Steeda or aFe Sway-Bar?

[blackdog]

JR,

Thank you for posting useful information pertaining to the subject at hand. Understanding the results of a suspension change is far more than an article from car and driver review of the truck. That's a great site you have, and thanks.

 

[jrgoffin]

My pleasure. After 20 or so years with IRS vehicles, I’ve been fortunate to pick up a trick or two. The ST isn’t as fun as my Cobra, but it can be improved nicely though!

 

[blackdog]

My pleasure. After 20 or so years with IRS vehicles, I’ve been fortunate to pick up a trick or two. The ST isn’t as fun as my Cobra, but it can be improved nicely though!

Many, many years ago I owned and drove a dirt track car and Bobby Allison put some time and money into it. He did that because a close friend was a member of the team and his brother was a NACAR driver. He taught us about suspension to a small degree and all I can remember from that is "roll out" as it applies to tire diameter. Not applicable if you're turning left AND right.

So, when stiffening only the rear wont that result in a bit of front end push or a bit of dive?

Thanks again.

 

[UNBROKEN]

So, when stiffening only the rear wont that result in a bit of front end push or a bit of dive?

Thanks again.

All of the information posted answers that question. No, it will not.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Where does that 51/49 figure come from?

Ford

 

[blackdog]

correct, but that figure relates to the trucks weight and COG. And that changed with the RWD chassis setup.

 

[UNBROKEN]

correct, but that figure relates to the trucks weight and COG. And that changed with the RWD chassis setup.

Yes…closer to 50/50 but that doesn’t change how these bars interact with the chassis. It’s still an IRS car.

 

[SimonsGTS]

You're stating above that the Steeda "gives it a good balance" so I'll assume you're talking about the ST and roll balance between front and rear. I'll also assume that if you make that statement you've tested them. You are correct with your statement concerning the need for front and rear sway bars to reap the full benefits of either as it only possible to adjust and balance the roll rate if you have both the front and rear installed (AFE only.).

Yes, I drove the stock ST on the Park City auto cross track in the rain, and it was obvious the amount of 'push' in the stock set up. The Steeda Sway Bar is stiffer than stock and gives the ST a more balanced handling characteristic, although I have not driven my own vehicle to the same extremes in the rain, I can tell the difference. And another user posted that he had tested with the Steeda bar on all three settings, he said there was not much difference but very little push. So that tells me if a larger front sway bar is installed then a much larger rear sway bar is also needed. The AFE specs state their rear sway bar is stiffer than the Steeda so my guess is that it matches better with their larger front bar. They should be matched to create a more balanced handling experience. But for my grocery getting ST I thnk the Steeda rear is more than adequte. Just my opinion.

 

[bigcat1185]

So……installing just the rear AFE bar is a good thing? This thread is all over the place.

 

[jrgoffin]

Read Post #20.

 

[Chuck Henson]

I've searched high and low for an honest review or video of the AFE rear swaybar to no avail,so I'm going to take one for the team and install just the rear swaybar alone.
I will be starting off with it in the middle position.
I will do this before adding any of my other suspension bits just to get a final answer to this all to evasive question of is it good or not.
Wish me luck as apparently I'll be the only one in the world to actually do it.
I've searched you tube,google,these forums etc and all I can find are reviews of the ole blue and rusty steeda swaybars,so no sense in discussing as we all already familiar with those.
I do not want a blue bar that's only going to end up looking worse and I like to be able to grease mine without taking it apart.

 

[UNBROKEN]

I've searched high and low for an honest review or video of the AFE rear swaybar to no avail,so I'm going to take one for the team and install just the rear swaybar alone.
I will be starting off with it in the middle position.
I will do this before adding any of my other suspension bits just to get a final answer to this all to evasive question of is it good or not.
Wish me luck as apparently I'll be the only one in the world to actually do it.
I've searched you tube,google,these forums etc and all I can find are reviews of the ole blue and rusty steeda swaybars,so no sense in discussing as we all already familiar with those.
I do not want a blue bar that's only going to end up looking worse and I like to be able to grease mine without taking it apart.

Dunno where you get that from but plenty have installed the afe rear bar only and even more have played with the settings if you take both bars into account. Save yourself some time and just set it on the firmest setting to start…that’s where you’ll wind up anyway. The afe bar is just as good as the Steeda bar. I have a first run Steeda bar with zero rust…not all of them have an issue.

