Topic: Thoughts on sway bars
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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Webster, NY - USA
Joined: 11/9/2003
Posts: 23
Vette(s): 57 Corvette, 63 Corvette convertible, 67 Corvette convertible and currently own a 75 Corvette coupe and 2000 coupe
Hi All. I just bought a 75 vette with 53K and I am trying to make heads and tales of the advice on handling components. My vette needs a rear spring. From what I have read here the composite seems to be the best for a smooth ride. I figure as long as I am there I will replace the rear shocks (and front ones too). My question is this - would I be better of buying the Grand Touring Suspension system from VBP and adding the front and rear anti-sway bars as wll as new front coils? I am looking for a smooth tight ride mostly on day trips and expressway driving. Or are the sway bars and coils too much? Any thoughts? 

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My 77 came with the Gymkhana suspension, I have both front and rear sway bars. She tracks really well even with worn shocks on the rear (yet another project I gotta get to...). If it were me, I'd go with the Grand Touring package, it will definitely firm up the ride, and she'll handle better, too. It all depends on what you want, but IMHO, Vettes were made for performance. Go for it!
Sway bars are a great thing. IF you go over bumps equally with on both sides, sway bars will do nothing. When one wheel is higher or lower than the wheel on the other side, the bar tries to even them back out. This does affect the ride when on wheel hits a bump. You will feel it a bit more, but how severe depends on how stiff the bar is.
If you put a stiffer front bar in, the car will tend to understeer in a hard corner. Under steer means the car turns less than the front wheels are pointed, and plow straight ahead.
If you put a stiffer rear bar in, the car will tend to oversteer, or have the back end slide out.
If you change one end, change the other end to keep it balanced. The car will stay flatter on corners, and corner better.
Stiffer bars without stiffer shocks will improve handling, without creating a lot harsher ride.
Stiffer shocks will help overall handling and bump response.
If you go too far with either one, the ride will be very harsh and the handling will go down on bumpy roads. The tires tend to bounce over harsh spots instead of following lumps. Tires in the air have no traction. On smooth track this is great. On a express way ramp or hard curve it's terrible.
Most aftermarket suspension kits won't go that far, and do improve handling at some sacrifice in ride. Depends on what you want. Ask questions before buying specfic components or packages.
Ken Styer
If you put a stiffer front bar in, the car will tend to understeer in a hard corner. Under steer means the car turns less than the front wheels are pointed, and plow straight ahead.
If you put a stiffer rear bar in, the car will tend to oversteer, or have the back end slide out.
If you change one end, change the other end to keep it balanced. The car will stay flatter on corners, and corner better.
Stiffer bars without stiffer shocks will improve handling, without creating a lot harsher ride.
Stiffer shocks will help overall handling and bump response.
If you go too far with either one, the ride will be very harsh and the handling will go down on bumpy roads. The tires tend to bounce over harsh spots instead of following lumps. Tires in the air have no traction. On smooth track this is great. On a express way ramp or hard curve it's terrible.
Most aftermarket suspension kits won't go that far, and do improve handling at some sacrifice in ride. Depends on what you want. Ask questions before buying specfic components or packages.
Ken Styer
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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