Installing only front sway bar (no rear) for spirited street driving

[shaaans]

Not planning on lowering the Supra at all, nor do I plan on tracking the Supra. Just want a better experience driving on the street/improved steering feel. I was thinking of getting the "Cusco 28mm Front Sway Bar"

Really just wanted second opinions/thoughts on this sway bar and personal experiences using sway bars from you guys. I also see some people install Front/Rear Power Braces, but again I'm not really looking to track the car so I'm not sure how useful these would be for just daily driving/occasional spirited driving.

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[Z4m40i]

I have a z4 so YMMV. I ran an aFe front sway bar for 6 months and had about 6 track days with it. I only did the front at the time because of how easy it is to install.

By itself it definitely improved the front body roll. I run staggered ecs02 275/305 so it did increase understeer, which i preferred since I felt stock turbo W/ OTS tune made the car snappy.

If I was to do it again, I would have spent the time to do front and rear sway bars at the same time. The rear is a bit of a pain in the ass to do as driveway work, but the car just feels much more balanced and compliant.

The steering still feels numb, but the steering response and chassis feel is much better. Sway bars are just tuning devices at the end of the day.

there are several braces on the front and rear of the car so I’m not under the impression anything will make appreciable gains on that front.

 

[shaaans]

I have a z4 so YMMV. I ran an aFe front sway bar for 6 months and had about 6 track days with it. I only did the front at the time because of how easy it is to install.

By itself it definitely improved the front body roll. I run staggered ecs02 275/305 so it did increase understeer, which i preferred since I felt stock turbo W/ OTS tune made the car snappy.

If I was to do it again, I would have spent the time to do front and rear sway bars at the same time. The rear is a bit of a pain in the ass to do as driveway work, but the car just feels much more balanced and compliant.

The steering still feels numb, but the steering response and chassis feel is much better. Sway bars are just tuning devices at the end of the day.

Appreciate the reply and info!!! Did you have to replace/buy any extra parts when installing the front/rear sway bar?

 

[Z4m40i]

Appreciate the reply and info!!! Did you have to replace/buy any extra parts when installing the front/rear sway bar?

since you’re not lowering your car, you won’t need to buy adjustable links, although the rear links are plastic. Not exactly a failure point, but I replaced them since I run coilovers.

A lot of bolts that you will remove are TTY, so best practice would be to replace them. I tend to not get crazy about them unless if they’re load bearing. For example, there are a bunch of bolts holding the front stiffening plate that I reuse, but I replaced all the load bearing fasteners on the rear subframe. You have to lower the rear subframe to create enough space to remove rear sway bar. I used a scissor jack for this.

 

[shaaans]

since you’re not lowering your car, you won’t need to buy adjustable links, although the rear links are plastic. Not exactly a failure point, but I replaced them since I run coilovers.

A lot of bolts that you will remove are TTY, so best practice would be to replace them. I tend to not get crazy about them unless if they’re load bearing. For example, there are a bunch of bolts holding the front stiffening plate that I reuse, but I replaced all the load bearing fasteners on the rear subframe. You have to lower the rear subframe to create enough space to remove rear sway bar. I used a scissor jack for this.

Gotcha, thanks so much for all the info dude, really do appreciate it! I’m just on the fence about getting both the front and rear sway bar. Need to just do some more of my own research as well, I’m seeing so many mixed answers/opinions on just having the front one.

 

[Hasan]

For spirited driving of any sorts, a stiffer sway bar at the front is counter productive.

I don't think much can be done for steering feel on an EPS. Perhaps tyres with stiffer side walls might do something.

 

[FLtrackdays]

Gotcha, thanks so much for all the info dude, really do appreciate it! I’m just on the fence about getting both the front and rear sway bar. Need to just do some more of my own research as well, I’m seeing so many mixed answers/opinions on just having the front one.

There’s no reason for not doing both other than it being a pain in the ass and dropping the subframe to do so. That’s a huge reason. But really the only one. Anyone who’s done the front only will ofc tell you that’s all they needed. So ask yourself again, if you didn’t have to drop the subframe would you do it? Answer is simple. Go for it! You won’t be sorry.

 

[Andrew4Supra]

I just replaced the front bar as well ... I really like the results. I'm not planning on doing the rear either.

 

[razorlab]

For the street, front is just fine. Plus it’s super easy to install. If you don’t like it, it’s easy to reverse.

 

[tomfree]

I have AFE Control F and R. Installing the front is cake, but I can't say I drove it much with just the front bar, as I did the rear bar on a friend's lift the same weekend. You absolutely can do it on jack stands in your garage. It's not hard, it is just time consuming. There is a recipe on here somewhere of all the part numbers and quantities for all those TTY bolts. Just take it to your local dealer and order them.

As far as doing this to make it better on the street...If you're driving hard enough on the street to really feel the dynamics of just having an upgraded front bar (and/or removing the rear), you're driving too hard on the street.

 

[Funkjaw]

I installed the aFe front sway bar on my street car, I put it on the softest setting. Stock power levels, 275/40/18 square tire setup on EC02s. Verkline traction and toe arms in the rear, stock suspension. I have not installed the rear sway bar yet; although I did purchase it.

Installing the front sway bar only in my particular setup increased stability for the entire car - resulting in higher speeds in both low and high speed corners as well as an overall increased sense of confidence while cornering. The car also feels like it has sharper initial turn in - but possibly at the cost of rut following at high speeds so keep that in mind. YMMV.

I'll get around to doing the rear sway bar, but likely not until I have enough power to warrant wider tires. I worry if I put the rear sway bar in now, it will upset the new found stability from the aFe front sway bar.

 

[BimmerGuy]

As far as doing this to make it better on the street...If you're driving hard enough on the street to really feel the dynamics of just having an upgraded front bar (and/or removing the rear), you're driving too hard on the street.

This.

Plus, one has to consider that the engineers at BMW and Toyota are not idiots. Sure, the suspension setup is a compromise, it's a compromise between comfort, performance and safety. If you change it, you are changing one or more of these parameters.

I understand the desire to personalize your car, but perhaps your money would be better spent - and you'd have a heck of a lot more fun - if you improved your driving skills by doing some HPDE. Not to say that you are a bad driver, I'm just suggesting that you will become a better driver. And it's a lot of fun.

 

[FLtrackdays]

I installed the aFe front sway bar on my street car, I put it on the softest setting. Stock power levels, 275/40/18 square tire setup on EC02s. Verkline traction and toe arms in the rear. I have not installed the rear sway bar yet; although I did purchase it.

Installing the front sway bar only in my particular setup increased stability for the entire car - resulting in higher speeds in both low and high speed corners as well as an overall increased sense of confidence while cornering. The car also feels like it has sharper initial turn in - but possibly at the cost of rut following at high speeds so keep that in mind. YMMV.

I'll get around to doing the rear sway bar, but likely not until I have enough power to warrant wider tires. I worry if I put the rear sway bar in now, it will upset the new found stability from the aFe front sway bar.

If you like where she’s at, leave it. But no hesitations here. After putting on both, she’s so much tighter. That was before coilovers. Alignment can be adjusted easily to get your turn in more sharp while keeping the rear planted, with the rear bar in place.

 

[razorlab]

Lmao at the dude mansplaining how to become a better driver to someone that has done One Lap of America for multiple years.

 

[puzzled]

This reminds me of the sway bar set I bought years ago for my WRX.. still in its box. For me it was easier to just learn the dynamics of the car and drive with it, not against it.

That said, if the front bar is only a mild upgrade from stock, then I think it can be done, but usually I too swap both front and rear (mine are usually adjustable + adjustable end links) at the same time or not at all..

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