Sway Bar advise

[GrabberGT]

I need to have a custom front sway bar bent for my car and would prefer to have it done only once. Due to suspension configuration, a modular sway bar is not an option. Off the shelf bars will not fit due to the modifications I have made.

So... what size should I get? 1", 1-1/8", 1-1/4" ? I'll be putting lots of road miles on this as it may do Daily driver duties during the nicer times of the year. Family drives around the country side and travel to and from events. But I want it to also be a solid performer at Autocross and Road Course functions. The wife thinks it would be really cool to have a roll cage in the car so I dont think comfort has to be too much a factor in the ride quality.

I know there is a lot more to consider when selecting a bar but this is all I've got to work with:

Ford Maverick
Weight : 3350 51/49 balance

Front:
Total Control Products Coilover conversion 450 lb springs.

Rear:
Total Cost Involved Torque Arm with 250 lb springs and 3/4 sway bar.

Thanks
Chris

[Payton King]

Rate that seems to work well on 1st gen Camaro at about the weight as your car. 550 lbs springs on front and 300 lbs in the back. Front bar sizing is 425 to 475 lbs @ 5 degrees of twist.

Whomever is bending the bar for you should be able to size it based on that and how long your end links are going to be.

I have no idea what the rate of the rear bar should be or what your present rate is now.

Would be eaiser and way cheaper to get a bar from Speedway Engineering and have custom arms made. You could mount the bar high or low in the car. Bars are not that expensive (think around $100 off the shelf sizes and $200 custom) and would be easy to change to fine tune.

Couple of different theories out there. Some like lighter springs and big bars and others like stiff springs and light bars.

I am sure someone can calculate the correct rate, but I do not have that modeling program.

Good luck

[GrabberGT]

Originally Posted by Payton King

Rate that seems to work well on 1st gen Camaro at about the weight as your car. 550 lbs springs on front and 300 lbs in the back. Front bar sizing is 425 to 475 lbs @ 5 degrees of twist.

Whomever is bending the bar for you should be able to size it based on that and how long your end links are going to be.

I have no idea what the rate of the rear bar should be or what your present rate is now.

Would be eaiser and way cheaper to get a bar from Speedway Engineering and have custom arms made. You could mount the bar high or low in the car. Bars are not that expensive (think around $100 off the shelf sizes and $200 custom) and would be easy to change to fine tune.

Couple of different theories out there. Some like lighter springs and big bars and others like stiff springs and light bars.

I am sure someone can calculate the correct rate, but I do not have that modeling program.

Good luck

I suppose the 1", 1-1/8", and 1-1/4" questions is a little vague. I should have asked for recommended sway bar rate.

Thanks for the sound comparison. To have the same amnt of roll stiffness with my currrent springs, I should target something more towards the 475-500 end.

I've got a call in to TCI to find out their rear sway bar rate and sway bar rates on their front in kit designed to work with this rear end.

I've looked in to the modular style sway bars and unfortunately there is no way to package it unless I 24" arms and mount them thru the frame and even then Im not sure it would fit. The strut rods on this suspension are the limiting factor.