THSCC Forums

In cases where there's enough grip to cause the outside suspension to compress to the bump-stops, a bigger front (and/or rear) sway bar would definitely help. Also, as Dick alluded to and I'm sure you know, autocross is mostly about transitions - a car that will change direction by responding more quickly to steering inputs will always have the advantage. Larger sway bars allow the body of the car to respond more instantaneously to steering input. Instead of wasting energy by leaning over as the initial response to steering input, the car's body more quickly follows the steering input.



A big front sway bar will also offer another advantage, especially on cars with McPherson strut front suspension. Installing a bigger bar results in less sway / body roll, and since the top of each strut is attached to the car's body, the outside front suspension geometry changes for the worse (gains positive camber) as the car's body rolls outward in a turn. The more you can reduce body roll, the less positive camber is gained under turning load. Of course, bigger sway bars aren't the only way to reduce body roll, but they are the only "real" way to do it in stock class. The other stock-legal way to reduce body roll is by using stiffer (higher damped) shocks, but that only helps in quick transitions, since the suspension will eventually end up in the same geometry, independent of shocks, under steady state loading.

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Keith Q.
2008 Top Gun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmX8XuZ_DCo&NR=1

Mike,

I just reread my previous posts and I don't particularly like how I came across

I know that you know the "theory" and a whole lot of the "practice" of suspensions and setup at least as well as I do Ditto on the "driving skills" part!!!

My comments relate to why I think so many (if not all) of the Nationally competitive Stock Class Miata's etc have chosen to run Big front bars.

From my observations and experience increased front roll resistance primarily allows you to move the steering wheel fast enough to keep up with the needed direction changes given STICKY tires and an already good handling car such as the Miata. The fast steering movement up front, possibly combined with throttle action (trailing or added) will tend to keep the rear of the car plenty "loose" and will keep the car settled enough to be "ready" for what you want to do next. As previously stated the big bar may also help keep the inside rear tire planted for corner exit acceleration.

Dick

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

whoever was announcing in the 4th heat called me matt mcgrain...i'm not that fast tho.

...maybe i would be if i put a type aRRRg decal on the side of my car

Don't sweat it man. That's what I say after every Tarheel event.