Rear anti-roll bar

[Elv15]

Who here is running a rear anti-roll bar? I've recently upgraded to a widetrack front suspension - along with a green front arb. I'm thinking that I'm going to have to add a rear ARB to re-balance the car. Thoughts?

[RV8a/Stalker]

You could try balancing the car with softer tires on one end or the other depending. Then go with spring/shock adjustments after the tires, this way you have added no additional parts or weight.

[Sean]

I vaguely recall reading a number of threads on BC that a rear anti-roll bar was not required. A search of Tech Talk should find a couple of them. Truth is though, I have no idea.

[Elv15]

RV8a, good suggestion, but I run soft tires all around. ;)

Sean, Yeah. I've seen a number of threads on BC. From what I've been able to determine, the general consensus is that if you stiffen one end of the car you transfer grip to the other end. Since I'm stiffening the front by going to a green ARB (11/16 diameter) from an orange (1/2" dia), I'm thinking that I'm going to have to stiffen the rear of the car or I'll be getting some oversteer.

Of course, I could always dial out the stiffness by going back to an orange ARB, but I've got the green and want to see how it behaves.

[athens7]

My car has an adjustable rear sway bar, and a standard front ARB (AFAIK). Before buying new stuff, would there be any value in fiddling with the rear sway bar settings? Mine has 4 settings, and came set up at one of the middle positions, so there is room to go either way.

[Elv15]

Brad,

My car does not currently have a rear anti-roll bar fitted. My understanding is similar to yours - that it is adjustable and could help with any understeer my recent upgrade caused.

Do you know the diameter of your current front ARB?

[JohnCh]

Tom, I saw your other post on BC about ride height. Before I added a rear ARB, I’d make sure that the suspension is properly set up to the specs recommended for your configuration and then drive it like a rental car to see how it behaves. If you can get the handling you want without a rear ARB, then you will save a little weight and money. BTW if the green ARB results in too much oversteer, then I’d be tempted to revert back to the orange ARB first to see how that compares. Who knows, you might like the handling characteristics of the softer front setup a little better.

-John

[Rod]

I upgraded the front ARB and then I added the rear ARB. The rear ARB is adjustable. This helps out a lot. I was told that the car ships without the rear ARB because the stock front ARB is very weak. I was also told not to add the rear ARB unless I stiffened up the front ARB.

[Doug Liedblad]

Tom

Have you driven the car enough to see a difference widetrack vs standard?

Does it oversteer or understeer?

With suspension setup lots of factors are at work and they all need to be in balance, ride height front to rear, springs, shocks, ARBs, tires, tire pressures, weight distribution, lead foot.

Sounds to me like you need a test day at the track, how about the Shelby event?

Doug

[Elv15]

Hi John,

I'm just hoping to get my car back together in time for the tour! :eek: Once I'm back from the tour I'm sure I'll have plenty of commentary about how it handles. I just want to know if I'm going to run off the road backwards with the current setup!

As you can see by my thread on BC there is considerable difference of opinion on what is the correct setup!

Rod,

Thanks, Do you know what front ARB you are running?

Doug,

Nope, I've not driven it yet. I hope to get it out this weekend for a shakedown run prior to the NorCal (Sierras to the Sea) tour.

[JohnCh]

I'm just hoping to get my car back together in time for the tour! :eek:

Your suspension is an unknown. Gert's engine is barely back together... I knew I should have implemented the No Fettling rule from USA2005 ;)

I know the Westfield is a different animal, but I was shocked by how sensitive it is to rake. I finally discovered this year that the majority of my handling problems were down to that (insufficient camber front and rear was a close second).

-John

[Elv15]

Don't forget that Stan is in the middle of swapping out his fuel tank! :D

[JohnCh]

Certainly picked a good tour to do without a support truck. Where is the bangshead emoticon when you need it? :D

-John

[slomove]

No problem....we can do a rope team like the mountain climbers. If one car croaks the other ones will just haul it along.

[JohnCh]

In that case, I guess it is a good thing we have a Stalker with a torque monster V6 under the bonnet ;) Okay, now back to our regularly scheduled program so Tom can get his car ready!

-John