If I remove the front sway bar, either for racing or to install new bushings, will the car need to be realigned?

 

i dont have an answer, but i have a question(hate to steal the thread). What gains do you even get from removing it. It only weighs like 25lbs

 

It's not a weight issue...It's a weight TRANSFER issue. Check the pics on my web page to see what a car with a completely stock suspension (other than the sway bar removal) launches like.

To answer the original question...I didn't have to have mine realigned, and it still drives perfect. I drive it everywhere with skinnies, wrinklewalls, and no front sway bar...Except when it rains...LOL

Frank

 

Not only the weight removal, but it helps weight transfer by allowing the front end to pull up quicker and easier.

 

See, I'm not sure if I'll leave it off permanetly. I kinda like to give it h#ll in the turns too. I was wondering if I took it off to race, then put it back on for daily driving if it would change the alignment.

 

Look at my avatar. That's my car with !swaybar.

And just for correction, it weighs 12 pounds, not 25.

Weight transfer is crucial if you want a good launch. Removing the front swaybar allows the nose of the car to rise much easier by "disconnecting" the body from the frame, and plants the rear tires. It's most beneficial with a set of drag radials or slicks.

I've had mine off for almost a year and a half, and it's hard to realize it isn't even there anymore. But if you give it hell in the turns alot, I'd be a little weary. It WILL handle like a boat, but handling won't be degraded to the point where you need to slow down like a dump truck for highway exits. You'll see when you get there.

 

I've had mine off for at least 6 months and i dont miss it. The front end is very loose but you can still take turns semi-quick but be careful. I'm not into fast turns anyway so I have no problem. Truth be told, once you take it off, its probably not going back on. I wanted to put mine back on but I decided I'm too lazy and that its not necessary. Maybe one day but not anytime soon. Its up to you if you want it removed for good or not but its beneficial enough with sticky tires to remove.

 

Here's an idea Since the front swaybar only weighs 12 lbs and it's the weight TRANSFER benefits you're after for drag racing just do this. Rather than removing the whole swaybar, just remove the bushings and "pins" from each end of the bar That way the front end is free to move up and transfer weight to the rear when accelerating hard, and when you're done drag racing for the day, you just crawl back under there and re-assemble the bushings and pins/bolts. I even bought brand new poly bushings and pins and cut a clear piece of Tygon tubing to slip over the threaded end of the pins, to keep the threads clean. I also used liberal amounts of anti-sieze on those threads before covering them with the tubing. In essence this makes "removing" the swaybar a 5 minute job when you go to the strip.

You're welcome!

 

Thanks, I'll try that idea. I may as well also remove it and see how I like that. If I don't mind it, I might as well leave it off. Truthfully, I don't need to be taking turns to hard anyways, need to keep this one on the road. I might be racing this weekend, weather permitting, so I'll probably try it.

 

Yea man you'll be fine if you want to take it off. I NEVER noticed when I took mine off as far as cornering went. Sure did launch better though.

It's kinda like a strut tower brace, in the way that a strut tower brace won't do anything for you at the strip. Well the front sway bar is the same

 

anyone have instructions on how to remove it, but i want to be able to put it back on, so it has to stay intact

 

Here's another tip. You only need to remove one of the end links to cause what you're suggesting. 2.5 minutes!

Dave

 

I took mine off last week and its been fine.
I set the car up for drag racing now so I tried it without the sway bar and I,ve decided its staying off.
Skinnies and DRs don,t make for attacking the curves anyway.

 

Damn, you mean I can't take the corners at 120 anymore. Mike, when we do my window motor we can also remove the front sway bar.

 

No Problem.
Takes like 15 min to remove it.