remove rear sway bar?

88Stangboy

Banned

Dec 12, 2005

342

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0

Greenville, SC

Jan 14, 2006

#1

• Jan 14, 2006

• #1

How much would removing my rear sway bar effect my traction, handling, etc? How much does it weigh? Anyone know?

 

troyGT03

New Member

Feb 22, 2004

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too close to memphis,tn

Jan 14, 2006

#2

• Jan 14, 2006

• #2

it would would change the way yours car drives. handling, traction, everything. the rear bar weighs about 10 pounds if that . dont remove. it helps lock down the rear in traction,cornering, weight transfer...not worth the weight reduction.give it a try. you wont like it

 

9

93-331-29psi

Member

Jul 20, 2004

157

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17

NE North Carolina

Jan 15, 2006

#3

• Jan 15, 2006

• #3

I agree 100%. The car will be fine for straight line but that first turn you will think it is going to flip. Let it be.

 

M

Mr. Potato Head

New Member

Apr 21, 2005

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DFW

Jan 15, 2006

#4

• Jan 15, 2006

• #4

I have a 347 in my 91 Fox and I just installed upper and lower control arms. I didn't put the rear swaybar back in. My car certainly does not feel like it's going to flip, lol! If anything it's more balanced and less prone to fishtail all over the place. If you have a little power, I would remove it unless you love to road race or autocross. For the street or strip, I like it much better. It's also a smoother ride back there.

 

Curse

Member

Apr 8, 2004

791

2

16

El Paso, TX

Jan 15, 2006

#5

• Jan 15, 2006

• #5

Mr. Potato Head said:

I have a 347 in my 91 Fox and I just installed upper and lower control arms. I didn't put the rear swaybar back in. My car certainly does not feel like it's going to flip, lol! If anything it's more balanced and less prone to fishtail all over the place. If you have a little power, I would remove it unless you love to road race or autocross. For the street or strip, I like it much better. It's also a smoother ride back there.

Click to expand...

Interesting, I think I might give it a try.

 

88Stangboy

Banned

Dec 12, 2005

342

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0

Greenville, SC

Jan 15, 2006

#6

• Jan 15, 2006

• #6

Mr. Potato Head said:

I have a 347 in my 91 Fox and I just installed upper and lower control arms. I didn't put the rear swaybar back in. My car certainly does not feel like it's going to flip, lol! If anything it's more balanced and less prone to fishtail all over the place. If you have a little power, I would remove it unless you love to road race or autocross. For the street or strip, I like it much better. It's also a smoother ride back there.

Click to expand...

So your car drives a little better now? IM just worried about flipping, dont want to do that. So you've never had any problems with it wanting to roll over or anything like that? I was just curious about it, i don't think i would actually do it, but you got me thinking. My car has a baaad habit of wanting to fishtail any time i get on it, it just feels like the back end wants to drive around the front end. I have control arms, etc. My car is lowered so that may be one of my problems, but if it's less prone to fish tail then...Hmmm....

 

M

Mr. Potato Head

New Member

Apr 21, 2005

83

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DFW

Jan 15, 2006

#7

• Jan 15, 2006

• #7

Well if you think about it, you can change the handling of your car two ways regarding the sway bars. You can stiffen or loosen up the front or the rear. Either way, changes mostly occur when you alter the relationship between the front and rear. The front "feels" like it has better turn in now because the rear isn't trying to get in front, lol. I can still induce oversteer with moderate to heavy throttle.

The stock rear sway bar is not exactly "big." It's not a giant change to just go without it. In fact, a lot of cars go without it from the factory. It's only 4 bolts, give it a try.

 

rd

Founding Member

Jan 12, 2000

3,316

63

109

Ocean Springs MS

Jan 15, 2006

#8

• Jan 15, 2006

• #8

I have no front, but did reinstall the rear. I tried one step at a time without my traction bars, rear bar, etc.

It launches best with the sway bar in place, the traction bars on, and the air bag inflated.

 

88Stangboy

Banned

Dec 12, 2005

342

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Greenville, SC

Jan 15, 2006

#9

• Jan 15, 2006

• #9

Hmmm, so it launches the best with the rear in place? I think im just going to try taking the front off when my tranny gets back from the shop...if i don't like it i'll just put it back on. Wonder what it would be like with both gone? Probably not much fun to drive...might just give it a shot for the hell of it...any more info. What about that steeda front sway bar? The racing one?

 

M

Mr. Potato Head

New Member

Apr 21, 2005

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DFW

Jan 15, 2006

#10

• Jan 15, 2006

• #10

Yes it will launch better with a stiffer rear sway. I just like it because it doesn't kick the rear around so much.

 

cleanLX

Founding Member

Jan 17, 2001

976

537

144

Jan 16, 2006

#11

• Jan 16, 2006

• #11

rear sway bar definatly helps launch.
under poer the rear of the car tries to rotate thus unloading one rear tire.
the sway bar fights this rotation and keeps more weight distributed between both rear tires.

think about it... there are drag specific rear 'sway' bars that are beefy as heck and utilize solid links.

Keeping the car flat on launch is where it's at, twisting it up is lost hp.