sway/strut bars
Strut bars mount on top of the shocks and act as a chassis brace between both shock towers. The purpose is to reduce flex in the chassis when cornering.
Here's a good explanation on how sway bars work:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question432.htm
Here's a good explanation on how sway bars work:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question432.htm
Originally Posted by marksae
Strut bars mount on top of the shocks and act as a chassis brace between both shock towers. The purpose is to reduce flex in the chassis when cornering.
Here's a good explanation on how sway bars work:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question432.htm
Here's a good explanation on how sway bars work:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question432.htm
also tends to kick your back end out for some added fun.
Originally Posted by marksae
Strut bars mount on top of the shocks and act as a chassis brace between both shock towers. The purpose is to reduce flex in the chassis when cornering.
Originally Posted by DaWorstPlaya
Adding to that sway bar in a way, makes your suspension stiffer, in that it tries to limit difference in height/compression between your shocks. Thus reducing body roll ..... I'm trying to keep it simple for you 

When a car corners, the chassis deforms (twists). Ideally, you'd want to put something like a roll cage inside the cabin to keep it as stiff as possible. But on a street car, we need that cabin space to seat passengers, so chassis rigidity is compromised.
The reason why you want to keep the chassis as stiff as possible is to ensure the suspension is working optimally. When the chassis deforms, the tires will lose some contact patch. This translates to less than optimal handling. Strut bars help add some rigidity to the chassis, give your tires more contact patch under cornering, and thus give you better handling.
The reason why you want to keep the chassis as stiff as possible is to ensure the suspension is working optimally. When the chassis deforms, the tires will lose some contact patch. This translates to less than optimal handling. Strut bars help add some rigidity to the chassis, give your tires more contact patch under cornering, and thus give you better handling.
Originally Posted by marksae
When a car corners, the chassis deforms (twists). Ideally, you'd want to put something like a roll cage inside the cabin to keep it as stiff as possible. But on a street car, we need that cabin space to seat passengers, so chassis rigidity is compromised.
The reason why you want to keep the chassis as stiff as possible is to ensure the suspension is working optimally. When the chassis deforms, the tires will lose some contact patch. This translates to less than optimal handling. Strut bars help add some rigidity to the chassis, give your tires more contact patch under cornering, and thus give you better handling.
The reason why you want to keep the chassis as stiff as possible is to ensure the suspension is working optimally. When the chassis deforms, the tires will lose some contact patch. This translates to less than optimal handling. Strut bars help add some rigidity to the chassis, give your tires more contact patch under cornering, and thus give you better handling.


