Amy Soich wrote:
> I'm going to assume that sway bars stop the car from swaying. My question is,
> should my car already have one? If so, how can I tell? Do they have to have
> one?
>
> I'm sure this seems like an utterly stupid question, so let's just assume I'm
> utterly stupid :)
Only the most hopeless don't know enough to ask; the intelligent are always
seeking answers :-)
Most of the performance cars I've had over the years come from the factory with
a
front sway bar. My 914's came with both front and rear, and for competition we
removed the rear.
ALL of the MG Midgets, AH Sprites, and MGB's I've owned have come with front
sway
bars. I assume they were factory installed.
Yours will be visible from the front, run across from frame rail to frame rail,
then rearward to a link that drops to each A-arm.
Most racing Sprites/MG's that are either raced, or driven very briskly on public
roads do NOT use a rear sway bar. Don Roberts, SCCA National D Street Prepared
Champion a couple of years back in a 1972 MGB, won with two (yes, two) front
sway
bars and no rear bar. BTW, he also used externally adjustable Spax tube shocks
on
all four corners.
As others have suggested, unless there are other modifications to the suspension
(springs, shocks), it is best to go smaller with the front sway bar. Just adding
a piece because your friend has it is a sure way to screw up your car's
handling.
I would recommend a smaller to mid-size for the front of any Sprite/Midget. If
yours has none, add one. Forget any rear sway bars - not necessary.
Another mild performance tip - Use 50 weight motorcycle front fork oil in your
lever arm shocks. Do NOT use STP or any petroleum based oil in the shocks, only
mineral based oil. If you can't find 50 weight, use the heaviest you can find.
Scott Meyers
60 Bugeye DSP
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