Added front sway bar

1bad914 · 07-07-2003, 05:59 AM

I don't know what the big deal is about the addition of the front sway bar, I added a stock bar this past Thursday, I've been driving the car for three weeks or so without it. I've thrashed it around and found it very responsive and great in the corners, once I added the bar with new bushings, the ride became rougher, the car became a$$ happy, I feel like the rear end is coming around me all the time in hard cornering, maybe it's just me. I know that they are better, but maybe I did something wrong in the installation, it also developed this wonderful steering shimmey at highway speeds. Here goes another front end alignment. I followed the installation tech article, maybe I nned to install the rear also.

Randy

Kenny Powell · 07-07-2003, 07:21 AM

Randy, you know what.........me either? it may for autocross? but I've tried it don't like it!

1bad914 · 07-07-2003, 07:36 AM

Kenny,
I think that this is just a conspiracy theory, get a sway bar it's great! No one will stand-up and fight the evil sway bar system, I better watch it because the sway-bar police are probably knocking on my door right now, it's like the Seinfeld episode about the post office! Eye's are everywhere. I'll take it out again toinight and thrash it around, if I don't like it I'll pull it off and save it for the next owner!

sammyg2 · 07:41 AM

Weird. I've installed two stock front sway bars in cars that didn't have them and i loved the improvement.
I guess it's all about personal prefference.
is your car modified in any other way like lowered or suspension mods?

Something else must be off. Stiffening the front end with a sway bar should make the rear less loose and the front would tend to plow.
When the car is sitting on flat elvel ground loosen one of the drop links to make sure it isn't in a bind. If it is that could throw your corner balance way off and result in the handling you describe.

Other than that I haven't a clue how a front bar could make the rear loose, unless you are hitting the corners much faster now

nutzforporsche · 07-07-2003, 09:41 AM

I remember someone once said NOT to drive the car without having both front and rear installed sway bars installed. If you do just the front the car will handle like a vette in the corners,...not fun in any context.

1bad914 · 07-07-2003, 10:37 AM

It's my understanding that you can not have a rear without a front but can have a front without a rear. The track crowd do not like the rear, but some street types like both! If the weather holds out I'll drive it tonight, this will be the defining moment, I'll hit the clover leaf a couple of times! Whew hoo

echocanyons · echocanyons's Garage

You prolly need heavier springs in the rear.
What size bar do you have?

I assume your rear springs are the stock 60lb?

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Even with stock springs, the front sway bar should not make the car tail-happy!!

Something else is going on here... I don't know what, though!!

--DD

914 · 07-07-2003, 01:22 PM

Randy,
Got The Frt/Rear Factory Sway Bars On My 1971 Teener,Alex Of Pro Tech/Marina Del Rey Installed Them.What Flat Cornering/Handling. All These Years With Out Them I Would Miss Them now Really Tightens The Teener Up.Alex/Pro Tech Really Did A Clean Install.....
Alan

M. Hendrix · 07-07-2003, 02:31 PM

You don't have adjustable drop links on, with about 100lbs of preload, do you?

Something IS wrong, sway bars on a 914 are the same as the difference between a station wagon, and a 14 without sways.

If you have adjustable drop links, don't preload.

M

campbellcj · 07-07-2003, 07:33 PM

Maybe it's a conspiracy...but I'm probably gonna go to a -bigger- front bar at some point. I have a 22mm now.

chrisreale · 07-07-2003, 08:19 PM

Maybe that 27 0r 30mm Sway bar from Smart racing? Thing of beauty, that bar. Thick as hell too!

Quote:

Originally posted by campbellcj
Maybe it's a conspiracy...but I'm probably gonna go to a -bigger- front bar at some point. I have a 22mm now.

1bad914 · 07-08-2003, 03:11 AM

Well I retract my earlier comments, I took the car out on a very spirited run last night, and my initial thoughts of being tail happy was just the front end squatting and grabbing in the corner, thus making me feel like the rear was loose, I have KYB gas adjust rear struts, with yellow springs, not sure on the lbs, but it definately liked a 75 mph run thru our local clover leaf. It does ride rougher in the front, you feel the road more, in a negative way. I think new Koni's up front along with turbo tie rods will fix that! I'll admit I'm not a racer, but my initial feelings were whats the big deal about the bar, I see some improvement, but still not the night and day everyone talks about. I have a pure stock bar with non-adjustable links. I'm going to check for pre-load tonight. I do have the front end lowered some, but not a lot!

M. Hendrix · 07-08-2003, 05:19 AM

Hey man, you need to have your ride height-allignment thingy done, maybe your car was lowered without an adjustment.

Now is the time.

M

sammyg2 · 07-08-2003, 05:49 AM

The KYBs are horrible, i had a set on the turbo 914 for about a month, traded em for some engine tin after I installed Konis. They are sometimes called Kill Yer Backs.
That change will make the ride much smoother.
It is possible you have aftermarket springs on the rear. When you jack up the back of the car, do the springs get loose on the shock or are they still tight with a little pre-load? Most aftermarket springs will get loose. I said most, some don't.

I didn't notice any change in ride when i installed the sway bars except when one wheel hit a dip and the other didnt.

maf 914 · 07-08-2003, 06:32 AM

100 lb. weltmeisters will maintain contact when the rear is lifted. They claim to provide stock ride height. The heavier-rate springs, 140-180, which lower the car are probably the ones that become unseated when the car is jacked up.

Mike

1bad914 · 07-08-2003, 07:20 AM

Mine become loose when I jack them up. I can spin them around if I want to. When I installed them it really lowered the rear end. The thing is I got them for nothing in a barter deal, so I installed them during the resto since one of mine was blown. I will eventually install Koni's all around! I also developed a shimmey once I installed the bar. I'm taking it in soon for an alignment, after I install new tie rods and such!

campbellcj · 07-08-2003, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrisreale
Maybe that 27 0r 30mm Sway bar from Smart racing? Thing of beauty, that bar. Thick as hell too!

Yep...it's not bubbled up to the top of the list yet, but someday I'll ditch the Welt bar I've got now.