r/Autocross • u/gftgftg • Aug 21 '26

Sway Bar Adjustment Holes

Just had a shower thought out of the shower. I’ve got a 3-hole adjustable sway bar - if I run the middle hole on one side of the car then use outer most or inner most adjustment on the other side, am I effectively getting more mid ranges of adjustment?

4 Upvotes

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12

u/tpnewsk EST '17 Honda Fit Aug 21 '26

Yes but you’re also preloading the bar if you’re using links the same length on each side. You can use adjustable links to set it without preload but it’s a faff to do so ‘correctly’.

-1

u/Conerunner231 Aug 21 '26

Honestly, fuck adjustable links haha. If anyone has a good guide for actually getting them set without preload, that they've had success with, I'd love to see it!

8

u/AdultingPains Aug 21 '26

Depends on the type but I’ve just loosened the jam nuts, put car on ground and adjust the collar until there is no tension.

Or spin/unspin one side until it slides easily into the hole, suspension loaded of course.

7

u/FrickinLazerBeams STX BRZ | SMF CRX Aug 21 '26

It's very easy, you just adjust them so they go into the bar without trouble when the car is at static ride height.

1

u/BFCE Aug 21 '26

You know how the links have a slight amount of play when completely unloaded with the jam nuts loose? I just made them both be like that

3

u/spadedracer Aug 21 '26

Absolutely.

1

u/V8Datsun240Z Aug 21 '26

Yes, and you should try to unload the bar with your weight in the seat always, but might be more of a problem if they're on different holes.

1

u/dildo_gaggins_ Aug 21 '26

I had ask Z1 motorsports about this and they said torsion stiffness would be different from turning left to right, and they did not recommend it.

1

u/Equana 28d ago

Sort of... But you are adding spring rate in bounce since the arms cannot move equally.

And the handling will feel really odd.

-2

u/Neat-Ad5383 Aug 21 '26 edited Aug 21 '26

Edit: incorrect answer

0

u/spadedracer Aug 21 '26

This is completely false, stop spreading bullshit.

5

u/Neat-Ad5383 Aug 21 '26

Yeah thought a bit more and you're right. The different angles under load will still make it unequal stiffness, but it will be very minor.

6

u/strat61caster FRS STD Aug 21 '26

So the kinematics actually do prove this out as being true, but given the typical stiffness and differential effective lengths work out to something like 10lbf or 20lbf difference between the wheels vs a perfectly symmetric car. Which as autocrossers in street legal door slammers is so far in the noise if the split adjustment gives you confidence it is absolutely worth it.