Power-slide with new swaybar . . .

[studio460]

I was driving at full tilt the other day on city streets (lemme just say . . . some unusual circumstances) and I took a sharp right-hand turn in a median-cutout, curbed lane . . .

The car did a four-wheel slide.

I ended up pointed straight down the street (as I accelerated out of the apex) I was intending to turn on to. It was a perfectly predictable, very balanced power slide. I was IMPRESSED! Is the stiffer swaybar dialing in added understeer? Prior to the swaybar install, I'm sure my backend would've slid me out from under me, turning me 90 degrees sideways!

[BillyGman]

you obviously drive the car hard! Now I feel a little better about driving mine hard once in awhile. but sorry, I can't answer your question since I still have the stock sway bar.

[frdwrnch]

Bumper Sticker of the day: "CAUTION: FREQUENTLY SIDEWAYS"

[VaderSS]

Bigger bars or firmer springs will cause the end they are mounted on to slide out sooner than before. A bigger bar or firmer spring on the front will cause more bias toward understeer, where the front end breaks away first. A bigger bar or firmer spring on the rear will cause more bias toward oversteer, where the rear end breaks away first. Firmer shocks or struts have the same effect, but only during transient movements, such as when the car is first settling in to the turn or when encountering bumps during a turn.

Typically, car makers move the bias far into the understeer end of things. This is because understeer is easier to control and the resulting scrub tends to slow the car down until the car can make the corner. It is also usually better to hit objects with the front of the car as there is more crush space here than at the side.

Enthusiasts tend to want a car that is neutral, where both ends break at the same time. This is usually no harder to handle than understeer, but it does put the car closer to the possibility of oversteer. Oversteer can be induced by adding power in a RWD car with use of they throttle. Putting the car closer to neutral will make it easier to induce oversteer with the throttle. Oversteer can also occur with live-axle cars on bumpy pavement due to the fact that a live-axle has a lot of unsprung weight and will tend to recover the pavement more slowly than the independent front suspension.

Tight manuevers add another elemement, in that most cars have some scrub in the front end. That is, the wheels don't turn both in the the EXACT line that they should, one trying to turn tighter than the other. Also, the tire may not stay level with the ground while the wheels are turned at extreme angles, reducing traction at the front end.

[MMdriver03]

Ya! What he said.^^^^:up: God I love this site.

[MM03]

I found that the larger rear bar loosened up the rear end but made the car corner flatter. Over the winter I plan to replace front springs and lower the car a little. I feel this will balance things out.

[Dr Caleb]

Originally posted by NBC Shooter
I was driving at full tilt the other day on city streets (lemme just say . . . some unusual circumstances)

...her husband came home...
:)

[Matt Johnson]

I've broken my stock back end loose two or three times accelerating out of tight turns - not sure I want a stiffer sway bar to add to oversteer without tightening up the front of the car first.

[GarageMahal]

Originally posted by Matt Johnson
I've broken my stock back end loose two or three times accelerating out of tight turns - not sure I want a stiffer sway bar to add to oversteer without tightening up the front of the car first.

I have the same feeling.

jta

[looking97233]

here ya go...

[Fourth Horseman]

I've had some fun breaking all four free around corners in wet conditions. I found the car slid through the corner well and was easilly controlable throughout the maneuver. It takes a little getting used to managing that much mass when you break traction, but it sure is fun. :)

[Dr Caleb]

It's raining right now. I'll have to try this on my way home :) :burnout:

[Marauder57]

NBC,

I think I would leaning on the Gas pedal if I had to go take pictures of those legs you posted in the photo gallery.....

:D

[bigslim]

Be care NBCshooter, I don't want to see you on one of those L.A. high speed chases.

[looking97233]

She does drift quite nicely. Perdictible and stable.

[studio460]

Wow, great posts, guys! Thanks for the info, VaderSS. looking97233, GREAT table! Really makes everything much more simple to understand AND to remember!

[vaderv]

I have stock bar and have done the same thing. The rear never seems to wanna go out front. Seems like a fairly well balanced setup stock to me.