 

[CoHPhasor]

I'll be following right behind you Chuck. I grabbed the aFe bar during their 15% sale. (As good a reason as any to buy it)

 

[Chuck Henson]

Dunno where you get that from but plenty have installed the afe rear bar only and even more have played with the settings if you take both bars into account. Save yourself some time and just set it on the firmest setting to start…that’s where you’ll wind up anyway. The afe bar is just as good as the Steeda bar. I have a first run Steeda bar with zero rust…not all of them have an issue.

That's just it,there are no reviews to be found.
That's why I came here and then it got way off track and the question never got answered.
I'm sure someone else has to have one,yet they're absolutely no reviews on the afe bar at all,anywhere.
Lots of folks having pr

 

[UNBROKEN]

That's just it,there are no reviews to be found.
That's why I came here and then it got way off track and the question never got answered.
I'm sure someone else has to have one,yet they're absolutely no reviews on the afe bar at all,anywhere.
Lots of folks having pr

Plenty of reviews and first hand experience on some of the FB groups.

 

[Chuck Henson]

That's just it,there are no reviews to be found.
That's why I came here and then it got way off track and the question never got answered.
I'm sure someone else has to have one,yet there are absolutely no reviews on the afe bar at all,anywhere.
Lots of folks having problems with rust on the steeda bars and they're blue which clashes hard and they have no grease fittings and on some reviews folks claim they squeak even after being lubed with the supplied lube,so I would have to potentially take it apart to regressed every time that happens.
I really like steeda alot and have several items from them,but definitely not using their swaybars and as far as I can see afe is the only other choice next to an inferior pui factory bar.
I may as well start on the firmest setting as you suggest and go from there as I do expect the possibility of tweaking in that area regardless of brand.
Hopefully soon I'll give a review on it good,bad or ugly,I will give an honest review.
I actually hope it's good or I'll have to buy the steeda bar and sand blast it and have it powdercoated.

 

[mitchellj22]

There are many threads on these sway bars, but the comments here cover the gist of it.

I’ve said many times that for an IRS-equipped vehicle, if you want to take corners tighter (i.e., more over-steer), you only need a larger rear bar and/or stiffer rear dampers. A front bar is just a waste of money. If you want to do it on the cheap, the PIU rear bar (23mm vs 21.7mm for the ST) is only $100. As also mentioned, the PIU shocks are another upgrade. I wouldn’t bother with the PIU front bar since it’s 35mm like the base model (one is hollow, one is solid), and the ST’s front bar is 34mm - the smaller front bar being better for tighter turning.

This chart from my Cobra site sums up all the high points nicely, along with good reading at these links:

http://terminator-cobra.com/suspension.htm

http://terminator-cobra.com/chassis & steering.htm

View attachment 17334

What do you mean “like the base model”. Are you saying that base ford Explorer time have a larger front bar than the ST. And which bar is hollow and solid? You’re the only person I’ve seen anywhere list these types of stats or statements anywhere online or in forums in regards to the differences of PIU and ST front bar. Is the PIU front bar an upgrade over the ST? How much of an upgrade?

I realize there are people on here who swear we don’t need stiffer front bars and then there are people who notice a positive difference with and are hesitant to say it’s better because so many people claim we don’t need it. If softer front bars are better for IRS cars then should we put a softer/lower trim level front bar on our ride in place of the one that cones?

Let’s just say we don’t “need” any aftermarket parts, but one wants a front bar anyways. I’m leading towards the softest setting of the AFE front bar. I think that would improve keeping the car flatter at driving through corners at speeds higher than my grandma would. Or would I be better off just getting the PIU front bar. Or is the PIU not an actual upgrade? I’m confused by what you are saying and curious where you got your data.

If PIU front bar is just as capable as an AFE front bar on its softest setting then it makes sense to just get the PIU bar because not only is it cheaper but I won’t have to worry about squeaking or maintenance on polyurethane bushings.

 

[jrgoffin]

The dimensions are right from the tags on all the bars - they show the diameter. As for which front bar is solid vs. hollow - I do not know. In any case, a stiffer/thicker rear bar is the way to go in these vehicles. That comes from a couple decades of tweaking IRS Cobra’s. After a bad experience with a Steeda rear bar, the PIU version has worked out fine. Whoever buys my ST at some point will be pleased with it.