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Old 02-05-2010, 08:22 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Question Regarding Front Sway Bar

Hey guys, sorry if this is the wrong place for this discussion, I just have a quick question. I have a stock '92 Prelude S running 185/65R14 tires on stock steelies. I am less than thrilled with the car's cornering capability, finding understeer to be the defining handling trait.

This broke ass is trying to save a few sheckels on the assorted possible suspension/tires upgrades by perhaps just removing or unbolting the front sway bar. Does anyone have any feelings on this or experience doing this cheapo semi-upgrade. Is it worth losing some of the front end rigidity?

Thanks.

Last edited by Beneton; 02-05-2010 at 08:26 AM.
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Old 02-05-2010, 08:46 AM   #2 (permalink)
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there are people who autox relatively stock cars without their front sway bar. By doing so you are changing the front to rear stiffness ratio and a "stiffer rear" is what you want. You could also mess with the tire pressure but with that small of tires you could only do so much.
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Old 02-05-2010, 12:09 PM   #3 (permalink)
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I personally don't recommend removing the front sway. Instead, and assuming you're mainly stock, you can increase tire pressure in the front (which you should anyways), and reduce it in the rear. Tire pressures vary depending on your driving style, but when I was running on street tires, I tended to have my pressures around 38 psi in the front, and 30-32 psi in the rear. Keep in mind that you want to keep it with enough gap between what you put in for tire pressure and the tire's maximum pressure, because it does heat up 2-3 psi when it's cold to when it's warmed up after a run or two. I don't know if your tire pressure measurements in Cananda are in psi, but something equivalent of that.

The other thing you can do is you can have your toe alignment changed. I'd suggest in the front to have toe out 1/16 or so, and rear at zero. By doing this, it will dial away some of the understeer (increasing cornering grip at some sacrifice of straight-line speed), and help the rear rotate. Also, I'm assuming you're removing the spare tire, liner, and emergency jack when you compete?

Finally, how is your driving style when you get to a corner? Do you do your braking before the turn? Your style could have an effect on how your car steers around corners. I tend to do my braking before hand, and feed into the throttle as I begin to round the corner when I drive a regular FWD. In my car, it's dialed in pretty much where what little understeer it had is gone, and it has a bit of oversteer (it is a modded SH on r-compounds after all )...so, my driving in my car is far more different (I drive it like a RWD car) and aggressive.

Anyways, hope these suggestions help.
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Last edited by Jacques; 02-05-2010 at 12:17 PM.
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Old 02-06-2010, 10:25 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Thanks for the info guys!

Yeah sorry I must confess I don't actually auto-x the car right now (you gotta start somewhere right? ), but figured this was a good topic for the auto-x forum.

As far as toe goes I usually measure it in degrees, so I'm not sure how much 1/16 (inches I assume) is but I mostly plan on keeping toe within oem spec to save tire wear.

I realize the 185's probably don't help the outright grip situation at all. I run close to 40psi all around (for fuel economy and responsiveness) and was actually thinking of lowering the fronts to possibly cure some wheel hop during first gear acceleretion, as well as possibly increasing the limit of adhesion. I'm planning on upgrading the wheels and tires package soon.

As far as driving style is concerned, I absolutely agree with the old racing adage "slow in fast out." I find with my skinny tires once the weight is transferred to the outside rubber the car will go where you point it pretty obediently. But it takes some real momentum (and carressing) to get it there. During lower speed maneuvers, tight switchbacks, etc, It can be difficult to get the thing to bite in.

I am worried about ending up with too wallowy a front end without the stabilizer but I figure even the stock honda struts and springs are relatively stout and compliant to handle cornering forces dilligently.

I guess the only way to really know is to just do it!
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Old 02-08-2010, 11:43 AM   #5 (permalink)
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drive the car stock first, if you want mess with the tire pressure, but after a few events try removing the front bar. You dont know the way you drive or how your car will react to your driving style with modifications. Find a "base" and move from there, dont be the guy who modifies his car just to modify it.
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