Anybody have any experience with running with the front sway bar disconnected? I have heard people doing it. Wondering if you have to take the top bolt off of both sides, or just one? Also, if you loosen the top bolt, will that give you a similar (but lessened) effect? How do you keep the bolt from spinning off and getting lost? Have the autocross this weekend, and feel like playing with this... Any help would be appreciated.

 

Tried on my Civic EX. Wasn't pretty. The car just felt sloppy. You can disconnect one side. I wouldn't bother unless you have really stiff springs (400lb/in+) or a really light car (CRX or similar).

 

Exactly what Monkey said. I would just pull the bolt and bushings off one side of the swaybar on my CRX when I got to the site. If you do it, be prepared for the car to bite on turn in, the rear will usually want to rotate more, and it will not be as sharp in transitions. I would suggest looking at the course before you disconnect it. If it is dominated by transitions (slaloms or offsets), I would not bother disconnecting it. It will just feel less responsive to you.

I would like to stress again what Crack Monkey said, if you do not have heavy spring rates in the front of your car, don't bother.

 

I wouldn't think it is a good idea on an Integra .. even with your 400# springs up front. The car is just too heavy. It would make for sloppy transitions. I know guys that are running gutted CRXs w/ 900# springs up front with no swaybay.

 

My CSP 89 Civic SI (full interior) has 500 lb springs up front, and I run no front bar. Did the same thing in HS class, with stock springs. Makes trail braking much nicer in these non-lsd FWD cars. For normal street use, no I wouldn't do it, but I would on autocross cars.

~Rick Shank

 

in my 91 civic si hatchcrap i took mine off....it bites hard into a turn and have never lost the rearend....maybe i'm just not pushing my car hard enough! but still haven't had any problems with it on the street!

 

Thanks all for your input. Front rates are at 600 lbs, and the car weighs 2570 with a full tank of gas. Will try it if we get fun runs. That's what they're for, right?