Are Aftermarket Sway Bars Worth It?

Summary

In this episode of Money Pit, Zach dives into the impact of sway bars on the handling of a Miata. After installing beefy, adjustable sway bars, he compares the car’s performance before and after the upgrade using a slalom course. Zach explains how sway bars connect the left and right suspension, reducing body roll and improving responsiveness. Despite some installation frustrations, the sway bars significantly enhance the car’s handling, making it more responsive and direct. For the price and effort, sway bars are a great upgrade, especially for a small car like the Miata, offering a noticeable difference in performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sway bars are a great, affordable upgrade for improving a car's handling, especially for small roadsters like the Miata.
• 😀 Sway bars help reduce body roll, which coilovers alone can't fully address.
• 😀 The upgrade process involves removing stock sway bars and replacing them with beefier, adjustable ones.
• 😀 Sway bars work by connecting the left and right suspension across an axle, acting like a spring to resist twisting forces when cornering.
• 😀 Thicker sway bars resist twisting forces more, which helps keep the car flatter during turns, resulting in better handling.
• 😀 Adjustable sway bars allow tuning of handling characteristics by choosing different mounting positions for the end links.
• 😀 Proper installation of sway bars includes greasing bushings and ensuring end links are positioned to avoid loading the sway bar.
• 😀 It's important to install sway bars with the car at ride height to ensure proper suspension load and alignment.
• 😀 The immediate improvement after installing sway bars includes better responsiveness from the car's front end, especially during cornering.
• 😀 After installation, the Miata feels more direct and nimble, with improved weight transfer and grip when turning.
• 😀 For the cost and ease of installation (around $250), sway bars deliver a noticeable improvement in handling performance, making them a worthwhile upgrade for certain vehicles.

Q & A

What is the purpose of sway bars in a car's suspension system?

Sway bars, or anti-roll bars, are designed to reduce body roll during turns by connecting the left and right suspension components. This helps the car stay flatter and more balanced when cornering, improving handling performance.

Why did Zach choose to install sway bars on the Miata?

Zach wanted to improve the handling of the Miata by addressing the car's body roll, which wasn't fully mitigated by the previously installed coilovers. Sway bars are an effective upgrade to combat body roll and enhance the car's cornering capabilities.

What is the basic difference between the stock sway bars and the upgraded sway bars Zach is installing?

The upgraded sway bars are thicker and offer adjustable settings, allowing for more precise tuning of the car's handling. This contrasts with the stock sway bars, which are less robust and offer no adjustability.

How do adjustable sway bars affect a car's handling?

Adjustable sway bars allow the driver to customize the car's handling balance by changing the mounting points. A stiffer setting (closer to the bar) reduces body roll, while a softer setting (further away) allows more flexibility in handling, affecting weight transfer and grip.

What are the benefits of upgrading sway bars for a car like the Miata?

For the Miata, upgrading to sway bars significantly reduces body roll, which improves cornering ability and makes the car more responsive. The Miata is a small, lightweight car that benefits greatly from handling upgrades like sway bars.

What is the role of end links in the installation of sway bars?

End links connect the sway bars to the control arms of the car. They play a crucial role in the function of the sway bar by transferring the twisting forces generated during cornering from the suspension to the sway bar itself.

What could happen if the end links are not properly adjusted or tightened?

If end links are not properly adjusted or tightened, they could lead to the sway bar malfunctioning, causing improper handling. The end links could also rattle loose, potentially damaging other suspension components and affecting the overall performance of the car.

How do the sway bars help with the car's weight transfer during turns?

Sway bars minimize excessive weight transfer to the outside of the car during a turn. By keeping the car flatter, the sway bars ensure better grip on the tires, allowing for more direct and responsive steering inputs.

Why are sway bars considered a good bang-for-your-buck upgrade?

Sway bars are a relatively inexpensive upgrade compared to other performance modifications. They offer a noticeable improvement in handling, especially in terms of body roll reduction, making them an efficient and cost-effective modification for cars focused on performance.

What did Zach notice immediately after installing the sway bars on the Miata?

Zach noticed a significant improvement in the responsiveness of the front end. The car felt much more direct and quick to respond to steering inputs, which was one of his main complaints with the Miata's handling before the sway bars were installed.