Sway Bars: What did you choose & why?

[OptionZero]

Changing the Sway bars to Stillen changed something as simple as entering a highway.. Much less lean. I'm 80 and have been driving Sports cars for 62 years. Last 5 cars in order are 2024 Z Performance, 2009 370Z (Twin Turbo), 1991/93 300 ZX Twin Turbo (tuned), 83 280 ZXTurbo.

Are you saying sway bars are good because your car subjectively feels better on an onramp?
Were you unable to use a highway ramp before the sway bars?
After getting sway bars, did you arrive home faster?
How many seconds did you shave on the commute after the sway bars?

The original poster gave no information, but i guess if that was what they want, then sway bars are definitely worth it

 

[OptionZero]

Man those questions remind me of dealing with IT vendors . I crave handling more than power. I came from a decade of Miatas and S2000. No tracking for me at this time or future. I like spirit driving and do long road trips.

I am on springs so don't have adjustments.

i'll make it simple

are you interested in sway bars because you want a new part
or
are you buying sway bars to accomplish a specific goal?

Broadly saying you "carve handling more than power" doesn't really the question. If you want better handling, maybe . . . coils, arms, tires should be on your do-to list? Way bars are for tuning f/r balance, and the other stuff will probably have a much bigger effect on "handling"

 

[Katum68]

Are you saying sway bars are good because your car subjectively feels better on an onramp?
Were you unable to use a highway ramp before the sway bars?
After getting sway bars, did you arrive home faster?
How many seconds did you shave on the commute after the sway bars?

The original poster gave no information, but i guess if that was what they want, then sway bars are definitely worth it

Using on ramp as an example, a simple example. They make the care feel better with spirited driving. In my case the kind that gets me speeding tickets but I have ben stealthly for the past 19 years. I look at speed limits for curves as suggestions.,

 

[OptionZero]

Using on ramp as an example, a simple example. They make the care feel better with spirited driving. In my case the kind that gets me speeding tickets but I have ben stealthly for the past 19 years. I look at speed limits for curves as suggestions.,

I suppose not everyone makes decisions based on chasing a "spirit feeling"

as for how you're behaving on public streets, i don't think we're ever going to see eye to eye, so you do you, and i hope nobody gets hurt.

 

[kappa_md]

i'm on 200 tw tires, coils, race alignment, full SPL arms, and a bucket. I don't need to change my sway bars because i haven't reached the limit of my current setup, and there is nothing to suggest changing the front/rear balance through sway bars is necessary

Then don’t! You don’t need to convice us haha
I’ve done pass your setup in multiple platforms. I know for sure what I’m talking about. Have a good positive vibe day

 

[OptionZero]

Then don’t! You don’t need to convice us haha
I’ve done pass your setup in multiple platforms. I know for sure what I’m talking about. Have a good positive vibe day

for sure

 

[KrackaC8]

nothing you do at legal speeds on a freeway or mountain pass will be affected by any sway bar you do or do not have

Might as well remove yours then and save some weight if they're not doing anything for ya

 

[OptionZero]

Might as well remove yours then and save some weight if they're not doing anything for ya

do I need to explain the difference between leaving an existing setup intact and answering a question from some asking if they should buy new ones

 

[KrackaC8]

do I need to explain the difference between leaving an existing setup intact and answering a question from some asking if they should buy new ones

I suppose you could, if you want... You're the one who said it doesn't matter. I'll assure you, with the front bar disconnected on one of my vehicles, it gets very dicey very quickly at anything above about 30 MPH (I've played with it to find out).

Using your logic, why get a sports car at all? The cheapest shitbox at the corner dirt lot is going to make it around the on-ramp at legal speeds too.

Does any car NEED modifications? No.

Do some owners get enjoyment out of [subjectively] making their car better, faster, and/or personalized? Yes.

The stock suspension is one of the often noted weak links in the stock Z, per just about every review and quite a few owners. Myself included. Coming from other sports cars...left quite a bit to be desired. Luckily, it's low hanging fruit. I've owned some cars where anti-roll bars have made positive improvement, while I've had others where it was actually worse off with them installed (kudos to those factory engineers and their R&D). Of course, original intended purpose/targets also come into play.

 

[OptionZero]

I suppose you could, if you want...

Using your logic, why get a sports car at all? The cheapest shitbox at the corner dirt lot is going to make it around the on-ramp at legal speeds too.

Does any car NEED modifications? No.

