which sway bar?

[7391417]

Hi guys, Here is my second question following my one on "shocks-inserts-struts."
I have decided to use the Koni Sport Yellows, and I am currently running 165 Lbs. Progressive rate rear springs, I am going to use 205/60/15 Yokohama AVS Intermediate tires, I also may consider upgrading to 21mm tubular torsion bars. The car is going to be used for autocross and high performance street driving and is not my daily driver, so ride is not an issue only handling. Taking all of this into account should I use the 19mm sway bar or the larger 23mm sway bar?

Thanks for your help.

-Brent

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If I recall, Josh "Josh2" Hadler has the 21mm drilled torsion bars, 200# (180#?) and the 19mm front sway bar. He loves that setup, and has autoXed and time trialed on it a number of times.

From that (one) data point, I would guess that the 19mm would be sufficient for your car. I would think that the 23mm one would give you too much understeer.

But we all know the dangers of extrapolating from one data point, don't we?

--DD

[John Rogers]

I have the large one on the nearly stock 91`4 with stock torsion bars, 160# rears, Bilstein sport shocks and Yoko R rated 205 size tires and it corners as flat as a pancake. The 914 track car has the smaller bar, same shocks, 200# rear springs, bigger torsion bars, Good-year Eagle slicks and it WILL NOT corner flat, gets tremendous over stear if I try to flatten it out, probably due to the slicks???
As Dave said it is semi-guessing game and you need to gather as much info as possible. I would opt for the bigger of the two sway bars since it sounds like the car will want to sit flat with the DOT approved tires.Good luck.

[7391417]

Keep them coming guys!

Why dont we try and have a thread (this or a new one) and have everyone post their personal front and rear suspension setups so everybody can get a good look with what setups people are happy with and seem to work well. Just a thought!

-Brent

[Joe Bob]

914/6 3.0. LSD rear end, no sway bar, adjustable konis and 180 lbs springs...front 23mm sway bar, 21mm torsion and adjustable konis.

[campbellcj]

73 2.0, stock torsion bars, bilsteins, front 19mm bar, rear 15mm bar, 140's in back. Nice and balanced IMHO for 'agressive street' use, haven't autox'd or tracked the car yet tho -- Chris Campbell

[DK914]

1974 914 2.0, unknown torsion bar size, unknown rear spring rate (they're aftermarket orange-painted coils), Bilstein sport shocks, Weltmeister 22-mm front bar set full soft, Yoko A008R tires on 5.5-in. Mahles. Car is dual-purpose weekend cruiser/autocrosser. Big anti-roll bar does increase understeer somewhat in autoX tight corners, and there's enough roll stiffness to pop the inside front in the air with a real aggressive transition, but--the inside rear stays planted MUCH better, putting the power down with minimal wheelspin. Front bar makes the car feel generally more tidy and precise on the street, but of course it takes some of the independence out of the independent front suspension.

[mike mueller]

914 w/1.8
Front:
19mm swaybar,
sport bilstien .........
205/55/16s on 7's

stock torsions for now,
would like the 23mm hollow torsion or I'll install 200-250lb coilovers instead (?)

Rear:
180# rear springs,
no rear swaybar
sport bilstiens
225/50/16's on 8's

haven't auto-x'd it but handles great while driven on the aggressive side on the back roads

------------------
Mike Mueller
Antioch, CA
1970 1.8