[Spits] Front swaybar

[foxtrapper at aceweb.com]

Increasing front roll stiffness primarily creates two different events.  The end result is the 
combined effect of these two events.

The first is to reduce body roll.  This is a good thing.  When the body rolls over, this rolls the 
wheels over, which is never good for handling as the sidewalls of a tire aren't noted for doing 
good things on the pavement.  So reducing body roll is good as it keeps the tires more upright, and 
this promotes better handling, typically reducing understeer.  

The second thing is to increase the load on the front tires.  This is not a good thing.  This 
increased of loading more rapidly overloads the tires, causing them to slide, or understeer.  This 
is not a good thing.

In the case of the Spitfire, particularly with the swing spring, the net effect of a stiffer front 
rollbar is better handling.  The car stays flatter, maximizing the first point above.  As there is 
virtually no roll resistance in the rear, you are not particularly increasing it in the front, the 
front is already taking it.  So you net out with better handling.  That's why this setup is 
virtually universal on all racing Spitfires, it works.

If you do not reinforce the frame tabs and the a-arms where the swaybar mounts, you will rapidly 
find cracking and then complete failure at all four points.  




------- Original Message -------
>From    : Larry Vaughan[mailto:ljvaughan at pldi.net]
Sent    : 12/27/2007 4:13:33 PM
To      : spitfires at autox.team.net
Cc      : 
Subject : RE: [Spits] Front swaybar

 Someone on ebay is selling 1" front swaybars. The first went for $127. 
Starting price $99. One of these on a stock swingspring Spitfire would 
cause what? Understeer?

Larry
Spitfires at autox.team.net
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