What are swaybars and how do they improve handling?
A swaybar is a steel rod that goes from strut knuckle to strut knuckle across the car. It is attached with rubber or poly bushings to each knuckle, and to the frame, where it is held in place but able to rotate slightly. The swaybar transfers load from one side’s wheel to the other, which reduces body roll as the car corners. For instance, in a right hand turn, weight transfers to the left side of the car, and the left side suspension compresses. The swaybar transfers some of that compression to the inside (right) wheel, distributing the load more evenly, and reducing body roll. This stabilizes the car, and helps prevent the inside wheel from locking up under braking, or spinning under acceleration. While a swaybar does improve balance and handling, it does not increase available traction. Better stability is achieved at the cost of some overall traction. Consequently, handling can be balanced from front to rear by adjusting the stiffness of the appropriate swaybar. A stiffer bar at fr
