I am not new on here and i have a dumb question (no question is dumb except for the one not asked) i am not sure what the exact difference is between a strut bar and a sway bar...and what is the exact purpose for each?
I know they have a front and rear for each. There are different kinds like the K bar which I have heard is the best. And which is better to have?

 

Two completely different things, Lindsey. A strut bar is a chassis reinforcement, meant to reduce the frame/body from flexing, and allowing the struts to travel in a more vertical motion. A sway bar (also refered to as an anti-roll bar) connects to the base of the suspension and resists roll motion by way of twisting the bar.

Strut bars - generally the stronger the better, but since it's cosmetic you should also consider appearance. A rear strut bar will cut into your trunk.
Sway bars - bigger and/or thicker is going to reduce roll, but you have to maintain front/rear balance. It's a tube in twist, so the strength increases as the square of the outside diameter.

 

ok....so really for me all i need is the strut bars..i dont need to worry about the sway bars unless i put on a bunch more mods.
thanks for the answer

 

What is your goal for adding either?

 

better handling...gonna try the autocross thing on April 25 in SC...it just track around cones and i dont have to much to spend right now but i want a little more umph to my car
trying to find cheap sri (if anyone has one for sale) and front and possible rear strut bars.
i saw some on ebay for about 10 bucks each

 

A rear sway bar is one of the first things a serious autocrosser would recommend. Neccessary to create a more balanced car through the cones. Compensates for understeer in a fwd by creating a rear wheel handling bias. Very important for this type of racing.

 

Strut bars won't really gain you much. Working on the sway bars (especially the rear to reduce the understeer tendancy) will, better tires will take you further, and some good driver edumacation will get you further yet.

 

now i am confussed?? so i should go with the sway bars 1st??

 

Sway bar is more beneficial than a strut bar.

Honestly, I'd just leave the car alone for your first couple autocrosses. You'll need the money to replace tires. Also, if you change the car before ever auto-xing it, you won't have a reference point. In other words, you won't know if the change actually improved the car how you thought it would.

 

good point actually...would need tires 1st...better start saving then