Infraction Do Anti-Roll Bars/Sway Bars Make Sense for Speed Running?

[Diem Turner]

As the title suggest, I'm curious as to what people think about the use of sway bars and whether or not they even make sense in this context. From my understanding of what they are and what they do, I don't really see a benefit to their use, though I'm more than willing to have my mind changed if someone can make a plausible argument for their implementation. If there is a pro argument I'd be curious to know whether lighter or heavier sway bars would be preferable for this application and why.

 

[LibertyMKiii]

They transfer suspension movement seen on one wheel to the other side to balance the car for cornering.
I cannot imagine a need in straight line use.

 

[King blitz]

Cool to see this thread as I also was thinking of adding them to my build .but I have learned from others that they are not needed for straight line use.the pro @LibertyMKiii has spoken the truth again

 

[DLK83]

In a straight line, they're far more beneficial for a drag car than a straight line speed runner, at least on 1/1 cars they would be... A hard launch with good traction is going to want to twist the chassis of the car, to which side would be determined by how well the suspension was tuned from side to side, but a sway bar would try to keep the chassis/suspension even as to provide a more even launch, supplying equal power to the drive tires... all that being said, I don't believe there's enough suspension travel or chassis twist in a rc car, drag or speed runner, to reap the benefits of a sway bar. In the rc world, sway bars are most beneficial on rigs that get raced on actual tracks, (clay, dirt or carpet) where a sway bar actually removes/adds traction by being thicker or thinner, or not having one at all or only on the front.. it allows a driver to either tune the car to slide the rear around on a hairpin corner, or bite in hard on a big sweeping turn, and be able to take it a higher speeds without rolling. For drag/speed, imo, not necessary or really beneficial

 

[aroberson77]

I think the high spring rates also negate the need for swaybars, you already have a lot of roll stiffness. I actually run my 1:1 drift car with no sway bars at all but much heavier than stock spring rates.