Maximum torsion bar size w/ Bilstein Sports?

LJ851 · 05-30-2011, 07:33 AM

I did quite a bit of searching but didn't find any definitive answers. How much torsion bar can a person run without overpowering the damping of Bilstein sports front and rear? I like my cars firm but im not ready to change shocks and struts right now, and yes i know that it will be better when i do. The car in question is an 85 carrera that has been lightened some ( a/c removed, light seats ) and will be lightened more in the future. It is primarily a street car but will see some track days. Thanks!

aston@ultrasw.c · aston@ultrasw.c's Garage

This is a good question, but the answer is not so easy. There are two strategies when making changes to a system such as suspension.

Lets call the first incremental. This is what you are trying to do by making smaller changes that will yield improvements without causing too much disruption to the overall system. The problem arises when you are ready to buy new shocks some way down the road. Will you purchase shocks to match the newer uprated Tbars, or will you take another small step and go for a shock that is a little too stiff? Then repeat this discussion every time you buy another component: sway bars, bushings, camber plates, etc. Sooner or later you may find your new Tbars are not up to the task.

The other strategy, is to define your end state and only purchase components which meet that criteria. For example my 86 is a DE car that sees some occasional street use. I defined a solid track setup and am only buying parts on that list. Obviously I will have to suffer some significant imbalances along the way, but I will only have to buy each component once!

The prob with the incremental approach is that you may end up spending more money in the long run.

LJ851 · 05-30-2011, 09:24 AM

Thanks for the response, i agree with your points. I guess i should clarify my position. The setup i am going for now is going to be on the car for a while. This car is my daily driver so track performance is less important now. My plan is to run the firmest TB's my Bilstein Sports can handle along with new rubber bushes all around. If in the future i decide to upgrade further i will sell the parts i am replacing .

aston@ultrasw.c · aston@ultrasw.c's Garage

Go for it!

Chuck Moreland at Elephant Racing is a great resource

ELEPHANT RACING Home Page

LJ851 · 05-30-2011, 04:58 PM

No one has any personal experience to report?

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

Well, I got 22/29 with Bilstein HD front and Sport in Back, '86 sway bars front and back. My Baby is heavy and I take her to DE event once a year, just for fun and that coveted Last Place, well to be fair I come in about 2nd to last, couldn't let a girl beat me

, well maybe

LOL.

I love the ride, not too stiff for Daily but stiff enough for D.E. especially after installing my Targa Body Brace.

Remember, the lighter you are the stiffer she will become. My buddy has the same T-bars and removed almost 600lbs, it is stiff as HECK, almost like he has no struts at all

. I mean Rock Solid, horrible on the Street, but his is a dedicated Track/DE Car.

Jim

BTW, you may want to up to a minimum '86 sway bars to insure the mounts won't snap off with larger T-bars.

LJ851 · 10-10-2011, 10:36 AM

I've been dragging my feet on the purchase of new larger TB's and bushes but the time has come. I really would like to run stiffer than 22/29 on my car but want to be sure my bilstein sports won't run out of damping to handle the spring rates.

Again, i like a stiff ride so firmness isn't the question.

I'm actually glad i waited after seeing the recent SAW thread as i was on the fence on SAW vs Sanders bars. It will be Sanders for sure.

ShakinJoe · 10-10-2011, 01:09 PM

LJ581 - Have your bilstiens re-valved to match your TB's. It is not expensive and might be one of the best things you do. It will take a lot of the bounciness away.

wildcat077 · wildcat077's Garage

I have 22/29 torsion bars on my 89 along with new Bilstein Sports and HD which i will be sending to Bilstein this Winter to have revalved to match my car.
Not harsh at all for the street but too soft in my opinion for the 15 or so track days it now sees in a season ...

Cheers !
Phil

rfuerst911sc · 10-10-2011, 03:32 PM

My 83SC has 22/30 torsion bars with late Carerra sway bars and Bilstein sport rear and HD up front. I'm guessing my car may be a little lighter than yours but the ride is fine on the street and great at AX and DE. I have SSI's and a M&K muffler so I dropped about 50 lbs. on the rear with just that. I'm not sure I would want to go much larger in diameter on the TB's for a street car.

LJ851 · 10-11-2011, 02:53 PM

Thanks guys. Anyone else running larger TB's with Bilstein Sports ?

redridge · 10-11-2011, 04:14 PM

I have 23mm/30mm hollow TB with Bilstein Sports..... they are great on the streets. My car is lowered to Euro height (or even lower)... and the front spoiler would scrape on elevated streets. I find that the sports may be to soft and am considering getting them revalved to match the TB's... Dont get me wrong, they handle great, but Im planning to do some DE and the sports def need to be stiffer for that...

masraum · 10-11-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShakinJoe

LJ581 - Have your bilstiens re-valved to match your TB's. It is not expensive and might be one of the best things you do. It will take a lot of the bounciness away.

Isn't it $75 per? That's not "expensive" but I certainly wouldn't call it cheap either.