i put a gt front antisway bay on the back of my 1987 basic coupe.im wondering if i should swap out the 1.415"bar someone juryrigged on the car with a welder.im looking at the fiero store 1"front bar.
i put a gt front antisway bay on the back of my 1987 basic coupe.im wondering if i should swap out the 1.415"bar someone juryrigged on the car with a welder.im looking at the fiero store 1"front bar.
It all depends on whether or not you are happy with the handling balance of the car. Is it understeering or oversteering in a way you don't like?
[This message has been edited by Brian A (edited 10-07-2025).]
im wondering if i should swap out the 1.415"bar someone juryrigged on the car with a welder.
1.415"? That seems awfully thick! Is it hollow? (A photo of it would be great.)
Does the car understeer (plow into the corners) badly?
Keep in mind you can also change the characteristics of the sway bars by using different types of end links front and back. Rubber, poly, zero lash. The more resistant the end links are to compress, the "thicker" the associated sway bar will feel/act.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-08-2025).]
My Fiero always understeered, but I was never a good enough driver to want to eliminate it. There were a couple of times the backend would come out (because I was braking in a corner) and I can only imagine what it would be like if I exacerbated it.
My guess is they broke the bolt off and then decided to just weld the bracket back on. The bar is crazy too... no idea what's going on with that. Maybe they cut it because they couldn't get it off, and then decided to weld it back on again?
they took what i assume is an iroq camaro bar and cut/welded it to fit.the bracket is welded because the bar is so big that the bracket is bigger.i assume the old bolt hole is under there.
they took what i assume is an iroq camaro bar and cut/welded it to fit.
So, is that a solid bar then? If so, having a front sway bar installed of that size, with no sway bar in the back (before you added one) would've been a handling disaster. It's questionable even now with your addition of the rear sway bar.
You still haven't told us how the car currently handles at speed when taking corners. (Don't try finding out in an unsafe manner!)
it seemed to handle very well before but im no expert.i haven't pushed it since.i will probably swap on the fiero store bar eventhough thats a lot of money because im afraid that weld might break and jam up a wheel.
it seemed to handle very well before but im no expert.
Until you get the tires breaking free while turning at speed, you'll not know whether the car understeers or oversteers. Autocross is great for checking out these characteristics.
Until you get the tires breaking free while turning at speed, you'll not know whether the car understeers or oversteers. Autocross is great for checking out these characteristics.
Or just a big empty parking lot like I did with my 86 when it was unsafe at 35 mph. Thanks, Patrick for the rear sway bar mounting pad idea. It handles like a dream on The Dragon.
Or just a big empty parking lot like I did with my 86 when it was unsafe at 35 mph.
With an emphasis on "empty"! Yes, that's an excellent suggestion as well.
quote
Originally posted by fierofool:
Thanks, Patrick for the rear sway bar mounting pad idea. It handles like a dream on The Dragon.
Charlie, I wasn't the originator of that "mounting pad" idea... but when I came across it (and did it to my '84), I felt it was such a great mod that it was definitely worthwhile promoting here. I'm so glad it helped with your '86.
Keep in mind you can also change the characteristics of the sway bars by using different types of end links front and back. Rubber, poly, zero lash. The more resistant the end links are to compress, the "thicker" the associated sway bar will feel/act.
Agree. The links affect the "characteristics" of the swaybar assembly.
To get real technical about it and to expand on Patrick's comment, the link type only affects how quickly the swaybar is engaged. A really soft link will squish first and only after it is fully compressed will the swaybar itself start acting on the suspension. Unless the link bushings are fully compressed you feel only the spring rate of the swaybar links.
Mike Meier, a local Mustang tuner and former National Autocross champion says, that in some situations, he will put the swaybar bushings on a long bolt so that even the bushings don't compress until the car leans over a certain amount. Seems like voodoo to me, but what do I know.
That seems awfully thick! Is it hollow? (A photo of it would be great.)
Yes, that's an excellent suggestion as well.
