I am going to be ice racing this winter and one of the suggestions of the old timers to improve (soften up) handling on the ice is to disconnect the sway bar end links.

I haven't looked under the car yet, but I was hoping someone here would know - if I disconnect (remove) the sway bar endlinks, is the bar itself free to slide side to side, or is there something preventing it from doing so? Just want to make sure it won't slide into the way of something important at an inopportune moment...

Thanks!
-D

 

There are bushings on the bars themselves that keep them in place laterally. You should be fine.

 

I think you should be able to just disconnect one side, so even when the other side moves it won't be connected to anything, rendering the whole bar useless.

 

To do this you need metric allen wrenches. You'll see once you get under the car.

 

Damn.. good point.. Anyone know the sizes required? I think I had some metrics in my Craftsman tools...

 

bushing will keep it in place

damn i dont remember the size sorry

 

The bushings will locate the bar side to side, but if you disconnect both of the endlinks there is a chance that the bar ends might contact the suspension under compression. Leave the endlink attached on one side - the bar will still be unable to function, but the attached endlink will keep the bar pivoting as it should to avoid contact while the suspension is compressed.

 

^ Good point, I will do one side only. On the side that I disconnect, I guess it's better to completely remove the endlink rather than disconnect one end and have it flopping about

 

You are correct.

BTW, I believe it is a 4mm allen key that you'll need.

Goo luck! Post some pics! I've always wanted to try ice racing, but we don't get much ice here in Texas.

 

What about black ice?

 

I think the front is 5mm and the rear 4??

 

Cool, thanks for all the help guys! I'll definitely post up some pics/vids in the multimedia section after the events.. Should be a great time..

 

Thanks again for the help guys... Funny thing is I didn't have the time to do the sway bars since I was busy finalizing the other prep necessary... Will definitely do it for next time though, should help alot as the surface is very bumpy and with very low grip...

As requested, here's a thread in the multimedia forum

 

I am assuming this allows more weight transfer to the rear tires and more traction...right? Just curious.

 

Not quite... It allows the wheels on opposide side of the car to move independently so bumps on one side will not upset the wheel on the other side...

Since there is very little grips, body roll is almost nonexistent to begin with, so the swaybars just hurt you and have no benefit...

I wonder.. Do rally cars even have swaybars when they're tuned for dirt?