Dumb question about sway bar

[npoe1]

Hi, could someone please explain me where is located a rear sway bar in a car? I have no idea of where exactly is suppose to be. I know that should be between the rear wheels but I have no idea where it connects.

Thanks,

 

[boomerang]

Come on. I bet if you Googled for 'rear sway bar" or " rear anti-roll bar" you could find a picture that would make it clearer than we could ever explain it.

 

[radioouman]

It should connect the lower control arms or knuckles together. There will also be two places that it is mounted to the frame/subframe.

 

[npoe1]

So, is it possible to mess up with the car getting one?

 

[PlasmaBomb]

You haven't given us enough information...

I'm going to say Yes?

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: npoe1
So, is it possible to mess up with the car getting one?

what car, and yes

 

[npoe1]

I was looking to photos as suggested by boomerang and depend on the bar but is necessary to drill a few holes on the car to accommodate a new bar. I don't feel comfortable being shot in hospital even though I regenerate; a car doesn?t regenerate, so it will be a permanent hole. Can that damage the structural integrity of the car?

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

sounds like you don't even know what it is/does, why are you getting one?
because you read some car forums that said it gives the car mad tight handling in the twisties?

 

[npoe1]

You are right, I read it somewhere. I need to start with something and the sway bars looks like an easy target (I want to learn about cars like a hobby).

 

[Billb2]

You sir, are making a BIG mistake.
First of all, adding a swaybar will greatly change the handling of your car, most likely making it dangerous in accident avoidence maneuvering. Adding a sway bar to the rear will make the front tires "stick" to the road better while turning, and at the same time make the rear tires "unstick" from the road when turning. Front and rear sway bars have to be "matched" to avoid "understear" or "overstear". Without being able to drive the car on a race track (or some other "safe" place) and either having a whole bunch of bars (front AND rear) to try, or installing adjustable bars, it's a shot in the dark. I crew chief for an amature (SCCA) race team, and in the last two years we've spent four whole test days at tracks testing nothing but bar setups.

 

[T2urtle]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
sounds like you don't even know what it is/does, why are you getting one?
because you read some car forums that said it gives the car mad tight handling in the twisties?

i'm thinking the same thing....


for the most part i've never heard of anyone drilling anything....

swaybars on cars that already have one use the same mounting points maybe bigger brackets since its going to be a couple mm thicker.

cars without them have U-clamps or etc to bolt them on. They are a BOLT-ON not a drill-on or anything.


You chance the structural integrity of the car but not exactly damage. It all depends on the car, size of bar and how you drive. Most people would say a RSB would be the best bang for the buck on car forums. I haven't owned a car or driven and before and after to tell you other wise.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: npoe1
You are right, I read it somewhere. I need to start with something and the sway bars looks like an easy target (I want to learn about cars like a hobby).

what car?

and my advice, don't do it.
if anything, go with strut bars. it's easier and won't imbalance the handling of your car as much as a sway bar. it will merely increase rigidity of the chassis which improves handling as well.

 

[npoe1]

Well, the car is a Ford Fusion V6 FWD and I plan to buy the bars from Steeda. They sell a Strut Tower brace and a rear sway bar.

 

[T2urtle]

just to let you know these things are pretty much useless and a waste of money if you don't drive the car hard.

when i lowered my car i didn't noticed a thing untill i took it hard on a couple of on and off ramps and then finally found a couple twisty roads.

same goes for your RSB and FST. if you want to learn about cars read first before spending money. Modding a car can be a VERY expensive hobby.

 

[AMCRambler]

If your car doesn't currently have sway bars (I think most do nowadays) then yes you should see an improvement in cornering. From what I've read the rear bar isn't as important as the front since the majority of the weight is up front with the engine. If what you are talking about is upgrading the stock sway bars on your Ford Fusion to thicker bars, then you won't have to worry about drilling holes, they usually sell kits that bolt right on. Now I don't know if a Fusion comes stock with front and rear sway bars though. Anybody know?
If it has a rear bar currently, and you're just upgrading the stock bar, then you are not going to see that big of a handling improvement. Thicker bars don't usually make that big of an improvement over the stock ones, for road driving. If you're taking your car autocrossing or take it to a track, that is a different case.