Expert: Dan Liddy - 10/21/2007

Question
I have a 1996 dodge neon. It races on a small paved track. IT has ST front and rear sway bars. What kind of adjestment can be made to the sway bars to change car handling. Thanks

Answer
Hi Steve.

The sway bars (properly called anti-roll bars) are designed to control roll in the corners.   You can change the down links to adjustable units and increase and decrease the lengths on the corners (of the car). Lengthening a given down link will add a bit of stiffness to that corner, and push the opposing corner a little lower. It also raises that corner a bit and adds some weight (taking it away from the opposite corner.

However, all of this is pretty meaningless until you have learned to really 'feel' the car's four corners while at speed on track. If you're still cowering in the seat, foot to the floor, eyes like saucers, hoping for the best,  you're not ready for changes as subtle as sway bar adjustments.

Now, the best advice I am able to give ANYone is to get the book "How to  Make Your Car Handle" by Fred Puhn, order from a bookstore, or look in the Summit racing catalog (under "books") it's about $16.00 and worth a million . With that you'll learn a LOT about race car setup, and it applies to circle track, off-road, road racing and even drag cars.

Finally, you probably need to consider converting to coil over suspension if your rules will allow it. At least that gives you the option of changing spring rates if you need it, and you can even make them a bit assymetrical if you want to get really kinky.

One other thing, since someone else wrote me about Neon's and taking a torch to the left springs to lower them- - - NO-NO-NO, that's cave man stuff and belongs in the 1950's !!,  If you want to lower a side , cut some off the coil , torching it makes it "a spring that was" it is no longer a spring. but a lump of iron that will make you urinate blood every time you run over a bottle cap

That's all I can offer for now, If you're actively racing now and have further questions, be sure to let me know and feel free tow rite again.

Good Luck
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida