Anti-Roll bars and Strut bars

[Flaser]

Hi,

 

Just wondering.... Do all cars have/need anti-roll bars, for front and/or back? Don't seem to see them in some cars?

 

Also, if I don't corner hard or at high speed, would a strut bar be of any use?

 

Thanks!

[Soya]

Most cars come wif anti-roll bars nowadays. But they r quite small and upgrading to larger diameter ones will further improve handling. For a strut bar, it improves the front end rigidity and camber stays truer, hence car tracks better. For sensible cornering speeds, not really necessary but u do enjoy better steering feel.

[Wahlao]

I dun think my VIOS come with ARB, nothing was ever mentioned abt that...

[Phochem]

i remember visiting Leong Seng with my friend, the mech there told us that G9 1.5 does not have a rear ARB. Keep pursuading my friend to install one. ($110 cheap ornot??)

[Flaser]

Thanks Soya! My Laser comes with front and back ARB, and when I found that out, it tempted me to go and test them out! Really felt quite stable during cornering, now I have more confidence in my car.

 

I used to complain that riding in my car feels a bit stiff and uncomfortable, but am now glad that the stiffer suspension setup probably means better handling?

 

I asked my first question cos I thought that modern cars have managed to do away with ARB by redesigning their suspension or something.

 

I think it's important for us drivers to have a good look at the various parts of our car and know how they work. I learnt a lot from this forum, from Saaber's technical posts and also http://auto.howstuffworks.com I'm much more appreciative of all the technology that goes into the car now.

Edited August 25, 2003 by Flaser

[Soya]

the laser comes wif mazda's patented twin-tripezoidal link suspension. that's why mazdas handle so well in stock form for a jap car. front arb is almost a given nowadays but rear arb is still deemed as a "privilege" (like rear discs) by some manufacturers due due to cost cutting.

 

for strut bars, some cars respond better to this add-on than others. i've juz added it on mine and can vouch for the marked improvement to the steering feel and cornering stability.

[Seansene]

To a certain extent, anit-roll bars cancel the ride benefits of having independant suspension, because the left and right sides are linked. But some cars, like the new Bee-Ems have their anti-roll bars decoupled for straight-ahead driving to improve ride comfort, while clamping them again in a corner to sharpen the handling

[Flaser]

the laser comes wif mazda's patented twin-tripezoidal link suspension. that's why mazdas handle so well in stock form for a jap car. front arb is almost a given nowadays but rear arb is still deemed as a "privilege" (like rear discs) by some manufacturers due due to cost cutting.

 

for strut bars, some cars respond better to this add-on than others. i've juz added it on mine and can vouch for the marked improvement to the steering feel and cornering stability.

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The irony is the 323/Laser have drum brakes for rear. But I've come to learn that discs or no discs for the rear don't make that much of a difference, drums should be good enough. I'd rather my car has good handling.

 

Looks like I would consider the strut bar in the future. Spent too much lately, with all the group buys...

 

Thanks for the info, Soya!

[Flaser]

i remember visiting Leong Seng with my friend, the mech there told us that G9 1.5 does not have a rear ARB. Keep pursuading my friend to install one. ($110 cheap ornot??)

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Not sure whether that is considered cheap or not, but if your friend carries full load of passengers very often, may be a worthwhile investment. Strut bars would be even more expensive?

 

Or maybe some people do like the rolling effect when the car goes round the corner, could be quite fun!

 

So given a choice, should install ARB first then consider Strut bar?

[Panda]

hmm...

 

the effect of having that ARB on a G9 is very insignificant unless the car is pushed quite hard cos its already a rear torsion beam...

 

a front strut bar like more effect...

[Flaser]

OIC, the Torsion beam, any links to web site that explains how it works?

 

The Sunny also using torsion beams? From behind, can see one thick beam connecting the 2 wheels one is it?

[Soya]

arb shld come first.

[Phochem]

we check with them, a TRD strut bar cost ard $400++ but this piece sure is nice looking and solid feel. The mech mentioned that ordinary ones will tend to flex a little when push hard (No sure wats his degree in defining 'hard').

[Panda]

Hmm I'm not sure how it works exactly... I only know its cheaper to produce, stiff and durable (pressumably) and the rear setup is not independant. This stuff better leave it to the experts to dissect...

[Panda]

well... 400+ ... I'm sure its definitely the best! But still its 400+

 

Hard will have to be erm... quite hard... 'plunging into' will be a good description... I dunno also...

[Soya]

wow, i thot my volvo one is oredi very ex but $400+ for a toyota strut bar is . yeah, the cheapo ones may not hv the adequate structural rigidity (which kinda defeats the purpose of having a strut bar) and may not be made of aluminium.

[Panda]

wow u mean ur volvo one is less than 400? wow... cos ya... one would expect conti one to be far more expensive ...

[Soya]

yeah, contrary to popular belief, jap parts are not necessarily cheaper all the time. paid close to $400 for mine and i thot it was damn ex oredi for basically a dumb piece of metal. but the made-in-sweden quality is .