Front Sway Bar ????????

[donZ]

Front Sway Bar
should i remove it, or keep it on ?
for the drag strip,

 

[kjhansen]

IMHO, take it off at the strip. Put it back on for the street. I had mine off for awhile (on the street and strip) and handling was poor.
Keith

 

[strikeeagle]

Agree 100% with Keith...

 

[gn4u2c]

quick disconnects

 

[donZ]

does it help transfer weight ?????

 

[kjhansen]

My best 60 foot time and quickest run was with it off, so I'd say yes.
Keith

 

[d0n_3d]

I run my car without a front sway bar on the street every day and it's not that big of a deal as long as you don't take sharp curves really fast (which you shouldn't be doing in a Buick anyways!)

weight transfer is UNBELIEVABLE when you take off the front bar...

 

[XLR8]

I was wondering the same thing. How tough is it to remove the swaybar and what are the quick disconnects?

 

[kjhansen]

Foster, you're running mid 11's with your swaybar on? Wow. Anyway, four bolts hold the swaybar to the frame crossmember. Two long bolts hold it up against the snubbers and the spring suspension members on the sides. It's not hard to do (especially with power tools!) but it's easier with two people. The four bolts come off with just your ratchet and socket. You'll need a box/open end wrench to put on the other end of the long bolts and your socket wrench on the other. Takes forever if you do it by hand! I use an electric impact wrench. I've never seen quick disconnects for sway bars (technically anti-sway bars).
Keith

 

[XLR8]

Thanks Keith. I think my secret to good 60's with the front swaybar is using the stock ORIGINAL 102,000 mile springs and shocks.
I have air tools, so I'll look at removing the bar next time I go for a full fledged race day. Do you have a time estimate on R&R of the bar?

 

[azgn]

put an ATR bar (or similar) on the rear and you'll never miss the front sway bar (even with 90/10's)

both things will improve your 60' times dramatically if you can launch hard

 

[Hot Air]

Why don't you disconnect the end links. Youy don't have to take the bar off. If you are concerned about weight, go with the 1LE Camaro bar that is hollow. It is also stiffer for better handling.
Conrad Carter
North Carolina

 

[XLR8]

I admit that I'm an idiot, "disconnect the end links"?

Woody, how does the ATR bar drive on the street? I still like to cruise a bit.

 

[kjhansen]

The end links are the long bolts with the nut on one end that hook to the suspension and actually do the "anti-swaying" as it were. The other four bolts just hold the bar in place. Since the anti-sway function isn't weight (but rather stiffness) related, a good stiff hollow bar should work as well as a stiff solid steel bar. Takes me about 20-30 minutes to remove it by myself. Part of that is jacking the car up.
Keith

 

[d0n_3d]

just take the whole thing off...you will lose weight and also greatly improve weight transfer...hell like I said I drive my car everyday on the street and it corners almost the same as it did with the front bar on...the ATR rear bar helps tons and who wants to take corners fast in a GN anyways??? I'd be damned if I was to road race a GN! Also never go any faster than 130+ mph in a G-body unless you are seriously modded as far as suspension goes!

 

[azgn]

my car drives ok on the street, even with the 90/10's....with regular shocks, it would prolly be close to normal.......with the ATR AND the front bar, it is very harsh