Rear Sway Bar: Leave on or off?

[Have914]

I have a 1973 914 with Khoni adjustable shocks in front and rear adjusted to firm. The previous owner left the rear sway bar off the car. Will I get
better handling on the street or autocrossing with it on or off? Thanks for
any info guys/girls.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Depends on the rest of your suspension. If everything else is stock, it is tough to say. I personally liked the way my car handled with a stock suspension, including the stock front and rear sway bars.

If your car has heavier springs on the rear, leave the bar off. Too much roll stiffness in the rear leads to oversteer. Oversteer is exciting, looks cool, but is slow and can lead to smacking the tail of the car into things.

If you have other suspension mods, you'll have to decide on the front/rear balance for yourself. Just remember that it is relatively easy to lift the inside rear wheel with a rear swaybar, which is a bad thing unless you have a limited slip diff.

--DD

[Bill Kohnke]

For autocrossing I have found the best thing is to leave the rear sway bar unhooked.
(lifts the inside wheel too much)

[wjdunn3]

On my 73, I have KYB shocks all around (fairly firm) and 140lb springs in the back. This is a quite firm setup for my daily driver. With the rear sway bar hooked up I could feel the inside rear wheel lift (as Bill mentioned) on hard 90dg turns. I have mine unhooked for every day driving. If I am going to go lapping around Road Atlanta I reconnect it (no hard 90dg turns).
If your susp is stock then the rear sway bar will be a good addition.