[Shotimes] End links

[Donald Mallinson]

Kirk,

I "know" suspension enough to know that a sway bar is not in 
tension when a car sits flat,  It also rides up and down 
without any tension (other than that applied by the friction 
or flex of the bushings) when the car suspension moves with 
both wheels on that axle moving at the same time.  The only 
time the bars flexibility comes into play is when the wheels 
move in different directions or different levels.  This is 
for any street car, I can't speak for all racing 
suspensions, but even there, the vast majority of sway bars 
have NO tension on them except in corners or bumps.  Sure 
you can MAKE the bar have tension, but in the example given, 
it is a street car.

Chances are any differences you see in ride height after 
putting in shorter links are caused by the bushing being in 
tension.  All suspension bushings should be installed with 
the component in the same position as when the car sits 
static after the work is done.  This way they are not in 
tension and likely to fail early.

Thus if you put in a shorter link, and then just sit the car 
back down, the bushings on the bar are now in tension 
(unless the bushings allow slip, and stock bushings usually 
don't) and THAT may effect the ride height, but unless the 
new setup is just too short to reach the two mounting points 
without bending something, there is no other way it can 
effect ride height.  Once you re-set the bushings so they 
are not in tension, there should be zero effect on ride height.

Also, I have no idea what your 26mm bar comment was about, I 
said nothing about it, didn't read that from anyone else. 
What was that about?

I am sure glad you got to hang with a lot of circle track 
people, but some of us also have a pretty good education 
from racers and manufacturers about suspension.  Basics are 
basics though, dirt or blacktop.

Don Mallinson

Kirk Doucette wrote:

> The stock location of the bar is no where near ideal. The bar sits at an
> angle for ride comfort - NOT handling.. Speak to anyone that "knows"
> suspension and they will say the same thing.. Or go look at any Circle track
> car or even drag car. ALL bars must sit flat for handling.
> 
> Kirk J Doucette
> NESHOC President
> Stormtrooper-97 White
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On
> Behalf Of Donald Mallinson
> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 9:35 AM
> To: DTNesbit@ftc-i.net
> Cc: SHOTIMES
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] End links
> 
> Obviously the alignment of the bar will be off, the bar will
> be at an angle, slightly effecting the tension that the bar
> has, making it more in one direction and less in another.
> 
> If the re-aligned bar doesn't hit anything when the
> suspension moves, it shouldn't be a big deal, just not ideal.
> 
> Don Mallinson
> 
> DTNesbit@ftc-i.net wrote:
> 
> 
>> What will happen if I use stabilizer bar end links on the rear of my 91
> 
> that
> 
>>are about an inch shorter than the OEM links?  TIA.
>>David
>>94ATX&91
>>_______________________________________________
>>Shotimes mailing list
>>Shotimes@autox.team.net
>>http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
>>
>>.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
> 
> 
> .