Swaybar suggestions for my build

[04lss]

Hi all,

Autox season is just around the corner and i want to add a swaybar to my setup. For the moment budget only allows 1 swaybar. I am not sure weather to go front or rear. Coming from FWD, and FWD bias AWD cars, my first inclination is to go for a rear sway bar, but this being a RWD car I am not so certain. It already loves to fling the back end around in the wet, sometimes without me intending to. (its pretty planted in the dry.)

Current setup:

Steeda Pro action adjustable struts, Steeda dual rate springs, Camber plates, rear subframe brace, bumpsteer kit, roll center lower kit, billet rear mounts. Subframe bushings (to be installed one day)

The car is totally planted in on ramps and turns, but it just doesnt have the nimbleness i want when changing direction like one would in a slalom, the steering response just inst what I want, the car still rolls a bit too much.

My GT is the non PP model, so i do not have a front Strut tower brace.

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[Roadway 5.0]

I would do the PP strut tower brace first, then go with a front bar as needed. Your rear springs are pretty stout; I’m not sure if a bigger rear bar would ever be worth the squeeze for you.

 

[SteedaTech]

For Autox ,Steeda front bar, with plenty of neg camber with 0 toe up front.

Steeda Tech

 

[BmacIL]

Agreed with the above: front bar

 

[Norm Peterson]

My GT is the non PP model, so i do not have a front Strut tower brace.

Strut tower braces do more for subjective feel, not so much for handling improvement. But if you're going to do this, do it with Ford's PP tower bracing.


Norm

 

[NightmareMoon]

You’d like to have /both/ bars, but I agree probably do the front first. A Ford GT350R rear bar might pair well with a 35mm adjustable front bar for your car. I’m using a Strano rear bar with Dual Rate steeda springs and a BMR front bar (which is comparable to the normal Steeda front bar), and its a pleasure to drive hard.

 

[tj@steeda]

Here is a great video showcasing the front swaybar & the benefits for those looking for more information:

 

[04lss]

You’d like to have /both/ bars, but I agree probably do the front first. A Ford GT350R rear bar might pair well with a 35mm adjustable front bar for your car. I’m using a Strano rear bar with Dual Rate steeda springs and a BMR front bar (which is comparable to the normal Steeda front bar), and its a pleasure to drive hard.

Thanks to Brian @ Steeda I was able to get both within my stretch budget!

I am really looking forward to tossing the thing through the slalom now. Its still sitting on the factory 235 tires, but it should feel mountains better than it did last summer when it was stock.

 

[BmacIL]

Thanks to Brian @ Steeda I was able to get both within my stretch budget!

I am really looking forward to tossing the thing through the slalom now. Its still sitting on the factory 235 tires, but it should feel mountains better than it did last summer when it was stock.

I would not put the rear bar at a higher setting than full soft, and the front on at least medium. FYI some the quickest autocross cars this platform are running oem rear bars with stiff, adjustable fronts. Two bars also puts you out of F street and into STU or CAMC.

 

[kz]

I would not put the rear bar at a higher setting than full soft, and the front on at least medium. FYI some the quickest autocross cars this platform are running oem rear bars with stiff, adjustable fronts. Two bars also puts you out of F street and into STU or CAMC.

He's already waaaaaay out of FS.

 

[BmacIL]

He's already waaaaaay out of FS.

Good call. Didn't see the rest this morning when I was replying

 

[04lss]

He's already waaaaaay out of FS.

I was talking with someone last night about classes, I am definitely going to end up in prepared for whatever class the stang is in. I doubt ill be competitive, but I always build my cars for i want them to feel more than being class specific.

All this said, i will probably thow the steeda bar on the softest setting and the front bar on full stiff. That rear seems like it would be easier to change, and if the car is too understeer happy, i can bump the rear up a bit.

 

[Flyhalf]

Just need the front sway bar. The strut bar doesn't do anything.
Steeda bmr eibach are all great products.
The rearbsway bar oem is good to have grip on turn exit. To hard tt will tend to oversteer.
Front sway barbibwould go medium set up (middle hole)

 

[SteedaTech]

I was talking with someone last night about classes, I am definitely going to end up in prepared for whatever class the stang is in. I doubt ill be competitive, but I always build my cars for i want them to feel more than being class specific.

All this said, i will probably thow the steeda bar on the softest setting and the front bar on full stiff. That rear seems like it would be easier to change, and if the car is too understeer happy, i can bump the rear up a bit.

Front bar full soft and the rear also to get started
Steeda Tech

 

[NightmareMoon]

Front bar full soft and the rear also to get started
Steeda Tech

I agree with the above. Full stiff on the front bar will be too much. Try soft on front and rear, it will still be a significantly stiffer than your stock bars. Go as high as medium on the front bar if you want to dial for understeer.

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