Do some owners get enjoyment out of [subjectively] making their car better and/or personalized? Yes.

Indeed, there is no need for a sports car at all, despite what many tell themselves to justify paying $50K for a car. Just look at this forum and read the threads about the car being too low, or too uncomfortable, or asking about what suspension setup will "feel like stock", or "why the seats dont recline". Seems like alot of people bought a "sports car" and have no idea what they bought or why they bought it either.

I drive a bone stock Honda fit as a daily, and it accomplishes everything it needs to do.
My Z is a weekend car for hardparking at boba cafes or racing around a track.
Each accomplishes its goal, and i'm happier doing each purpose with the car that it's for.

I guess i'll spell this out:
Buying a Z and slapping on sway bars because it "feels better" on the way to the grocery store is really pointless.
but
It's your money. if thats what you wanna do, go for it
But let's be honest about what we're doing

 

[KrackaC8]

Indeed, there is no need for a sports car at all, despite what many tell themselves to justify paying $50K for a car. Just look at this forum and read the threads about the car being too low, or too uncomfortable, or asking about what suspension setup will "feel like stock", or "why the seats dont recline". Seems like alot of people bought a "sports car" and have no idea what they bought or why they bought it either.

I drive a bone stock Honda fit as a daily, and it accomplishes everything it needs to do.
My Z is a weekend car for hardparking at boba cafes or racing around a track.
Each accomplishes its goal, and i'm happier doing each purpose with the car that it's for.

Mulitple vehicles in the garage fleet is always a huge plus that some of us have the pleasure of enjoying

 

[OptionZero]

Mulitple vehicles in the garage fleet is always a huge plus that some of us have the pleasure of enjoying

I enjoy driving a hassle free, reliable daily that can fit whatever i need to fit, do whatever its to do, attracts zero attention, and is relatively disposable if an accident or theft happens.

I also enjoying driving a track car on the track or a stance car to a car meet

I don't need to pretend i'm a racecar driver on the street, so i don't need to wonder if i should get sway bars for a street car

 

[KrackaC8]

I enjoy driving a hassle free, reliable daily that can fit whatever i need to fit, do whatever its to do, attracts zero attention, and is relatively disposable if an accident or theft happens.

I also enjoying driving a track car on the track or a stance car to a car meet

I don't need to pretend i'm a racecar driver on the street, so i don't need to wonder if i should get sway bars for a street car

You lost me at "stance" but hey, you do you and we'll all enjoy our shared hobby/passion.

I might take my wife's lfited Wrangler to dinner tonight just in case I encounter a curb or bush that needs running over...

You did also mention you have coilovers. Stiffer springs and anti-roll bars can, at times, be used to accomplish the same end result, but by different means. Stiffer springs - softer bars, stiffer bars - softer springs, etc. Multiple ways to skin a cat, as they say.

 

[OptionZero]

I have air cups on coilovers.


Spring rates are primarily tweaked to affect front/rear weight transfer

Sway bars are there to reduce lateral weight transfer, but the differential between front/rear sway bar settings can also be used to tweak front/rear balance

The stock Z, at least the Z34, has a soft enough front end that some have found adding a stiffer sway bar in front has actually increased front end grip. Conversely, some have even removed the rear bar entirely claiming it has decreased understeer, even if its counterintuitive. This isn't a universal finding, others prefer the same size bar front/rear. It could simply be a difference in setup or preference in how the car behaves midcorner.

EDIT:
A rear bar will resist weight transfer but may also result in the inner wheel lifting mid corner. This is likely why some report liking no rear bar (or less rear bar) while others retain a rear bar. Allowing the inner wheel may provide more grip on exit. When a car turns the weight is going to shift and the suspension is there to try to control it in some manner. This is also a fluid situation because on corner exit that weight needs to be shifting back. This is likely why there is no conensus about a "best" setting - its what a driver prefers, their spring rate, and probably other factors like aero, tires, and the specific track.


I bring this up to again say . . . all that dynamics stuff is for the track rats to fuss about and even they don't agree. It won't get you to the steakhouse faster, so its pointless for non-track drivers.

 

[VR30Infection]

This has turned into a funny thread. .
“I got this and I love it”
“You’re wrong”
“I know you are but what am I?”
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but forum opinions will never hurt me”

lol.

have a great day everyone and let’s stick to the topic.
I’m wondering why I don’t hear people say Eibach on this thread.