[PierreTT]

Hi,

Newbie question I guess... Sorry, I'm sure it was covered before but cant find it (too much stuff here!!)...

I bought the Track pack adjustable Bilstein dampers. I don't have the sport pack on my car.

What is the sway bars difference between :

-No pack (like my car)
-Sport Pack
-Track Pack

Do I need to buy/install new sway bars on my car?

I will install a rear brace at the same time I change the dampers...

Suspension specialists, please advise!! :bow:

Cheers
Pierre

 

[fpitas]

Base and Sport Pack bars are 3/4" hollow fixed rate, but the Track Pack bar is 3/4" hollow with several adjustment holes to allow adjusting the roll rate. Adjustable bars of higher rates are available from Blackwatch Racing Adjustable Anti-roll Bar, Lotus Suspension Products - Blackwatch Racing and Eliseparts Elise Parts -.

 

[fitfan]

roll bar installation is not "simple" on these cars...

some people have drilled an extra hole or two in the stock base roll bar, to get a little more out of it.

the LSD cars seem to have a little more need for more roll bar. not as much needed it seems for open diff cars. of course, thats all tuning for driving style as well...

 

[fpitas]

roll bar installation is not "simple" on these cars...

some people have drilled an extra hole or two in the stock base roll bar, to get a little more out of it.

It's a chore the first time because of the [email protected]#$% rivets, but once those are removed by drilling and replaced with bolts, it's not too bad.

 

[Green Ghost]

You will want an adjustable sway-bar (Lotus TP bar or a Blackwatch one) for the base bar is not a good match. Fpitas states that the base bar, the SP (sport pack) bar, and the TP bar are all the same size (3/4”). But when I had mine changed the mechanic that did the conversion tolled me the TP bar was fatter then the base sway-bar and the mounts that holed it to the frame are different. So???

He also stated how much of a hassle it was to get the original sway-bar mounts off.

My opinion....
I say get the Lotus TP bar (or same size from someone else) unless you are changing springs or something else. The adjustments on the Lotus TP bar will go from lose on one extreme to big time push on the other extreme. So I can’t see getting a bigger (fatter) bar for you will be stuck on one extreme.

 

[fpitas]

You will want an adjustable sway-bar (Lotus TP bar or a Blackwatch one) for the base bar is not a good match. Fpitas states that the base bar, the SP (sport pack) bar, and the TP bar are all the same size (3/4”). But when I had mine changed the mechanic that did the conversion tolled me the TP bar was fatter then the base sway-bar and the mounts that holed it to the frame are different. So???

He also stated how much of a hassle it was to get the original sway-bar mounts off.

My opinion....
I say get the Lotus TP bar (or same size from someone else) unless you are changing springs or something else. The adjustments on the Lotus TP bar will go from lose on one extreme to big time push on the other extreme. So I can’t see getting a bigger (fatter) bar for you will be stuck on one extreme.

Various people here have said their Track Pack bar is 3/4", the same as the regular bar. It is mounted in nylon bushings instead of rubber for more overall stiffness. I'll admit I have not personally measured one. Even if it is the same outside diameter it's possible the wall may be thicker, making it stiffer, although someone would have to section one to determine that.

As for bigger bars, you can get odd results as you make a front bar bigger/stiffer. The greater stiffness will typically cause more understeer, but sometimes going even stiffer results in less understeer because there is less body roll and less front camber change.

 

[PierreTT]

Great input so far!!:clap:

I need to spend time learning to drive this new car instead of messing around with suspension setup!!!

Bottom line: I should buy a LTP Bar if I want to play safe

Anybody have one FS?

Cheers
Pierre

 

[fpitas]

Great input so far!!:clap:

I need to spend time learning to drive this new car instead of messing around with suspension setup!!!

Bottom line: I should buy a LTP Bar if I want to play safe

Anybody have one FS?

Cheers
Pierre

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