Updated AWD swaybars?

[Unlogic]

Is it worth upgrading the swaybars on a VR4 and how does it affect understeer/oversteer?

Over the past years I've been very satisfied with stock ECS suspension and Tein S-tech springs on my car both on and off the track. However I've noticed that on the track I get a bit more body roll than the guys running coilovers. I thought that maybe a set of uprated swaybars could help reduce the body roll and still let me keep the comfortable ECS struts.

Searching for this subject however doesn't yield much information of how well the uprated swaybars work. All information I can seem to find is threads regarding how bad the various brand of swaybars fit our cars causing them to rub against the floor pan, prop shaft and driveshafts...

[anyonebutme]

I'm probably the only one currently running a similar setup on the track. Ecs struts with lowering springs and aftermarket sways.

I'm gutted so your results may vary, but the sway bars seem to have accentuated my car's personality of power under steer and lift oversteer. As in I have more power understeer, stronger snap oversteer when on brakes or lifting, and car still rolls like a boat. It makes the car a handful during autox, trying to balance out the under steer while catching the rear end as it randomly comes around. In fact in the wet it will drift with the best of the rwd cars lol.

[Unlogic]

Thanks for the information I didn't know you were also running ECS struts. What you describe sounds quite scary :ohnoes:

I've already spun out once on the track car when lifting the throttle in a sharp corner and I've had a few close encounters where I've managed to save it. Given how quick the rear end comes around on these cars once it starts drifting on these cars your setup must really be a handful in the wet.


Did you notice any improvements on your lap times with the uprated swaybars?

[Disrupter]

I have s-techs on stock ECS and the aftermarket rear sway bar, and it changed the handling of the car for sure. Have not done any spirited driving yet but it did feel more solid. Just picked up an addco non-turbo sway bar to try out on the vr4. Should be bolt on and a significant upgrade from stock but not as thick/rigid as the TT version. Will be doing coilovers and hoping to upgrade/update crucial bushings around the same time.

[The_Kid]

Why didnt you just ask me? I love them on my car. Althou i do have coilovers. Thats why my car cornered so much flatter then yours this summer! :congratulatory:

Give me a call and ill. get more indebth about my experiens.

[Unlogic]

I never thought about that. Which brand do you have?

[anyonebutme]

This is basically a highlight video of how my car reacts:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opvonWKkXxg&list=UUNDIKqKpi1YDV8KVUntG9UQ


Everything you see except for the burnout was while I was AWD. You can ignore BMW spinouts.

As far as lap times, haven't been back to a track in a setup that was comparable, so no real data. Honestly doesn't feel any faster really, especially since dive and squat are much worse than when I had the coilovers on. But I don't think it's a detriment enough to pull them off yet. My next setup will have no sway bars I think.

[CoopKill]

Results will vary greatly with tire choice, weight, and driving style...

[2fnloud]

I love my sways in conjunction with my lowering springs.

[anyonebutme]

Results will vary greatly with tire choice, weight, and driving style...

Very true.

[The_Kid]

Addco