I am looking in to getting a new sway bar to help reduce the little body roll I do have. My question is should you buy a front or rear sway bar first? I know on FWD you usually upgrade the rear to help get rid of understeer. I am kinda a RWD newb hints why I am asking you guys

 

What year and model is your car? There were a few different stock rear bars on the FD (if that is what you have), and that can affect the upgrade plans.

But generally, start with a front bar.

-Max

 

do i have to beat people in the head. there really is no need to upgrade sway bars unless:
1) track racer
2) experienced track racer
3) can feel microscopic changes in body roll, understeer vs oversteer
4) have adjustable sway bars, coil overs, camber adjusters, tightened up suspension, stock rubber replaced.

other than that, just use the t2 bars, youll be good.

peace

 

good advice.....you should not change anything suspension related until you do it in this order.

1. Bushings
2. Shocks
3. Springs
2 & 3. You could do coilovers instead of 2 & 3
4. Alignment
5. Sway Bars

Generally, you start with replacing the bar on the non-driven wheels. Sway Bars are really for fine tuning, you should do the rest first as they make wholesale changes to the car.

 

my car is a 87 sport model, it is mostly used for autox and when I dont feel like driving my daily driver. Most of the track time around here seems to go to the drifters, and our autocrosses are usually tight and small. Hints why I am looking for alittle more free rear end

 

have you done everything else mentioned? You can play with understeer/oversteer tendencies with shocks and springs before you even think about sway bars.

 

if you want the rear end to be a little understeer, while oversteer in the front, then go with a slightly undersized rear sway, while upgrading the front.
correct me if im wrong on this one.

peace

 

^ You're wrong, the sway bars will always be the same size, its the thickness that will be different. I don't think you have a good understanding of what understeer and oversteer is, which is why your post makes no sense.

You don't have to be a "track racer" to get sway bars. Thicker bars (front and rear) and new stiffer bushings will equal less body roll. While true that most people get sway bars to add to their "mod list", some prefer a better handling vehicle. I do agree with #4 that when talking bang for the buck new bushings and/or coilovers with camber plates and adjuster along with a good alignment will have a bigger effect on the car's handling than just swaybars.

 

My opinion is that wholesale changes should be made to the car before fine tuning.

For example, you don't adjust the fine on a microscope before adjusting the coarse. Same principle applies on handling balance.