To rear sway bar, or not? This question I posed to you!

 I will be doing my first autocross in this Miata this Saturday. I’ve read everywhere that most people disconnect the rear sway bar. This is a 1997 base model. Has some sticky all seasons, stock suspension with KYB shocks all around that are new.  NB wheels, and open Diff, and A flying Miata alignment.

 Right now the car feels very light and predictable as far as being able to make it dance around a very tight roundabout in a brand new housing development that is uninhabited. One thing I notice though is the inside wheel spinning. And spinnin’ ain’t winnin’. So, disconnect it? Will I gain grip out of corners that way? Or will it wallow in the slaloms? 

I don't run a rear sway bar on my 1990 Miata. I have a Torsen swapped in, but with those if you lift a tire they go open as well. Removing the bar does allow more rear travel to help and made my car glued down, and the car doesn't feel like its going around corners on the door handles either. If it is still lifting the inside rear in corners, then you need more front anti-roll

Some people like the rear sway disconnected and some like it connected. I left mine in my NB1 connected and put a bigger front bar on. That will help some but as for the inside wheel spinning, that is a trait of an open diff. I too had an open diff on mine until very recently, put a Torsen LSD in a couple weeks ago. Have 1 autocross on the LSD and it's amazing the new found grip. Have to learn how to drive faster now that the car can do it. Especially since the gearing changed, replaced a 4.30 open diff with a 4.10 Torsen. Gave me about 5mph more per gear. 

Can disconnect one end and see if you like the difference. Only have to disconnect one side, the sway bar will have no effect that way and easy to reconnect back.

It's your first autocross.  Forget about changing things on your car.  Focus on your driving and have fun!  Learn to drive it!  They will be someone there more than willing to help you.

trucke said:

It's your first autocross.  Forget about changing things on your car.  Focus on your driving and have fun!  Learn to drive it!  They will be someone there more than willing to help you.

Yeah, this is my mission statement this year. Not changing much. But was wondering it was one of those “with stock suspension don’t bother”, or “dude, everyone does this because it truly works”. 

Oh, And this is my first autocross in my Miata, not my first autocross. I have done plenty of those.