[AW330i]

I understand the idea behind sway bars and I know that they will increase handling but I would like a guage of by how much. So if anyone here has done sway bars on their e90, not other cars, I would like to know what kind of results you got...

[HRC]

Not sure, but I don't think anyone has released any as of yet. I'm looking at the H&R's. I want to upgrade the rear bar when it becomes available, but not the set.

Danny

[shadye90]

Originally Posted by HRC

Not sure, but I don't think anyone has released any as of yet. I'm looking at the H&R's. I want to upgrade the rear bar when it becomes available, but not the set.

Danny

Eibach actually has a set available for our cars now...Highly considering a set...

[HRC]

Originally Posted by shadye90

Eibach actually has a set available for our cars now...Highly considering a set...

Oh I forgot about that! Anyhow, can you buy just the front or rear?

Danny

[diesel007]

I have only seen the set.

http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp

[longtran]

Originally Posted by HRC

Not sure, but I don't think anyone has released any as of yet. I'm looking at the H&R's. I want to upgrade the rear bar when it becomes available, but not the set.

Danny

why would you only buy the rear?? this is coming from the company that was making the sway bars off my car. i think th front sway bars was 5mm thicker and the rear was 2 mm thicker. as soon as they call me back for the install i will tke some pictures and let you guys know how it goes. maker is uuc motorwerks.

[HRC]

I want to take the understeer out of the car. By upgrading just one, you get that, not so much with the set.

Danny

[longtran]

Originally Posted by HRC

I want to take the oversteer out of the car. By upgrading just one, you get that, not so much with the set.

Danny

when you get wider tires your oversteer go bye-bye...



Long

[HRC]

Originally Posted by longtran

when you get wider tires your oversteer go bye-bye...



Long

I meant to say "understeer" lol

Danny

[ksfrogman]

Understeer is a safety feature most car manufacturers opt for.

The SCCA used to allow Solo II participants to add stiffer aftermarket front anti-roll bars in stock class for this reason.

I am very interested in reducing the car's body roll, but noticed that in two previous cars I did this to, the ride seemed slightly stiffer as well, especially over uneven bumpy roads.

[ward]

even with the bars, the car will still understeer, just a bit less than stock

[GoBonesGo]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

Understeer is a safety feature...

How so? Not baiting here, I've just never heard that before.

[ward]

Originally Posted by G35_2_330

How so? Not baiting here, I've just never heard that before.

it's easier for most to recover from the nose pushing wide rather than the tail coming out.

it's not the "fast" way around a corner, but it's the easier to control way for most

[GoBonesGo]

Ah, thanks.

[ksfrogman]

Right. If the nose pushes forward, at least you'll see yourself going off the road in a straight line.

If the rear end comes around and you lose control, your car can do donuts as it skids off the road.

[HRC]

We all know that most cars even the E90 with zsp is designed for the masses. I understand that understeer is a built-in safety feature, and no doubt helps the average driver. I want to fine tune this car to suit my taste, that's all. I guess you can call me an unsafe radical...for decades...

Danny

[ward]

I don't know about unsafe Danny,

I think you just want what we all want, a neutral handling car

for some reason, they won't just give us one right out of the box!

[solo2]

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish and what type of driving you do. Personally, I would look at ways to improve the grip at the front of the car instead of removing grip from the rear - specially on a non-M car where you will limit the ability to put power down when you add the rear swaybar.

Better options:

* Tires with more grip. Yes, the car will grip better all around, but the increase in front-end grip will be more noticable.

* Stiffer front swaybar. I know.. I know.. now hear me out. Part of the reason a car will understeer is that the grip of the front tires is reduced due to body roll. As the car rolls, the camber turns positive and the tires grip much less.

* Stiffer springs. Same reason as a stiffer front swaybar.

I have found the stock E90 to be much better on turn-in than the stock E46.

All of that said, I can't imagine a situation where I would stiffen the rear of the car without stiffening the front. In autocross, I would stiffen the front a lot and add a set of better tires (to start).

Hank
Boston BMWCCA Autocross (Instructor, car-slut, .. )

[HRC]

Originally Posted by solo2

...I can't imagine a situation where I would stiffen the rear of the car without stiffening the front...

I did this in my last 3 cars and it worked like a charm. All my cars before this has been FWD.

Danny

[ksfrogman]

Here's a good link that discusses the effect of sway bars in weight transfer during a turn, and how this affects under- and oversteer.

http://www.automotivearticles.com/12...way_bars.shtml

[larryn]

Whose e90 were you making these assumptions on?

Originally Posted by solo2

I have found the stock E90 to be much better on turn-in than the stock E46.

All of that said, I can't imagine a situation where I would stiffen the rear of the car without stiffening the front. In autocross, I would stiffen the front a lot and add a set of better tires (to start).

Hank
Boston BMWCCA Autocross (Instructor, car-slut, .. )

If it was mine, remember I had 255 azenis 615's up front. Trying 275's this season.

[longtran]

Originally Posted by lni

Whose e90 were you making these assumptions on?


If it was mine, remember I had 255 azenis 615's up front. Trying 275's this season.

275 in front???