Sway bars

stale_face · #1 (**permalink**) 05-21-2003, 07:24 PM

I am currently building a Lone Star competition. I am at the roller stage and I am wondering about sway bars. Seems like they would be a good idea, but a lot of cobras don't have them. I am a small block believer looking for balance and handling.

Question: Are they needed (I am mainly going to drive it on the street, plus autocross, and sneek into any racetrack possible).

Does anyone have a Lone Star Competition with sway bars? If so, where did you get them?

Thanks.

Mike I · #2 (**permalink**) 05-22-2003, 04:30 AM

David, you will eventually need them if you plan on autoxing or other type of competitive driving. You can avoid installing them if you have very stiff adjustable coil overs at all 4 corners, but then your ride quality will suffer.

Mike

stale_face · #3 (**permalink**) 05-22-2003, 04:48 AM

I will have adjustable Aldan's at the 4 corners. Can change ride hieght and rebound. The good folks at Lone Star seem to agree that this is enough.

speed220mph · #4 (**permalink**) 05-22-2003, 05:45 AM

Install sway bars, front and rear. Real race cars have them, so all Cobras should be equipped with them. Just be aware of what they do besides restrict body roll. They not only allow a low-frequency ride rate--softer ride--they are mainly for adjusting under steer/over steer. Stiffer in the front creates under steer; stiffer in the rear creates that deadly over steer, which is preferable for auto x'ing when not excessive. Not to worry with a Cobra, though. There's plenty of over steer under your right foot.

stale_face · #5 (**permalink**) 05-22-2003, 06:18 PM

speed220mph ,

Real race cars have them, but real race cars also have real race car drivers. I might need a lot of Bondurant schooling to get to the point where I am getting any advantage. But your point is well taken.

speed220mph · #6 (**permalink**) 05-22-2003, 06:56 PM

Not to worry. Concentrate on getting your car set up right with adjustable sway bars, then gradually go faster and make adjustments as you go until it feels good. It's best to set up a car with slight understeer for street and long road courses, but for auto X-ing, stiffen it up in the rear for some oversteer. Just take it easy at first and before you know it, you'll be a race driver and ready to rub fenders at 100 mph.