Trying to decide on sway bars for my ERA

[Buzz]

Cut and pasted from my reply in the Butler thread and intended as general discussion re: front and rear sway bars:


I enjoy a nice, firm ride in my car (Unique) with only a front sway bar. I elected to leave the rear bar off in favor of keeping some compliance in the rear suspension. This setup delivers a supple ride with a small amount of body roll; and the extra articulation in hard turns allows the IRS to do its job and keep the inside rear tire planted when I get on it early and hard exiting the corner.

The goal of eliminating all body roll often leads to excessive suspension stiffness which contributes to snappy oversteer, produces a harsh ride and is just not the ideal setup for a short, light sportscar with independent suspension.

With the rear planted in the corners, I find the handling to be more neutral as opposed to understeering, and oversteer can be induced relatively progressively (by Cobra standards) if desired.

Originally Posted by patrickt

I have both.

In an earlier thread, Patrick, you showed a pic of the front of your car jacked up a few inches which also raised the corresponding rear tire off the ground. You attributed that to frame stiffness - which is partially accurate because it wouldn't happen with a flimsy chassis - but the real story there is an alarming lack of articulation in your rear suspension. If I jack my car up like that, I'm happy to say I need to go a good way before I run out of rear suspension travel and the back tire clears the garage floor. I just searched your gallery for the picture but either I missed it or it just isn't there.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Buzz

[b]In an earlier thread, Patrick, you showed a pic of the front of your car jacked up a few inches which also raised the corresponding rear tire off the ground. You attributed that to frame stiffness - which is partially accurate because it wouldn't happen with a flimsy chassis - but the real story there is an alarming lack of articulation in your rear suspension. If I jack my car up like that, I'm happy to say I need to go a good way before I run out of rear suspension travel and the back tire clears the garage floor. I just searched your gallery for the picture but either I missed it or it just isn't there.

That would be the pic posted below, and this thread: Can Your Cobra Do this?
Re-read the thread, look at the pic again, and tell me if you still think the rear suspension is inarticulate or if you just remembered it incorrectly (note the position of the jack).

[Buzz]

Two *ahem* well-articulated posts from "the thread":

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

This situation really depends on where the jack is along the wheelbase and how much wheel travel in rebound there is at each end. No magic happening here.

Originally Posted by patrickt

That makes sense. If there's a lot of wheel travel the frame could go right up and the wheel stay on the ground. Alright, I'll go back to sleep now....

In fairness, however, the pic doesn't show enough of the upper wheel wells for an accurate assessment of wheel travel and the fact that the frame rail is apparently parallel to the ground does indeed imply a good stiff chassis.

I stubbornly maintain, though, that while the rear halfshaft is showing a little bit of droop, my subjective impression from looking at the photo is that there appears to be a definite, distinct and disturbing dearth of rear suspension articulation.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Buzz

I stubbornly maintain, though, that while the rear halfshaft is showing a little bit of droop, my subjective impression from looking at the photo is that there appears to be a definite, distinct and disturbing dearth of rear suspension articulation.

OK, I'll just go work on my tan and catch 40 winks while I'm at it.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by patrickt

OK, I'll just go work on my tan and catch 40 winks while I'm at it.

Post a pic of your immaculate and nicely tanned hands when you're done.