[Shotimes] Swaybars and Bushings

[d.rosicke@snet.net]

91+, 193K miles.

My combo stock (with 45K miles on it when I bought it)- understeered and
wore out the front Goodyears in less than 12K miles.
My stock combo with the 22mm front bar - went 45K miles with Michlen
XGT+4's.  Even wear front and back.
12K miles into the 22mm front bar, I added ES rear bar bushings and ADDCO
replacement rear end links. Easy to do a 4 wheel drift now at speed (wild
slide once at 60MPH in KY!)- Still stock springs/struts with 70K miles.

Now I have replaced the springs and added Konis.  I can go to an autocross
and set the car up so that I can get the rear out when I want.

I have driven a 92 with 24mm front, 22mm rear.  The car felt so much stiffer
and did not understeer as much as my '91 did when I bought it.  He also had
Konis.

I plan on replacing the bushings with either stock or something that has
more compliance.  The ES are worn out and clunk.  I'm tired of the jumpiness
of the back end that is hard to tune out with the Konis.  I can say the 22MM
front bar was the best decision.  Leans a lot more, but it  keeps the tires
lasting longer and I can have lots of fun at an autocross.

FYI:  The BFG G-Force KDW 225/55-16's do produce more oversteer on the
street than the 215/60-16 T/A VR4's.  I might lose a little bit of this with
the more compliant bushings, but it will be worth it.

Dave R.

Message: 11
From: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>
To: "'Ian Fisher'" <ianf@eden.rutgers.edu>, "'Kirk  Doucette'"
  <Kirk.doucette@verizon.net>, "'shotimes'" <Shotimes@autox.team.net>
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] Energy Suspension Bushings
Date: Sun, 18 May 2003 11:59:24 -0400

Actually, what works on a Gen 3 DOES work on Gen 1/2s. The only real
difference is in the stiffness of the body structure, which SFCs on a Gen
1/2 can help alleviate (well, until you put SFCs on a Gen 3!).

Ian, maybe we need to understand your definition of "understeer". If a 24/26
bar combo gives you a lot of understeer at "spirited" speeds, then I guess
you are claiming that all Gen 1 cars (which had 24/26 from the factory) had
objectionable understeer. Plus, if you noticed "that" much of a difference
in 2mm front bar changes, there are some other factors at work here that are
not related to the bars (unless you were an F1 test driver in another life).

As you add performance suspension components (solid SFBs, SFCs,
Koni/Eibach/Intrax/Tokico, harder bushings, etc, etc) the general tendency
will be to make the car more tail-happy. And too much tail-happiness is NOT
a good thing for track or "spirited" road driving....ask the Gen 3 guys with
26mm (or larger) rear bars who have spun out.

Kirk was politely asking about your tires, but if your tires and car setup
are fine, you need to revisit your driving technique if you feel that you
are understeering too much (and no, I'm not talking about autocross wit a
need to pivot sooner). Keep in mind that heavy FWD cars like the SHO are
going to always have a level of understeer anyway, just due to the weight
and having the tires trying to steer and accelerate at the same time.

Awhile back, this was one of the "discussions" we had on the V8 list, with
folks who felt that bigger rear bars were the answer. I again direct people
to the picture (first pic) of my '99 at Hallett with stock bars through the
Carousel. Observe the equal 1/2 tire patch of the left-side tires:
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=329494&uid=168194

Ron Porter