Sway Bars, Track and AutoX?
 

I'm having a bit of an issue nailing down the sweet spot with a suspension setup in my Nismo. What I feel is that it needs more sway bar.
I seen a few different sway bars out there but each one seems to be a little different.

So what is everyone running, and what's really working out there in the real world of racing?

Thanks in advance.

I doubt your car "needs more sway bar". The best mod to invest in is driver and getting experience, lots of experience on track. After that I'd upgrade the brakes and tires.

If you're running R-comps then the general consensus is the super stiff Hotchkis bar. If you're on street tires it's either eibach or whiteline. More front bar is what we need.

Also something to consider is going to a square setup with your wheels. Did that on my Nismo and the handling was significantly improved IMHO.

You should do a search here and in the Brakes & Suspension thread. Many opinions out there on the best set up with Whiteline, Hotchkiss and Eibach being the best, but Stillen and others not being bad. Many folks here say that sways are the best performance mod behind a new exhaust for N/A cars. These remarks come from both those who track or just love to do spirited driving on twisty roads. I bought Eibachs, but I have yet install them. Good luck and read up then make the best decision for you!

I haven't been on a track yet but "canyon" running (in ohio we have crazy hills) the car felt ok with 255/285 tires, stock alignment (which in the rules of alignment are horrible) and a Whiteline front bar set to full stiff. I can't say I noticed anything with the front bar. The car maybe oversteers a little more but that could just be me giving it more gas trying to oversteer or the horrible OEM alignment numbers and the body roll is still horrible. Again though the car feels ok taking sharp turns but not a lot of confidence.

Just an FYI from all the reading though I'll probably keep the rear sway OEM (some auto x guys remove it completely), keep the front bar at full stiff, -2.5 camber front, -1.5/-2.0 rear for the street, 275/285, 285/285, 275/305, 285/305 tires (not sure still) and someone's coilover. At that point maybe I'll have insight.

Moral of the story don't expect much of a sway if everything else is stock.

Hopefully the columbus OGC will make a run to Doran racing in Cincinnati and I'll be able to pick his brain although his race rules make him limited like with tire sizes.

I run the hotchkis front bar and a OEM G37S coupe rear bar with KW V3s and 285/35/18 tires all around. every other sway bar combo ive tried( and ive tried alot) has not been as fast on track. Our cars like a big front bar

^^^ whats it rated at? I know its big but its also hollow.

I just switched to the Hotchkis bars front and rear. Have the rear bar set on the softest setting. No more lean, and the car will rotate now. :tup:

the hotchkis site has its own rating for it, but even though its hollow its the stiffest off the shelf oem fitment bar around.

i personally hate the rear hotchkis bar. stock or the G37S bar in the back is what id run on square setup, and at most the whiteline rear for a staggered setup

If they have their own testing then we're just going off personal opinion which I'm sorry to say is never right. People's butt dyno's are always off! 37 hollow vs 27 solid I don't see being the stiffest going to hollow.

Ps doran makes a stiffer bar than hotchkis.

ok so i dont know **** and all my on track testing and tire temp data, plus lap time data/gps telemetery data, and general driving feel assesment is moot :D ;)

ive prolly tried more combinations then alot of people on here on track.

yes i know Doran makes a race bar.

Clint has more track experience than probably anyone on this forum FYI, writes for an online motoring mag, and has some of the best videos of driver lines on the west coast for most of the local tracks. His opinion is pretty much money.

love my progress sways. have the rears on the loosest settings.

I'm running Eibachs front on full stiff and rear on soft. Night and day difference at Barber. As a wise person once said, "You can't have too much front bar on this car."

Doran does make the stiffest bar but if you fully read his statement he states "off the shelf" product. You can't call up Z1 and order them.

Here's a nice chart someone made up for some of the common bars.

http://www.the370z.com/attachments/t...tox-sways2.jpg