Are aftermarket sway bars worth it?
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Date: 2020-05-13
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Comments and reviews: 10
HatTrick1989
Big sway bars are nice for better steering response and reducing sway, but there are downsides to them as well. The sway bar connects your independent suspension. That means if one side of the suspension goes over something rough like some curbs at a race track that vibration transfers to the other side of the suspension as well as the chassis. This causes the car to become unsettled. So the bigger the sway bar the more one side of the car will effect the other. On low speed tight corners like in a atuox course a stiff sway bar can have a negative effect. It can end up lifting the inside wheel causing less contact if the bar is too stiff. It is a balancing game with suspension and very easy to mess it up. Some people will choose to focus on spring rates to control sway instead. This is a highly debated topic among racers. I have tried both ways and I personally prefer using stock sway bars or no sway bars depending on the vehicle and how it is setup.
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Big sway bars are nice for better steering response and reducing sway, but there are downsides to them as well. The sway bar connects your independent suspension. That means if one side of the suspension goes over something rough like some curbs at a race track that vibration transfers to the other side of the suspension as well as the chassis. This causes the car to become unsettled. So the bigger the sway bar the more one side of the car will effect the other. On low speed tight corners like in a atuox course a stiff sway bar can have a negative effect. It can end up lifting the inside wheel causing less contact if the bar is too stiff. It is a balancing game with suspension and very easy to mess it up. Some people will choose to focus on spring rates to control sway instead. This is a highly debated topic among racers. I have tried both ways and I personally prefer using stock sway bars or no sway bars depending on the vehicle and how it is setup.
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Jim
Big Mistake. The End-Link adjustment must be done with NO WEIGHT added to the Car. With the car adjusted like you have done, the car will ALWAYS lean to one side, with either no one, or 2 passengers in the car. It didn't come like that from the factory, and with very good reasons. When the driver gets into the car, it will lean, it's supposed to lean when you put unequal weight in it. You are making the car lean BEFORE the driver gets in, this will result in a car that tries to STAY PERMANENTLY low on the drivers side. This is fine on a Circle-Track Race Car, that only turns left, but NOT on ANY daily driver car. ..
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Big Mistake. The End-Link adjustment must be done with NO WEIGHT added to the Car. With the car adjusted like you have done, the car will ALWAYS lean to one side, with either no one, or 2 passengers in the car. It didn't come like that from the factory, and with very good reasons. When the driver gets into the car, it will lean, it's supposed to lean when you put unequal weight in it. You are making the car lean BEFORE the driver gets in, this will result in a car that tries to STAY PERMANENTLY low on the drivers side. This is fine on a Circle-Track Race Car, that only turns left, but NOT on ANY daily driver car. ..
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Tom
The only problem that I have with this is the part where he says you should upgrade and strenghten your cars strong side. Which is not something I completely agree. If I have a 500hp mustang, I want to make it turn before adding another 500hp. Same way for a miata I'd look into performance mods before handling because it is underpowered car. Of course eventually you'd add sway bars and coils and everything else.
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The only problem that I have with this is the part where he says you should upgrade and strenghten your cars strong side. Which is not something I completely agree. If I have a 500hp mustang, I want to make it turn before adding another 500hp. Same way for a miata I'd look into performance mods before handling because it is underpowered car. Of course eventually you'd add sway bars and coils and everything else.
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Howard
You skipped over completely the issue of solid and hollow sway bars. It would not be too unusual for the Miata to have several thicknesses of sway bar available for it. Obviously, solid bar is better if both available bars have the same outside diameter.
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You skipped over completely the issue of solid and hollow sway bars. It would not be too unusual for the Miata to have several thicknesses of sway bar available for it. Obviously, solid bar is better if both available bars have the same outside diameter.
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Jadu-Entertainment
Alright let's be honest here. You only make these videos to justify upgrading every single thing on your miata, using us as an excuse. But I got to admit, it is actually darn entertaining to watch. Keep it up buddy!
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Alright let's be honest here. You only make these videos to justify upgrading every single thing on your miata, using us as an excuse. But I got to admit, it is actually darn entertaining to watch. Keep it up buddy!
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flash7210
Light springs and heavy sway bar? Or. Heavy springs and light sway bar? Sway bar is usually easier than swapping springs. And heavy springs definitely hurt ride comfort on the street. But what if actually racing on a track?
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Light springs and heavy sway bar? Or. Heavy springs and light sway bar? Sway bar is usually easier than swapping springs. And heavy springs definitely hurt ride comfort on the street. But what if actually racing on a track?
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Alex
This is exactly why I never understood the aftermarket coilover fad. A pair of good swaybar, grippy tyres and if you have some money left lighter wheels will always be better than some bouncy, teeth shattering coilovers.
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This is exactly why I never understood the aftermarket coilover fad. A pair of good swaybar, grippy tyres and if you have some money left lighter wheels will always be better than some bouncy, teeth shattering coilovers.
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standj21
7: 08 Just an FYI the adjustable end links absolutely going to require a change more often than stock or OEM. They wear very quickly especially if you beat on the car a lot i. e. track days, auto cross, and racing.
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7: 08 Just an FYI the adjustable end links absolutely going to require a change more often than stock or OEM. They wear very quickly especially if you beat on the car a lot i. e. track days, auto cross, and racing.
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phillirofl
Loving the episodes of money pit! Totally expected the Peter Griffin knee clip after the smash! I honestly feel like this video could be of my life, just better editing and WAY more entertaining. Keep it coming!
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Loving the episodes of money pit! Totally expected the Peter Griffin knee clip after the smash! I honestly feel like this video could be of my life, just better editing and WAY more entertaining. Keep it coming!
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glenn
Great video, I own a special edition ford Fairlane that one of the unique features is upgraded sway bars front and rear, I had a basic understanding of their function but this video clarified my thoughts.
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Great video, I own a special edition ford Fairlane that one of the unique features is upgraded sway bars front and rear, I had a basic understanding of their function but this video clarified my thoughts.
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