Thor Forums

[Chance]

Thanks for all comments -- they are very much appreciated.

Originally Posted by penguin

Anti sway and anti roll are the same thing. They are designed to reduce the sway of the chassis whether it be in turns or from wind forces. Adding anti sway bars will never affect the chassis running in a straight line. So they will not affect ride stiffness or cause additional noise.

Yes, of course they are the same thing. Two commonly used names for the same thing. I personally prefer the name "anti-roll bar", but it doesn't make a difference as long as we are all in agreement on what we are discussing.

Regarding your comments on what they do, anti-roll bars increase suspension roll stiffness; between axle and vehicle frame (or the body in a unitized vehicle). Roll stiffness is added whether vehicle is going straight or turning.

The situation described in Wikipedia means that if you're driving straight ahead and run over a bump (or an object) with the front passenger tire, the anti-roll bar will make it harder for that front passenger wheel to lift up over the object. As the tire is forced to go over the bump or object, it transmits greater upward force at the front passenger corner of the vehicle.

Manufacturers over the years switched to independent suspension in cars to improve ride quality because individual wheels can handle bumps more independent of each other. While a heavy-duty anti-roll bar will undoubtedly add resistance to roll, it also adds resistance to each wheel on same axle going over bumps independently.

It's important to note that when "both" front wheels go over the same size bump, the anti-roll bar doesn't affect suspension stiffness. It's only when the right or left hit a bump that the suspension will react stiffer. That's the underlying message behind the Wikipedia statement.