I’ve been messing with the sway bars on the LX in an attempt to increase front end articulation. Not that it needs it and it’s perfectly slinky. But tweaking is my illness. In this case, taking advantage of added suspension travel provided by AHC Long Travel. Increasing travel creates an opportunity for a larger articulation delta between the front wheels as one side can droop farther while the other side compresses. Adding more compliance to the sway bar can maximize this articulation potential.
With the stock setup, there’s limited ways to increase sway compliance with existing hardware. One possibility that I’ve been exploring is to tweak the chassis brackets and mounts.
Spacing out the front chassis sway bar brackets by ~3/16” with thick washers let’s the sway bushing have more compliance before positively engaging. 3/16” sounds little, but because this is on two chassis points along with the motion ratio and projection of the sway bar, it adds up, and can result in useful additional sway compliance at the wheels.
Initial impressions, yes it works! The front end has more give resulting in a bit softer turn-in on aggressive turns. Yet front end bite is still strong. I know tuning sports cars from my track days, that changing the roll couple and decreasing front end bias can result in more front end traction to actually improve understeer for those willing to push enough. Large amplitude lean (like a freeway on ramp) is still well controlled and generally corners reasonably flat on account of AHCs secondary high spring rate and roll control. Long way to say it still has a good balance with more front end sway compliance. I still need to do more aggressive off-roading, but this should provide more useful articulation. I'll have a chance in a few weeks.
It's a super easy 10 minute install as well. Sway brackets are in the open and easily accessible with IIRC 17mm sockets (M8 bolt). Zip off the bolts, place washers, and zip them back on.
With the stock setup, there’s limited ways to increase sway compliance with existing hardware. One possibility that I’ve been exploring is to tweak the chassis brackets and mounts.
Spacing out the front chassis sway bar brackets by ~3/16” with thick washers let’s the sway bushing have more compliance before positively engaging. 3/16” sounds little, but because this is on two chassis points along with the motion ratio and projection of the sway bar, it adds up, and can result in useful additional sway compliance at the wheels.
Initial impressions, yes it works! The front end has more give resulting in a bit softer turn-in on aggressive turns. Yet front end bite is still strong. I know tuning sports cars from my track days, that changing the roll couple and decreasing front end bias can result in more front end traction to actually improve understeer for those willing to push enough. Large amplitude lean (like a freeway on ramp) is still well controlled and generally corners reasonably flat on account of AHCs secondary high spring rate and roll control. Long way to say it still has a good balance with more front end sway compliance. I still need to do more aggressive off-roading, but this should provide more useful articulation. I'll have a chance in a few weeks.
It's a super easy 10 minute install as well. Sway brackets are in the open and easily accessible with IIRC 17mm sockets (M8 bolt). Zip off the bolts, place washers, and zip them back on.