Rear sway bar information needed.

Here's the thing. I have an Austin A35 project that's getting an engine transplant and MG Midget front suspension/brakes and rear end.

The Midget never came with a rear sway bar and everyone recommends against one because of the handling and length of the Midget. I guess that short cars really don't work well with a rear bar in place, they tend to swap ends easily. The A35 is the same wheel base, track width, and weight as the MG Midget and DID come with a rear sway bar, albeit a fairly narrow diameter one.

The three options that I'm wondering about are: Should I install the Midget rear end as-is and not run a rear sway bar at all? Should I adapt the stock Austin bar to work on the Midget rear end? Should I pick up a heavier after-market sway bar that was offered for the Midget?

The front end also had a sway bar stock, but is getting Midget springs and plates, spindles, rotors and calipers. I'm definitely planning on a stiffer/larger diameter front sway bar and urethane bushing throughout for the car.

Any help/guidance/tips/links/info would be a real help.

If you've driven a Midget you know they don't tend to understeer. I'd drive the car with just the front bar and see how it feels. Then you'll know for sure if it needs the rear bar.

A35's are a bit more top heavy with a softer suspension and most likely heavier period. Probably the reason they had sway bars to begin with. The Midget suspension should stiffen it some. But like said, try it first to see if it still needs one.

Got a buddy who vintage raced a Midget and I co-drove a race with him. I found the car almost undriveable with a rear bar (oversteer). He'd always had it set up that way and didn't know any different. But he readily admitted the other Midget guys weren't using one. I asked if we could disconnect a link for one practice session. TOTALLY different car - much quicker and more driveable. From that point on he raced without the rear bar. As others have pointed to - I'd experiment and see.

I've decided to wait on the sway bar, even though the A35 came with one originally. It's SUCH a tall, narrow, short car and a five passenger sedan at that, I can see why one was fastened to the rear end from the factory.

If I DO need one, it's be one of the heavier after-market ones made for the Midget as this would be a direct bolt-on.

For now, most suggest shortening the shackle length, de-arching the springs a bit, and attaching a set of slapper bars with minimum spacing between the snubs and the bottom of the leaf springs. As I was worried about spring wrap anyway, the slapper bars will be a good solution and a cheap/simple one at that.

If it turns out that the rear sway bar is needed, I'll pull the slappers and run a pivot rod from the top of the pumpkin to the chassis cross member to help prevent warp and rotation along with the bar.

For now, wait until the car is assembled I guess and see what's what. Most likely visit one of the forums dedicated to setting the A35 up for racing (I guess that this is becoming popular in England right now.

Anyway, thanks for the help and suggestions.

TC

Get a heavier than stock front bar and try it out. Keep the rear bar in reserve. I predict that you won't need it.