Handling - sway bar upgrade

[Robo]

Hi there,

I trying to find some info on upgrading the sway bars in the R33 gts-t..

Has anyone actually upgraded their sway bars in a Skyline (and still has stock suspension)?

I don't really want to read what Whitline say, I want to here it from a skyline owner.. Do they really reduce body roll?

Are there any negatives about getting a sway bar upgraded (apart from more wear on tyres etc..).

Thanks for the advice.

Cheers

Rob

[skyzerr33]

talk to onarun his line had it done

[Pva_Glue]

White line?!?!?!?

how much?!?

[Guest DON91E]

Hey Rob!

i just got that front strut brace from UAS, and well hate to be a picky barstard, but did nothing Rob, i find it was the same, it was actually hitting the top of my engine (the middle section)

Anyways, yeh i didn't really see a difference @ all,

Im intrested in knowing if anyone has had the lower ones done, if they have lower ones...

Donnie

[Pva_Glue]

rear ones does nice job

cheers

Joe

[skyzerr33]

sway bar is different to a strut brace.

a strut brace stiffens up the suspension so you can corner faster and stay stable on the road.

sway bar is below the engine

can't remember what it does

[blind_elk]

Originally posted by skyzerr33

sway bar is different to a strut brace.

a strut brace stiffens up the suspension so you can corner faster and stay stable on the road.

Actually, it stiffens up the chassis.

sway bar is below the engine

can't remember what it does

The sway bar, also called an anti-roll bar, is designed to resist the body roll of the car during cornering. It basically helps stop weight transferring from the inside wheel to the outside wheel.

[2rismo]

I've driven R33's with and without and i have to say that the selby's sway bars from whiteline that are on my car ROCK MY WORLD!!! others on this forum have them as well and by all accounts, they love them too.

Go to www.whiteline.com.au and check it out.

[Robo]

Thanks for the reply's.

So that said, I want to upgrade my sway bar but do I just get the rear done or the front or both?

Also anyone know a good thickness to get?

Hey Donnie,

Hmm, what can I say take, the strut brace back if it made no difference. I certainly felt an improvement...

Cheers

Rob

[Silver-Arrowz]

Changed both front and rear on mine. I got the adjustable ones. Turn in is heaps better. Body roll on fast corners is reduced, and if I want to hang the back out, just apply power and a little turn of the wheel. Best mod on any car. I've done this on my WRX and my Daewoo. Go through twisty roads and HP means shit. I've left a few highly modded cars in the dust with the Daewoo. For GTS-T, change the front bar if you only want to do one. But for best results change both.

And just for the record, Strut braces (on top of the engine bay) only increases chassis rigidity. It doesn't stop bodyroll. That's the swaybars job.

[blind_elk]

It depends what the car is doing now, handling-wise.

Rule of thumb is that a bigger / heavier swaybar on the front fill increase understeer, while a bigger / heavier swaybar on the rear will increase oversteer.

It would really be worth your while to talk to a suspension expert about it all.

I've put the HD R32 GT-R rear bar on my R32 GTS4. I haven't noticed a great deal of difference, but then I haven't really tested it. And I also have Bilsteins and Kings springs all round, so it would be really difficult to judge the effect of the bar.

[2rismo]

And just for the record, Strut braces (on top of the engine bay) only increases chassis rigidity. It doesn't stop bodyroll. That's the swaybars job.

Yes it's the swaybars job but I have to disagree with you in that they absolutely do reduce bodyroll. The struts are restricted in their forward/back movement by the brace which in turn reduces bodyroll. Whether that's what they're for is moot. They simply do do this.

[Robo]

Thats great.

thanks again guys.

I'm off to by some sway bars.....

Will let you know the results (in a couple of weeks).

Cheers

Rob

[blind_elk]

Originally posted by 2rismo

 

Yes it's the swaybars job but I have to disagree with you in that they absolutely do reduce bodyroll.  The struts are restricted in their forward/back movement by the brace which in turn reduces bodyroll.  Whether that's what they're for is moot.  They simply do do this.

What ARE you on, 2rismo?

Body roll has nothing to do with forward / backward movement of the struts. During body roll, the struts either extend or compress, depending on which way the car is turning / rolling. The degree of roll is controlled by the stiffness of the spring and the stiffness of the swaybar. The presence (or absence) of a strut brace has no bearing on this, other than to reduce the twisting in the chassis because the different ends of the car are sprung differently.

[2rismo]

ahhh...

i wish i was an ascii artist or could draw what i mean in smilies.

Say you're going round a left hand corner...okay?

the natural way for the body to roll, as you correctly state, is to the side. HOWEVER, it is foolish to say that there is NO longitudunal movement of the struts, (i.e. front of car to back and vice-versa).

Remeber that i said, "whether that's what they are for or not is moot."

Strut Tower Braces whether it is their primary function or not, help with bodyroll. Physical fact.

[Steve]

the old strut brace debate, let me add my 2c.

I had a good quality front strut brace fitted with stock springs and shocks that were in good condition and it did make quite a noticable difference to handling when the car was pushed - most noticably the body roll, much more than I would have thought (this was with stock suspension, not lowered at all).

Also I have since had the car lowered and upgraded shocks - I am not sure if the difference would have been as noticable if the car was lowered first as this changes the centre of gravity

I have had the selbies (whiteline) swaybars fitted and they are great. Cost about $220 each from memory?

[Warpspeed]

Have to agree antiroll bars are a good mod.

They make cornering flatter, BUT if you go too stiff the car will break away sooner in the wet.

[Guest Nismo_Freak]

Sways are just another way to customize how your car handles... you dont NEED sways but they are a good tool. I have a 240SX and I utilize a stock SE front sway bar and a Suspension Tech. rear bar. This allowed me to neutralize the natural tendency of the car to dive when braking before the corner and entering it at high speeds. Then when throttle is applied its very easy to drift the rear end out if needed and feel the break-away point on the tires. The rear end will step out sideways faster but when your not under throttle the rear end wont load the outter tire as much and you will avoid inertia oversteer. Heres my suspension mods as of now...

Tein HA Damper Coilovers with 8/6 Custom Spring Rates

Tein Pillowball Upper Mounts

Tein Pillowball Tension Rods

Tein Rear Toe Arms - Pillowball

Cusco Rear Camber Links - Pillowball

Kazama Subframe Spacers - Aluminum

Cusco Rear Strut Tower Bar

Ebay Special Front Strut Tower Bar - Hell yeah! 20 bucks!

Suspension Techniques Front and Rear Sway Bars - Front Not Installed

Falken Azenis 215/45/16s

Only competition I have locally is my friends GC8 (2.5RS Subaru Impreza) that has the same mods basically. Tein HR Dampers and the works.

Other Mods I Plan:

Do-Luck Mid Chassis Support Bar

R33 GTR Wheels w/ Big Tires

Kazama Front Tension Rod Support Bar

Pillowball Lower Arms

Then my car will be good enough for the street. The chassis already is stiff enough that it doesnt flex at all... my wheels come off the ground on en-even pavement.