Swaybars reduce the ability of your 4 wheel independent suspension to act independently.  I say this just as a reminder.  Your ride will be stiffer and not as smooth over normal road surfaces.

Adding a rear swaybar reduces understeer up to the limits of your tires.  You need to make sure you have good tires particularly in the rear.

Finally, when adding (in particular) a rear swaybar, be careful you don't add one that might take you beyond your driving skill.  It may be great fun to have stiffer handling but your car will have the ability to come back and bite you.

Having said that, if you get the right balance, a rear swaybar is the best bang for the buck handling improvement you can make to your car.

 

 

Jon with the size of your rear tires, you could go with a very stiff rear bar and still be fine.   What are your rears, 325/20/20's or something to that effect.   You will have a hard time getting that car into a slide assuming you don't drive it like I do my car.

I belive the front bar will be stiffer.  The Fiero store rear bar is designed to be used with a stock front bar. (so it should be softer than a stock front bar) 

 

Ken you also have to take into account the larger front bar rule is really geared towards a front engine rear drive or front drive car.  Having so much of the weight moved rearward allows the use of a move even sized bar front to back.  When you take into account as well that people running larger rear tires than their front tires have more grip on the back end which helps to alleviate (sp) oversteer.   

 

Oh Jon, one last thing, if you are going to buy a bar and want to go full boat on it, there is a really nice adjustable sway bar you can get for the Fiero.  The arms are adjustable which greatly increases or decreases the effective strength of the bar. 

Capt Fiero wrote:  there is a really nice adjustable sway bar you can get for the Fiero.  The arms are adjustable which greatly increases or decreases the effective strength of the bar.

I was wondering if there was an adjustable bar available for the Fiero too.   Thanks for the update, David.

 

 

All I will add it that the rear FS bar Blair installed for me did nothing but improve my performance and feel...andn since you put the red front one John, you have to make it look pretty also and put the RED rear one also:)...lol

When I get my front end work done next week, I wish I had bought the FS front...I may down the road

Bassman wrote: John...this is for you:).  I saved this as David posted it back some time ago, but heavy duty adjustable sway bar...very nice. http:// www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/036556.html

Thanks Brian, it's to complex for me, I'm just thinking using the
spare front swaybar, painting it red and installing it on rear.
(I do like your FS rear swaybar)

So John, how does it handle.  I am assume with those large rear tires it must be great.

Capt Fiero wrote: So John, how does it handle.  I am assume with those large rear tires it must be great.

Well, I did notice with new front 1" heavy duty swaybar and now swaybar at
rear, the ride feels a lot more solid and tracks nice & flat.

(last year new tie rods, KYB shocks & coilovers, slowly getting there)

Thanks Ken, Dave and Brian for your info...
(Clynt for installing everything)

Ken, you're the TechMan...
Your technical info makes more sense to me now.

Well, everybody knows me by now...
It doesn't have to perform, it just has to look good, hehe

John