Both sway bars and strut bars improve overall handling and cornering. Installing both bars gives you the best result. But it’s not always possible to choose both.
So, which one should you get, sway bar vs strut bar?
Well, while sway bars connect wheels together, strut bars are added to connect strut towers. Also, body roll reduction of a sway bar is far better than a strut bar. On top of that, a sway bar offers better improvement in understeering. Lastly, installing a sway bar is a lot easier than a strut bar.
Anyways, this is only a preview of the whole comparison. Stay with us if you wish to know more about sway and strut bars.
Sway Bar vs Strut Bar: Basic Differences
But before we head into a detailed comparison, let’s have a look at some key differences.
To save you some time, we’ve made you a small table –
| Aspects | Sway Bar | Strut Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Connects two wheels | Under the hood |
| Body Roll Reduction | Better | Good |
| Understeering | Far Better | Not Impressive |
| Cornering | Better | Good |
| High-Speed Cornering | Good | Better |
| Installation | Easier | Requires body parts change |
| Shelf Life | Shorter | Longer |
| Price | Cheaper | Pricy |
Now, which one do you prefer after looking at the basic differences?
Sway Bar vs Strut Bar: Detailed Comparison
Well, the table doesn’t cover the full comparison. There’s a lot to discuss and compare-
1. Suspension System Connection
The biggest difference between both body bars is their connection to the suspension system. Although, their purpose is almost the same.
A sway bar is a connection between two wheels arms to be more precise. It keeps the weight balance between two wheels.
On the contrary, a strut bar is connected to strut towers of the suspension. A strut bar adds stiffness to the car and reduces chassis-flex.
The strut towers aren’t directly connected to the chassis. But connecting a strut bar will enable the weight transmission between both strut bars.
2. Body Roll Reduction
When a car starts cornering, the weight tends to shift towards one side. The main purpose of these body bars installation is to reduce that.
So, a sway bar restricts that movement by linking both arms. It will automatically transfer some of the force back to the outside arm. This helps the car stay on the road.
On the other hand, a strut bar only transmits force between two strut bars. Strut towers are located in a higher spot than wheels so it concentrates less weight.
However, a strut bar also provides solid weight distribution between two strut towers. But, unfortunately, that isn’t enough to compete against sway bars.
So, between sway bars and strut bars, sway bars offer much better body roll reduction.
3. Understeering
Understeering is something you would like to avoid while racing or just in general. It means the lack of steering which prevents the car from staying on track.
Usually, stiff springs and stiff shocks are responsible for understeering. However, they are also necessary to maintain high grips on the road.
So, softening a sway bar will reduce understeering by miles. Since they are directly connected to the wheels they can affect understeering a lot.
On the other hand, a strut bar certainly improves understeering. But they aren’t as impressive as sway bars.
So, once again, in understeering, the sway bar is going to take the lead against the strut bar.
4. Cornering
While racing or just casually bashing, cornering is very important. Besides body bars, cornering is also dependent on wheel cambers as well.
A sway bar directly affects the wheels. Also, when combined with proper camber, it offers better cornering and weight distribution.
On the contrary, a strut bar adds weight but not all cars need them. But extra weight can help a car stay stable and not lose balance.
Also, at high speed, stability matters the most. Lighter cars with sway bars can flip very easily while cornering.
But, a strut bar will help the car stay balanced during high-speed cornering.
Also, speaking of sway and strut bars, here are our favorite picks –
Now, you can choose whichever you like the most and get them!
5. Shelf Life
A sway bar usually doesn’t come in contact with other suspension parts. So, over time, it may get worn out.
On the contrary, strut bars are extremely strong. A strut bar usually lasts up to 6-10 years a row before causing any problems.
6. Installation
Between both body bars, a sway bar is easier to install. It’s also cheaper than strut bars.
But a strut bar sometimes requires a car to delete some space. For example, you can’t install a rear strut bar without giving up trunk space.
As for the front sway and strut bars, they’re fairly easier to install than rear ones.
However, not every car will support a strut bar under the hood. But you’re welcome to go ahead and install a front strut bar.
So, installation-wise, we’re picking sway bars as the winner.
Our Verdict
It’s pretty clear which one will affect your car the most. However, if you still need one final push, we’re more than happy to do it.
Sway bars offer better performance and are easy to install. However, a strut bar increases the rigidity of a car. Driving and cornering with it bar is really comfortable too.
Now, installing both bars will provide the best experience. However, if money’s an issue, get the sway bar first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Does strut bar reduce understeer?
Answer: A tuned sway bar will always be better at reducing understeer. However, a strut bar offers decent performance in reducing understeer.
Question: Is chassis flex bad?
Answer: A car with a rigid chassis will drive faster. But, it can be a serious issue while cornering. As long as the track has mostly straight lanes, chassis flex will play in your favor!
Question: Do sway bars affect ride quality?
Answer: Sway bars only affect chassis sway while turning around a corner. However, cornering will feel smoother after installing a front sway bar.
Parting Words
Anyways, that was everything we could present on sway bar vs strut bar. Hopefully, this comparison will give you enough insights to reach a conclusion.
So, do share your opinion with us using the comment section below. Finally, good luck!
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