Question about Sway Bars

[Ashiq73]

Hello All,

I have a Base GT and wanted to know if adding just Sway Bars, front and rear, would improve handling?

Say the Ford Racing Sway Bars.

I like my current stance but would like to add just a little bit of improvement in the handling department.

If you suggest shocks and struts/dampers, then would the Performance Pack suspension actually be an upgrade without lowering the car.

One reason for not wanting to lower is the fear that my current 19” stock rims or if I upgrade to the MMR 350 rims, there might be rubbing and what not.

Seems like the current ride height allows for proper travel.

As far as I know, the Base GT and PP cars have the same ride height/stance.

Thanks

Jay

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[BmacIL]

Hello All,

I have a Base GT and wanted to know if adding just Sway Bars, front and rear, would improve handling?

Say the Ford Racing Sway Bars.

I like my current stance but would like to add just a little bit of improvement in the handling department.

If you suggest shocks and struts/dampers, then would the Performance Pack suspension actually be an upgrade without lowering the car.

One reason for not wanting to lower is the fear that my current 19” stock rims or if I upgrade to the MMR 350 rims, there might be rubbing and what not.

Seems like the current ride height allows for proper travel.

As far as I know, the Base GT and PP cars have the same ride height/stance.

Thanks

Jay

Yes they will improve handling. Struts/shocks will improve the overall performance more, however. If you're going to buy some new, get the FRPP Track (least expensive), Koni Sport or Steeda dampers. You won't rub on your stock or M350 rims if you drop ~1". I like near the stock height myself and am anxiously awaiting a performance spring offering with very slight lowering (0.5" all around or less). The only current option that fits the bill is the base GT350 springs.

You could also get a definite improvement over what you have picking up a PP full suspension for cheap (couple hundred).

 

[Road Dog]

If you are running stock wheels and drop the car 1" with FR Performance pack springs you shouldn't have any issues. Likewise with the MRR GT350 wheels.

Adding larger sway bars and keeping stock non PP shocks and struts might not be a ride improvement.

 

[NightmareMoon]

To improve handling (and in this order):

Tires are #1 - raw grip
Alignment - tune turnin and oversteer manners. Alignment can make a big difference!
Shocks (stiffer or adjustable) - more responsive to inputs, better manners over a series of bumps. Only a couple of good options at the moment without going to full coilovers
Springs - stiffer to control body roll and pitch/dive, faster transitions, at the expense of grip over bumpy roads. Lowering won't help the handling much on a production car, sorry, but it does look good. On a race car they like to keep them low to manage aero.
Finally swaybars to fine tune over/understeer or to get some extra roll stiffness if you're not doing springs.

Of all of the above mods, only tires will increase your raw grip. Some of the others may increase how quickly the car transitions, which is double-edged. You can get into trouble faster (and hopefully out of trouble faster too).

You may enjoy how the car feels with just swaybars. A lot of drivers do, and I've run them on cars in the past, but the 'fun' doesn't come from extra grip, and stiffer bars can loose you a bit of grip if the road isn't flat and smooth.

 

[jayman33]

Nightmare is on point. Sways are typically the last thing you want to install. Tires are #1, usually with stickier tires will help you determine what on the suspension is weak, to you. A lot of the suspension is preference.

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