3/4" or 7/8" rear sway bar?

[vmrod]

I ordered a sway bar yesterday for my 1977. I was not really sure which one to get. (3/4" or 7/8") At first, I opted for the 3/4", then changed my mind to the 7/8" (which I ordered).

Does anyone out there have a 7/8" sway bar in the rear? What are your comments on this?

I know that this will make the car feel like more of a 'go-cart', but I thought that if I want a 'cushiony-luxury' ride, then I'll ride in a cadillac or something.

-Vic

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Vic,

Adding a rear sway bar will increase the oversteer in your car. My car already oversteers more than I would like and am considering adding a larger front bar as this should increase the understeer and move toward a more neutral driving experience.

Bob

 

[vmrod]

I suppose that I'll just have to install it and check it out. I don't know the specs on my front sway bar, but it is most likely the smaller one (designed for small blocks?).

I never had a rear sway bar, so having a thick one will be a new experience for me.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I put one on a 73 Capri that I had when I was in college. That car liked to go through the corners like a sled. Really bad understeer. I added the rear sway bar and all of a sudden it was neutral to maybe a little bit of oversteer. While the car was underpowered it was a lot of fun to drive.

 

[MakoDRVR]

I just put a 1 1/8th up fron and a 3/4 on the back and my car has changed her whole personality. It does handle like a go-cart but it is nice and tight. No more play in her movement. She will stick where I want her to go now. The 7/8 might be more than you want but if you are looking for a tight set up then you should be just fine.

Happy Vetting!!!

 

[1979toy]

I've got a 1 1/8th in the front and a 5/8ths sway bar in the rear. I think that I have too large a bar in the rear for me.

 

[patsnitrovette]

i have the same setup as makodrvr 1 1/8 in front 3/4 in back really helped the handling for my car.

 

[vmrod]

...well, I suppose that I'll see soon. The sway bar should come in on Monday. If I think it is too stiff, I'll purchase the 3/4" next and test it out. The 'losing' bar will be sold on Ebay.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to do any good tests for another 2 months. Ever since the trailing arms were removed and rebuilt (and new strut rods, spring...), I never got a 4-wheel alignment. This is planned for March, along with new rear tires. The car should be 'road-ready' and safe to drive then. (but still lacking paint)

Geez!! I've been waiting sooooo long to get it back on the road.

-Vic

 

[Stallion]

Quick question, what is oversteer and understeer?

I always thought the thicker the sway bar, the better your cornering would be. I didn't know that there was a downside to too thick of a bar.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Understeer is when the front end plows forward when you take a turn, oversteer is when the backend comes around first.

All things being equal, increasing a rear bar increases oversteer. Decreasing a rear bar decreases oversteer. Increasing a front bar increases understeer. Decreasing a front bar decreases oversteer.

I like a car that is neutral to slight oversteer. You can always give it more oversteer with the little pedal under your right foot.

So my car oversteers more than I would like. I could increase the front bar, which would increase the understeer and, within limits, balance the car's handling. Or, if the car had one, I could decrease the rear sway bar, which would decrease the oversteer.

Bob

 

[norms72]

Quick question, what is oversteer and understeer?

The stock car boys refer to understeer (tight, push) is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer (loose) is when you hit the wall with the back of the car.

 

[Stallion]

"Understeer is when the front end plows forward when you take a turn, oversteer is when the backend comes around first."

Hmm...I'm not sure I understand. What exactly do you mean by "plows forward" and "comes around first"? I'm having trouble picturing this in my head.

 

[patsnitrovette]

he means the car pushs in a turn,the front tires will be turned but it still keeps going straight.And if its the other way the backend will slide out from underneath it.

 

[Stallion]

So it's really a matter of keeping the rubber on the ground? Don't want the two extremes? I think I understand.

 

[Paranoid]

The standard F41 rear bar was 5/16th. A stock BB rear bar was 9/16th.