Sway bars?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
Sway bars?
I have the base or FE1 "I think" suspension on my 92. I have lowered it about a inch or so and installed the Sport Belstien shocks and in the procese of new prothane bushings. Still has stock springs front and rear.
My question is what are the idea size sway bars for mostly spirited street driving and maybe a course in the future. I don't want a kidney busting ride. Thanks!
My question is what are the idea size sway bars for mostly spirited street driving and maybe a course in the future. I don't want a kidney busting ride. Thanks!
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 78
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
32mm front 26mm rear. I had the Fe1 on my car when I first got it. I did the 32mm and 26mm before I ever started racing the car. It was a noticeable difference. You will be happy with this upgrade.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
So far it sounds like there is only agreement on the front. Keep in mind I have stock springs. I realize the results will be different with other suspension combos. I forgot to mention my tires and wonder if this effects the results? I had 275/40/17's all around and went to
255/45/17's front 285/40/18's rear. After the change I got a small push in hard turns like the rear doesn't want to come around.
I did the lowering and tires at the same time. I did try to keep the rake as close to what it was originaly. The back tires rub some with two people in the car but I don't want to raise the rear (more rake) because I feel this would only add to the push.
255/45/17's front 285/40/18's rear. After the change I got a small push in hard turns like the rear doesn't want to come around.
I did the lowering and tires at the same time. I did try to keep the rake as close to what it was originaly. The back tires rub some with two people in the car but I don't want to raise the rear (more rake) because I feel this would only add to the push.
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 78
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
So far it sounds like there is only agreement on the front. Keep in mind I have stock springs. I realize the results will be different with other suspension combos. I forgot to mention my tires and wonder if this effects the results? I had 275/40/17's all around and went to
255/45/17's front 285/40/18's rear. After the change I got a small push in hard turns like the rear doesn't want to come around.
I did the lowering and tires at the same time. I did try to keep the rake as close to what it was originaly. The back tires rub some with two people in the car but I don't want to raise the rear (more rake) because I feel this would only add to the push.
255/45/17's front 285/40/18's rear. After the change I got a small push in hard turns like the rear doesn't want to come around.
I did the lowering and tires at the same time. I did try to keep the rake as close to what it was originaly. The back tires rub some with two people in the car but I don't want to raise the rear (more rake) because I feel this would only add to the push.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
With the softer springs you can go big on the bars. I see no reason you cannot run a 32mm up front and a 26mm in the back. Is the 32mm solid or tubular? The rear should be solid to be more effective.
You cannot run a 26mm with the Z51 springs in the back. The rear end will jack, the 84's and to an extent the 91 Z07 cars had too much rear roll stiffness and they jack.
You are hurting your self with the 255/285 combo, go back to the 275 setup. As you noted it created more understeer.
Lowering the car helps with the pitching and diving. Which with the soft springs the car does a lot of. I have auto-x pics to prove it.
Ideally, the car will not be tail happy or push. A nice gentle 4 wheel drift is ideal. I think the best setup C4's will understeer just a smidgen for stability. Too much in the rear and it gets loose.
Of course enough throttle input and the car will be loose anyhow.
Get a good alignment on the car. It REALLY helped mine a ton. Negative .5 of camber at all fours, as much caster as you can get up front with the camber at -.5 degrees. Zero the front toe, stock rear toe settings. Good performance street alignment/auto-x. I hesitate to go more aggressive on my car as it is a street car/auto-x car. Too much toe, kills tires.
You cannot run a 26mm with the Z51 springs in the back. The rear end will jack, the 84's and to an extent the 91 Z07 cars had too much rear roll stiffness and they jack.
You are hurting your self with the 255/285 combo, go back to the 275 setup. As you noted it created more understeer.
Lowering the car helps with the pitching and diving. Which with the soft springs the car does a lot of. I have auto-x pics to prove it.
Ideally, the car will not be tail happy or push. A nice gentle 4 wheel drift is ideal. I think the best setup C4's will understeer just a smidgen for stability. Too much in the rear and it gets loose.
Of course enough throttle input and the car will be loose anyhow.
Get a good alignment on the car. It REALLY helped mine a ton. Negative .5 of camber at all fours, as much caster as you can get up front with the camber at -.5 degrees. Zero the front toe, stock rear toe settings. Good performance street alignment/auto-x. I hesitate to go more aggressive on my car as it is a street car/auto-x car. Too much toe, kills tires.
Last edited by 93Rubie; Nov 2, 2012 at 10:00 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
I have fully polys, complete new suspension, including the z51 steering rack 32,26 bar solid combo, z51 rear springs, not the 84's but the other ones, 265/17 fronts and 295/18's rear and the car goes neutral. with a stock alignment.
i say get the big bars and dial the car in for the bars, it's easy,
besides if you don't like it sell it, it ain't an engine, trans or something like that
i say get the big bars and dial the car in for the bars, it's easy,
besides if you don't like it sell it, it ain't an engine, trans or something like that
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
I have fully polys, complete new suspension, including the z51 steering rack 32,26 bar solid combo, z51 rear springs, not the 84's but the other ones, 265/17 fronts and 295/18's rear and the car goes neutral. with a stock alignment.
i say get the big bars and dial the car in for the bars, it's easy,
besides if you don't like it sell it, it ain't an engine, trans or something like that
i say get the big bars and dial the car in for the bars, it's easy,
besides if you don't like it sell it, it ain't an engine, trans or something like that
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
i forgot 4 new z51 bilsteins shocks...with poly upper mounts
what is a rake?
you mean car angle?
I loosened the rear nuts about an inch and stuck some nylocs on there forget about the cotter pin(too high up on the bolt) and the rear sit just where i like it, i ain't lowering nothing in the front, the 265's dropped the front a tad. overall the car is lower than stock, but my stock (new car height) with poly's in higher than your stock with wornout old rubber, they normally sit anfd inch lower than when new/
and besides i hit a semi retread tire at 70mph the other day, it wreck havoc underneath, luckly I just had to unbolt and twist every ting back in place.
what is a rake?
you mean car angle?
I loosened the rear nuts about an inch and stuck some nylocs on there forget about the cotter pin(too high up on the bolt) and the rear sit just where i like it, i ain't lowering nothing in the front, the 265's dropped the front a tad. overall the car is lower than stock, but my stock (new car height) with poly's in higher than your stock with wornout old rubber, they normally sit anfd inch lower than when new/
and besides i hit a semi retread tire at 70mph the other day, it wreck havoc underneath, luckly I just had to unbolt and twist every ting back in place.
Last edited by slickfx3; Nov 4, 2012 at 05:26 PM.