So I'm gearing up for the next autoX season which starts on the 30th. I've been doing some maintinence stuff but have also managed to get a strut brace from Manntis to use for the season and I got to thinking: if the strut bar stiffens up the front enough, would it be desirable to perhaps reinstall a rear sway bar? I've got two sizes to chose from, stock from my '79 or stock from an '83. The '79 one is much thicker than the '83. Another thing to consider is that the R tires I'm running this year are staggered: the fronts are 185/60/13 and the backs are 205/60/13. I'm not wild about this but they were cheap (read: free) and beggars can't be choosers.

Any insight from other autoXers on what they have found with a strut bar would be appreciated.

Oh, the bar that I've got installed is triangulated, so I should have a pretty significant gain in stiffness over stock.

Edit: a list of my suspension mods thus far would probably help.

RB Springs
Tokico HP on all 4 corners
GSL rear end w/LSD
Camber/Caster plates
Triangulated strut bar

 

I understand the theory behind the removal of the rear swaybar, but I don't think I agree with it. This is why;

Removal of the bar is supposed to be a fix for "snap oversteer", right? Well, that issue is caused by the binding of the rear suspension as the car tends to roll in a turn, and surpasses the watts linkage's ability to move. At this point the suspension binds and causes the sudden oversteer issues. Right?

Well, a sway bar is designed to limit the roll, which should reduce the movement in the watts linkage. So if the rear bar is doing its job properly, then it should actually reduce the snap oversteer. Right? Or wrong? I don't know, that's just my theory on it.

 

The best way to check this is go with a bar installed do your first run, then disconnect one end before your second run, this way you can see for yourself if having the rear anti sway bar suits your driving style or not.

If you can change the bars quick enough between runs you could even test the different sizes back to back.

 

I have a wheel to wheel car that doesn't run a rear sway bar. My setup is tokico illuma's up front with 300lb springs and tokico HP's in the rear with 200lb springs. I have a panhard bar, poly bushings everywhere, a regular strut brace, and camber plates. Everybody says that my setup is off a lot or doesn't work well together but i like it and i also have a track record for ITA at blackhawk farms raceway in south beloit IL.