what sway bar is better?

[Jeff P]

I know this is an old topic, but had to comment. The biggest standard front swaybar is the FE3 swaybar at 30mm. The biggest optional front swaybar is the Z51 at 32mm, but of course it was only available on the 1987/88s. The Z51 used a solid external rear swaybar which I'm thinking was 22mm (IsaacHayes says 21mm which may also be right...it's been a while), while the standard FE3 was a hollow 21mm. I converted to the 17.5mm (they were available in a couple of sizes) bar from a 1991 GTZ on my '88 GT, and really am not sure there was much of a difference handling-wise, except for lower tendency toward understeer. The one big difference I noticed was with ride quality. The FE3 bar gives you a more jarring ride because the control arm movement on bumps transfers over to the other side of the car much easier than does the strut/steering knuckle movement with the FE7 bar. I also think the endlinks really come into play here. As far as strut tower braces, the MRZ one is as stiff as you could want it to be, while the factory brace (22576687) probably allows for some flexing around the mounting points, but still helps immensely and is complimented by the lower frame brace (22555480).

[Barry]

Another point is that more bar is NOT always better...

[IsaacHayes]

Was the Z51 front really 32mm? Interesting... I could have nabbed one when I got my Z51..

I wouldn't want anymore front bar than 28mm. When i went to 28mm front from 22 I had to go with an addco rear bar as the Z51 was not cutting it, and just turning fast around a cold-de-sac (sp?) I understeered bad and was headed towards the curb.... But the 28mm over the 22mm fe1 bar helps a lot keeping down wheel spin when the wheels are not perfectly straight.

[Red_Bra_Black_GTZ]

Was the Z51 front really 32mm? Interesting... I could have nabbed one when I got my Z51..

I wouldn't want anymore front bar than 28mm. When i went to 28mm front from 22 I had to go with an addco rear bar as the Z51 was not cutting it, and just turning fast around a cold-de-sac (sp?) I understeered bad and was headed towards the curb.... But the 28mm over the 22mm fe1 bar helps a lot keeping down wheel spin when the wheels are not perfectly straight.

it is spelled CUL-du-SAC, french word for dead-end.

[woody90gtz]

The Addco 1" rear bar works well with the 30mm FE3 front. I have not really tested it with my FE7 front now. I also noticed a much more pleasant ride going from the FE3 front to FE7, but that was also with a switch from auto to manual and KYB struts to monroe. Probably all factors played a part.