THE QUESTION: Rear bar or no rear bar?

[totheredline]

I've researched quite a bit and cant decide wether to run either: A- "No rear sway" B-"factory rear sway with poly bushings and new links" OR C-"aftermarket bar"

Certianly the cheapest option would be to ditch the rear bar altogether. However, the car is sitting or a bilstien BTS kit (slightly stiffer springs than H&R sport) and I dont know if the springs will be able to control body roll enough on their own. But I also dont want a huge rear bar that induces snap oversteer and causes the rear end to loose grip early.

I would like the car to be as forgiving and grippy as possible WITHOUT sacrificing performance with a retarded ammount of understeer.

Im only 18 and just getting into autocross. I really want to learn car control before anything else.

Suspension as it sits now (if this helps)
-ST adjustable front bar
-Condor UHMV M3 offset fcab's
-front x brace
-front and rear strut braces
-poly RTAB's
-aluminum subframe bushings
- Cosmos camber plates
- Bilstien BTS kit
-Z3 2.7 turn rack
-All new ball joints and tie rods

[matthugie]

There is a ton of info on sway setups in the Track & Autox section, including a thread about disconnecting the rear sway in the top 5 threads. You'll probably have better luck by searching over there.

Edit: you should also know what class you're prepping for. The stock classes have only allowed one bar to be changed, though there are some class changes coming for 2014, so consult the rule book before doing anything. I think the rack swap would technically put you in SM, but it's kind of a nitpick thing that a lot of clubs would still allow in stock classes.

[totheredline]

I ordered some poly bushings and adjustable end links for the OE bar. Ill mess around with it at the track and see what happens.

[Bglad]

The mods you list are far from stock. You most likely end up in a prepared or mod class with solid subframe bushings and rack swap

Suspension as it sits now (if this helps)
-ST adjustable front bar
-Condor UHMV M3 offset fcab's
-front x brace
-front and rear strut braces
-poly RTAB's
-aluminum subframe bushings
- Cosmos camber plates
- Bilstien BTS kit
-Z3 2.7 turn rack
-All new ball joints and tie rods

[jlevie]

I would expect that car to push badly with no rear bar. E30's are not bad for snap oversteer if properly set up. And once you learn to manage it a touch of oversteer can be faster.

[acolella76]

I would expect that car to push badly with no rear bar. E30's are not bad for snap oversteer if properly set up. And once you learn to manage it a touch of oversteer can be faster.

+1. I ran no rear bar for one autocross event and immediately reconnected the bar. Getting that rear end to rotate really helps in tight corners.

[I8UR911]

Your going to have to figure out what works best for your car.

I run no rear bar in my car without strut bars and a ST front bar on the second setting. 205/50/15's give it great grip and I get more oversteer than understeer. I also run GC coils; 750f 550r.

I would assume you'd be just fine without a rear bar seeing as your set up sounds fairly stiff. ... with the front and rear strut braces, solid bushings, etc.

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[acolella76]

Your going to have to figure out what works best for your car.

I run no rear bar in my car without strut bars and a ST front bar on the second setting. 205/50/15's give it great grip and I get more oversteer than understeer. I also run GC coils; 750f 550r.

I would assume you'd be just fine without a rear bar seeing as your set up sounds fairly stiff. ... with the front and rear strut braces, solid bushings, etc.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

You sure those rates aren't backwards? Soft rear end and no rear bar is usually a recipe for massive amounts of understeer in an E30.

[I8UR911]

Rates are backwards....... sorry guys. Nice catch.

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[totheredline]

The mods you list are far from stock. You most likely end up in a prepared or mod class with solid subframe bushings and rack swap

Suspension as it sits now (if this helps)
-ST adjustable front bar
-Condor UHMV M3 offset fcab's
-front x brace
-front and rear strut braces
-poly RTAB's
-aluminum subframe bushings
- Cosmos camber plates
- Bilstien BTS kit
-Z3 2.7 turn rack
-All new ball joints and tie rods

I will be able to compete in the novice events for the first 4 events. After that I'll be in street prepared.

Also found out the springs rates are actually pretty soft. 125-155lbs progressive rate fo the front and 350lbs rear.