How critical is the rear sway bar?
04-20-2015, 06:07 PM
#22
Melting Slicks
04-20-2015, 07:55 PM
#23
Melting Slicks
04-22-2015, 12:36 PM
#25
Team Owner
Most likely, your car never had a rear sway bar. Only big block cars, LT-1's (70-72), and cars with optional suspension upgrades came with rear sway bars.
For normal driving, you don't need one.
For normal driving, you don't need one.
02-13-2019, 06:06 PM
#26
Hey Guys, (and Gals),
I know this is an old thread but I appreciate the information. I just purchased, well traded for a '79 C3. Complete rebuild of the suspension and steering. I had the larger front sway bar installed along with the rear 7/16" bar. I enjoy spirited driving, (had a mid 80s Porsche I tracked). I wanted all the control a Corvette can give me. Well from the factory anyway .
Thanks for the info
I know this is an old thread but I appreciate the information. I just purchased, well traded for a '79 C3. Complete rebuild of the suspension and steering. I had the larger front sway bar installed along with the rear 7/16" bar. I enjoy spirited driving, (had a mid 80s Porsche I tracked). I wanted all the control a Corvette can give me. Well from the factory anyway .
Thanks for the info
02-13-2019, 06:33 PM
#27
Old Pro Solo Guy
Second everything JB78L-82 said. And also agree for many drivers you would seldom / never notice much difference. But if you are going to race or autocross the car, up to the point of tire adhesion and she starts to drift or slide a little. You will quickly learn how balanced the car is (or not) and how important sway bars are. The fastest way around a race track is a four-wheel drift in the corner. Around 5-7 degrees slip-angle with street radials.If one end sticks and the other slides you'll know it in a hurry! I autocrossed and ran pro-solo for 27 years. The more the car was in drift mode the faster I went. Big long power slides are your friend. I had adjustable sway bars on both ends of the car, and they were my most frequently adjusted item on the car, even more so than tire pressures. They had a tremendous effect on handling at the limit. But those small changes could almost not be felt on the street at 80-90% of the limit.
For street use and non-experienced racers, a little understeer is way safer than a little bit too much oversteer. The closer I kept the car setup to a neutral drift, the more gentle I had to be with transitions from braking to turning to gas etc, or it could easily just "snap around" and bite me like a snake. Yeah I went backwards a few times while I was learning! I kinda wish they made adult depends back then!!! I tried this autocross driving style on the high speed track at Summit Point a few times,it worked very well, but a 140 mph drift across the track was hard on both the tires and my heart!
For street use and non-experienced racers, a little understeer is way safer than a little bit too much oversteer. The closer I kept the car setup to a neutral drift, the more gentle I had to be with transitions from braking to turning to gas etc, or it could easily just "snap around" and bite me like a snake. Yeah I went backwards a few times while I was learning! I kinda wish they made adult depends back then!!! I tried this autocross driving style on the high speed track at Summit Point a few times,it worked very well, but a 140 mph drift across the track was hard on both the tires and my heart!
02-13-2019, 07:19 PM
#29
I'm not sure what happened to the text I had originally submitted. User error I'm sure. I was agreeing with leigh on his post. The difference with the Carrera is that with the engine outside the rear axle once the rear end goes it's pretty much gone. Especially to a novice. This happened at Lime Rock Park here in Ct coming out of Big Bend,
02-13-2019, 07:26 PM
#30
Old Pro Solo Guy
OUCH!
Heart start working again?
Heart start working again?
02-13-2019, 07:30 PM
#31
02-13-2019, 07:39 PM
#32
Le Mans Master
I'm not sure what happened to the text I had originally submitted. User error I'm sure. I was agreeing with leigh on his post. The difference with the Carrera is that with the engine outside the rear axle once the rear end goes it's pretty much gone. Especially to a novice. This happened at Lime Rock Park here in Ct coming out of Big Bend,
Most of the C3 stories I read about with the snap oversteer themes are, I suspect, folks attempting to correct oversteer way too late in the rotation OR over correcting, just like on the track in a formula car........
Last edited by jb78L-82; 02-13-2019 at 07:50 PM.
02-13-2019, 07:50 PM
#33
OMG...I had a few depends moments coming out of big bend myself in the formula cars but never completely lost it. Also coming onto the no name straight in the rain....I ve had my share of 360's in the rain at lime rock but NEVER hit anything, thank the Lord.....I agree that with the formula cars (avatar) at least the rear engine is inside the rear axle which does allow you the ability to save the rear from coming around IF you are quick enough with your hands to catch the rotation and do not over correct.....
I won't be tracking the Vette but I like to know the car I'm driving is capable.
Here is a pic of the gal after the repairs. Sorry if I've hijacked the thread.
btw great forum!!
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80-Vette (02-15-2019)
02-13-2019, 08:00 PM
#35
Thank you very much jb. Yes I thought she looked awesome. The problem was I made the car to much of a track car. No ac, radio, sound deadening, loud exhaust, etc etc. Was not fun to drive on the street. I sold the car for a pretty penny and ended up going a different direction. As it turns out I ended up with the C3 with I really like. So all's well that ends well. I'll have to check that track out.