To sway or not to sway

lcs · 10-14-2010, 02:27 PM

Should I put sway bars on when installing coilovers? Or does it make the car handling worse since there is no LSD. Thankss

michaelthepsycho · 10-15-2010, 01:27 AM

A stiff coilover set-up can eliminate enough roll to make sway bars really fine-tuning agents. If you're going for the big picture, I'd say sways are not worth the labor; especially the rear, where it takes a while to install.

BrianMN · 10-16-2010, 08:10 PM

Get your spring rates and dampening set up FIRST, then if you really have to, use the sway bars to 'fine tune' the suspension. Many people, including myself, have had good luck with 400#F, 600#R, with M-Sport swaybars.

Contrary to StreetRacing 101, just cause your car corners Flat, doesn't mean it's cornering well.

michaelthepsycho · 10-17-2010, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianMN

Get your spring rates and dampening set up FIRST, then if you really have to, use the sway bars to 'fine tune' the suspension. Many people, including myself, have had good luck with 400#F, 600#R, with M-Sport swaybars.

Contrary to StreetRacing 101, just cause your car corners Flat, doesn't mean it's cornering well.

Exactly. Lack of body roll inspires confidence but if your mechanical grip / weight transfer is not on par with that confidence then... Eat tire walls?

neoduffer · 10-17-2010, 11:14 AM

For street driving, get your coilovers corner balanced. If you need something more aggressive, add camber plates to your setup to get additional negative camber up front. Have your goal in mind and that will guide you to what you need to do.

The cheapest improvements to grip can be made through tires, camber adjustment, and toe.

10-14-2010, 02:27 PM	#1
lcs Lieutenant 31 Rep 522 Posts Drives: 328i LCI Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: GTA iTrader: (2)	To sway or not to sway Should I put sway bars on when installing coilovers? Or does it make the car handling worse since there is no LSD. Thankss
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-15-2010, 01:27 AM	#2
michaelthepsycho Lieutenant Colonel 76 Rep 1,644 Posts Drives: 11 Montego Blue E90 335i Step Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	A stiff coilover set-up can eliminate enough roll to make sway bars really fine-tuning agents. If you're going for the big picture, I'd say sways are not worth the labor; especially the rear, where it takes a while to install. __________________ Former car 2011 BMW 335i Step - Montego Blue / Chestnut Brown
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-16-2010, 08:10 PM	#3
BrianMN Banned 114 Rep 2,428 Posts Drives: 4 Door Family Sedan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minneapolis iTrader: (7)	Get your spring rates and dampening set up FIRST, then if you really have to, use the sway bars to 'fine tune' the suspension. Many people, including myself, have had good luck with 400#F, 600#R, with M-Sport swaybars. Contrary to StreetRacing 101, just cause your car corners Flat, doesn't mean it's cornering well.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-17-2010, 11:14 AM	#5
neoduffer Fast In, Slow Out 40 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 06 E90 330i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SoCal, SGV iTrader: (5) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	For street driving, get your coilovers corner balanced. If you need something more aggressive, add camber plates to your setup to get additional negative camber up front. Have your goal in mind and that will guide you to what you need to do. The cheapest improvements to grip can be made through tires, camber adjustment, and toe. __________________ : Ken
	Appreciate 0 Quote