RC Sway Bar Tuning (Simplified)

(Fast and Easy) This post – The basics of Front and Rear sway bar Tuning – Thick Vs Thin sway bar Tuning – Pro Tips – Useful links for RC Sway Bar Tuning ???

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The basics of Front sway bar Tuning

Thin Front Sway Bars – This is more of an off-power adjustment, that makes the car feel more aggressive going into a corner. Usually best for tight turns.

Thick Front Sway Bars – This too, is more of an off-power adjustment, but calms the down car entering a corner. Usually best in turn where the car is becoming twitchy or unstable.

The basics of Rear sway bar Tuning

Thin Rear Sway Bars – This is more of an on power adjustment, that gives less rotation to the rear.

Thick Rear Sway Bars – Like the front, mostly an on power adjustment, but give more rotation and stability from flipping.

Thick Sway Bars

Less Chassis Roll laterally – (in turns).
Initial grip is higher – (but since it stops chassis roll you get less overall transfer of weight).
More response – (weight transfers faster).
Less “max” grip – (you have less total weight rolling)
More available friction (you have more tire contact patch to the ground).
More stability – (when the car starts to lean, the sway bar pulls down on the chassis giving a lower center-of-gravity).

Thin Sway Bars

More Chassis Roll laterally – (in turns).
Lower Initial grip – (take longer for weight to get on the tire).
Less response – (for it takes time for roll to occur).
More “max” grip – (you have more total weight rolling)
Less available friction (you have less tire contact patch to the ground).
Better in the bumps and jumps – (it allows the suspension to hit bumps more independently). If the track is really bumpy the swaybar could hurt more than help

Front Sway Bar Tip

I find it’s usually better to have a thicker sway bar in the front. This keeps weight on the front inside tire for more rotation. It also makes the front end more responsive in chicane-like turns, and more stable in high-speed turns.

Rear Sway Bar Tip

For the rear sway bar… I like to keep it light and adjust roll with roll-center if I can, this allows the car to keep max pressure on the rear outside tire for max grip. Also, bumps hitting the inside rear tire don’t affect the outside tire as much, This help keeps the outside rear tire even more planted (the tire doing most of the drive, especially on 2wd).

Keep in Mind this is all Relative to…

If you have more weight in the rear than in the front you might need a thicker sway bar to keep roll down and stability up especially on a higher speed and/or grip track. Many times for (lightweight vehicles) and-or (on slow speed track) / (on low grip grips) / (on super bumpy track) you might want to eliminate sway bars altogether.

More RC Tuning Guide (Simplified) (Here)

Links Useful for “RC Sway Bar Tuning”…

site.petitrc.com – Tune with Sway Bars

thercracer.com – A guide for setting up Anti-Roll / Sway / Stabilizer Bars

traxxas.com – Sway Bars and Tuning Tips

competitionx.com – RC Suspension Tuning Guide – Anti-Roll Bar

rcscrapyard.net – Sway Bars • for Radio Controlled Models