Sway Bars For Street Use

[Buzz]

Not at all, but it really depends on your particular setup and how you want the car to handle and feel. I opted not to install the rear bar on my Unique and I really like the long travel and articulation that keeps the rear planted during sharp transitions and accelerating hard out of tight turns on the twisty, uneven roads down here. My handling is nice and neutral - the only time the rear end breaks loose and swings out is when my right foot tells it to. Also, at lower speeds, with the rear wheels only a foot behind my seat, I appreciate the more supple ride over imperfections in the road.

Even a normal drive in the Cobra here is like negotiating a non-stop slalom course.

EDIT TO ILLUSTRATE

In the recent thread about frame stiffness, many owners proudly declared that their rear tires come off the ground as soon as they jack up the front on the same side. The accompanying pictures showing almost no articulation in the rear suspension boggled my mind. No wonder everyone talks about how twitchy and treacherous Cobras are!

I'm proud to say that I need to do a good bit of jacking at the front before my rear tire clears the ground. The frame goes up all right, but the rear tire stays planted until the available suspension travel is exceeded. To me that's the whole point of having independent suspension. Just because one wheel lifts due to dynamic forces or surface irregularity doesn't mean the others have to come unglued as well.

[zzmac]

Thanks Buzz. Some interesting points to consider.

[Bobcat]

Buzz ... just curious , did you ever run the car with the rear bar connected ?
Now you have me thinking about my own car with IRS and factory rear anti sway bar .
Off the subject , but do you still like the Edelbrock carb you went to ??

Bob

[vatdevil]

I have the rear sway bar from Olthoff. Ride is a bit stiffer. Corner entry is wayyyyyy better and very predictable. Lot less body roll. The rear was always flopping around before. I autocross the car, so the rear sway is a must for cutting around cones. I would still use for street use only. Also installed poly bushings on front and rear sway bars.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

It's easy to experiment with the rear sway bar and its effects on your Cobra. Just disconnect one side (or both) and go drive it for the day. See how different it behaves as to when the bar is connected. You may like it better without it (or not). It surely will tighten up the chassis without it connected. It's all about driver preference and road/track conditions. Even the size (thickness) of the sway bars will affect the handling greatly. No single component or setup is good for everyone.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by Bobcat

Buzz ... just curious , did you ever run the car with the rear bar connected ?
Now you have me thinking about my own car with IRS and factory rear anti sway bar .
Off the subject , but do you still like the Edelbrock carb you went to ??

Bob

Not my car, no - but I have driven and ridden in IRS cars with stiff rear bars. I used to value flat cornering (no body roll) above all else and I was going to install Unique's rear bar just for that purpose until a wise old sage with a background in sports car racing talked me out of it.

Still love the Edelbrock. I have to say it continues to start easy, run smoothly and give crisp throttle response like no other carb before it. I used to get the Holleys running almost that well occasionally, but it just never seemed to last very long before I had to be fiddling with them again.