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Adjustable rear sway bar.....?

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Old Sep 15, 2017 | 10:04 PM
  #1  
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Default Adjustable rear sway bar.....?



Further to K24's thread and a comment by the v8 supercars about taking out a bit of rear bar to decrease an oversteer handling issue one fo the cars was having got me thinking.

I set some really good times with a 16mm rear sway bar before coming back to 15mm, K24 is running a 15mm and is unsure if he should drop back AND the top guns here reckon a 14 is the most you should ever need.

I just realised the spread where all taking is only 2mm.

Would be nice to actively test (and/or proactively adjust) 14 - 16mm on track, given that this seems to be a genuine balance point for under and oversteer.

Anyone have any ideas for an easy ADJUSTABLE rear sway bar setup?

Last edited by mx5-kiwi; Sep 15, 2017 at 10:09 PM. Reason: added stolen image for reference.
Old Sep 15, 2017 | 10:21 PM
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It would need to be a custom setup but some formula guys are using blades like this to adjust sway bars while driving :

Genesis Technologies Adjustable Sway Bar Blade Arms

Who know? Maybe it cand be possible to recreate a setup which could adjust from 13mm equivalent to 16mm with pieces like this.
Old Sep 15, 2017 | 10:59 PM
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Not sure if it'll be stiff enough for you, but here's an option.
5X Racing Mazda Miata Adjustable Rear Sway Bar
Old Sep 15, 2017 | 11:05 PM
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If shipping wouldnt be crazy I'd sell you the custom one I made. It works like a speedway style bar but being a rear bar it doesnt need to be splined to stay connected so I just used heavy duty shaft collars welded to the arms and torque the shaft collar bolts.
Old Sep 16, 2017 | 12:12 AM
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Driver adjustable blade type sway bar gets my vote.
Old Sep 16, 2017 | 01:53 AM
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Thanks Leafy, freight probably be a killer.

I'm liking this idea, we get a lot of rain and the last meeting was torrential and like ice. I ended up with a lot of entry understeer, might be that adding rear bar would be a benefit there too.

How would you go about getting a blade setup to replicate the 14-16 (or even 12-16mm) bar...would need to measure the actual rate of the existing one first somehow...?
Old Sep 16, 2017 | 12:46 PM
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Honestly the 949 14mm rear adjustable make the most sense. I plan to grab one and swap it in.
Old Sep 16, 2017 | 07:53 PM
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Yeah really looking for driver adjustable.

I'm happy with 15mm but would like to know "on the go" what the changes are 14 -16...and in the wet / dry / wet type races we tend to get. I have a feeling that some sections or whole tracks might be better at 16mm.

Leafy was yours driver adjustable?

and if so, any photos or drawings of it?
Old Sep 17, 2017 | 12:39 PM
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I get it. Driver adjustable would be something nice to have for changing track conditions.

Looking at at the space in the rear making a blade type does not look to be too bad. Front is out of the question IMHO
Old Sep 18, 2017 | 06:26 PM
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The more i think about it the more i liek the idea...will pursue after new motor in and running good.

Of course confirmed dollars required might make it suddenly completely unnecessary.

Will keep this thread posted.
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 06:53 PM
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The design I did could be driver adjustable if you dropped the money on this. Genesis Technologies Adjustable Sway Bar Blade Arms
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 06:59 PM
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Cool thanks, I'm lookin gat those from a supplier down here.

Any idea how to go about quantifying what rating the 15mm rear bar (like a spring i presume?) is to duplicate to a blade type system?

the whole point being to make it the same base line...that's way above my IQ grade to figure out or understand!
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 07:06 PM
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the blade just replaces one of the sway bar arms. You make 1 arm fixed with the same length and profile as the adjustable arm and when the adjustable arm is vertical you have max stiffness of the bar. If thats not stiff enough go to a thicker wall tubing.
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 07:33 PM
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Thanks Leafy, I have a good idea how they work.

I just can't figure out how to make a matching rate version without 100% trial and error. I figure it's probably pretty simple but above my pay grade.

Some of you engineering Genius's must know?
Old Sep 21, 2017 | 09:05 AM
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Yeah theres sway bar calculators out there, its pretty simple math.




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