Front Sway Bar

[Spongebob]

I'm a new TR owner and I love it. I'm ready to do a little bracket racing with the car. About 15 years ago when I bracket raced, I remember disconnecting the end links of my front sway bar on my 70 firebird, it really helped out with 60 foot times.

I'm sure some of you guys have tried it with these cars, any success?

Thanks...

 

[GNFURY]

do the same with you turbo buick! it will help alot!

 

[microELVIS]

Novice Question

How does removing the front sway bar help anything, but what would be in my mind negligable weight ? I believe mine is still connected, my best 60' was a 1.86. Would losing the bar help theoretically ?

 

[c&cgn]

Some say it will help the front end come up quicker and help weight transfer or something to that effect. I have not tried it so far and my car 60's in the low 1.6's and high 1.5's on a regular basis.

It's not something I would bother doing until you are really sreious about racing your car. There are plenty of other things that will help more, but most of those cost $$.

 

[Spongebob]

Actually, you only need to disconnect the endlinks, not remove the swaybar. The idea isn't to reduce front end weight. The removal of the endlinks allows the front suspension to rise faster aiding in weight transfer. It did wonders when I bracket raced a 70 firebird.

I will be trying again this week, last month I tried it but I had some other issues that were affecting 60' times. ( Stone hard tires ) New BFG radials are on now, I'm hoping to hit test and tune Tuesday or Thursday this week. I'll post results.

 

[TrboHead]

Leave your sway bar on. It's very dangerous on the street at high speeds under WOT. Your car will wobble back and forth in the rear because there is no resistance from the front corners. All it takes is a bump or dip in the road and your out of control. The more HP you have the worse it is.
Tip:
Grind smooth and polish shinny the swaybar at the rubber contact point where it connects with the frame. Go buy a new set of mounts the (correct size) w/poly bushings the ones with the grease fitting included. You can get these at Pep Boys for $10. Just put a slight amount of grease in the bushing. Right away you will be able to push and pull the sway bar with one finger before the end links are connected. Put the end links back on and enjoy.

 

[NEARING]

I agree.
My 86-T That I bought about a month back has no sway bar and is at the end of the quarter!
Monte SS swaybar going on friday.

 

[azgn]

removing the front sway bar will definitely improve your 60' times (if you are making power....say 11's and down and you launch hard....10+ lbs)

the handling can be compensated by a larger rear bar.....the suspension should all be good before you do this (new everything, including springs, shocks, beefed control arms, bushings, braces)

no front bar and drag shocks are worth .15-2 in the 60' on my car (that equals about .2-.4 in the quarter....cheapest et gain on the planet)

 

[NEARING]

Replaced my front shocks and no longer scary