GT3 rear sway with M030 front sway?
 

Anyone tried this combo out before. Maybe I'm misinterpreting info but it seems like through searching posts most guys that are running the GT3 sways are running the front bar pretty soft (near what the M030 would be anyhow) and really only utilizing the rear bar, and most of the time this is with increased rear spring rates to boot. I realize it gives away some tuning potential with the front but there wasn't any in the first place anyhow right?

For reference this is on a M030 equipped car with H&R springs. I'm thinking that until I can go to coilovers with higher spring rates in the rear I'll slap the rear GT3 bar on there and see what happens. Thoughts?

Andy

You usually see people upgrading sway bars in pairs. You assumption may not be valid as the GT3 sway bar at full soft is probably not equal to a M030 bar. That said you should be safe putting on a GT3 rear sway bar and tuning the handling of your car from there.

You may be correct...just running through scenerios in my head trying to understand the 996 suspension workings a little better

Stock M030 bars are: 23.6 / 19.6
GT3 bars are : 26.8 / 20.7

I'm not seeing a huge jump in the rear bar esp compared to the jump in the front bar size which is what was making me really ponder (is the front bar helping control camber loss and actually helping the front stick?)...But then in searching it seems as though most guys are running the front bar pretty soft and using the rear bar for tuning.

Now couple that with the fact that the M030 rear spring rate is in the ~250lb range and the GT3 rear spring rate is in the ~550 range (not to mention different valving rates) and the GT3 would appear to be quite a bit stiffer leading me to think that I'll throw the rear bar on there to see what hapens. (obviously still a band-aid approach)

Maybe I'm just over-thinking different ways to make the car drive really well until i can get proper suspension under there to tune the right way. Eventually I'll need/want the front bar as well I'm just not sure it's necessarly with the car's current configuration.

Andy

Beside being BIGGER the main difference is the adjustability....Doing just one end is doable, however, you may not gain much from an adjustability point of view since in most cases you want to be able to adjust them to balance each other out.

I got them on both ends using the Porsche drop links....if I remember right they are not all that expensive (I know it s all relative wneh we talk money).

I would not bother just doing one end, wait and do them both at the same time.

One thing I did do was when my control arms went in the front I went with the cup car arms....
Almost leaves me wishing the rears would go so I can replace thoses....I know were all sick that way.

Best of luck,

Armando

Ignoring differences in I.D., the rear bar is approx 24% stiffer and the front is 66% stiffer given "equivalent" hole positions. From my spreadsheet calcs a while back, the GT3 front bar on it's softest setting is about 25% stiffer than the stock 23.6mm bar. The front bar is a LOT stiffer than stock.

For what it's worth, some Grand Am Cup 996s were running a stock bar in front, GT3 in back combo a couple of years ago. They have to run 245s in front and 275s in back so they really had an understeer issue to deal with. The front GT3 bar at it's softest was still too stiff. A M030/GT3 combo might work just fine. So what if it doesn't. You'll just have to poney up for the front bar and drop links. It's only money, right?

Does anyone know the part numbers for the GT3 bars?

Thanks

Andy,
You might want to give Mark (Carrera51) at CDOC a call. I'm sure he knows and can probably get you a good price on them. CDOC is a Rennlist sponsor and I've been very happy with both their prices and service.
Jim

Audi: part numbers for the bars are as follows and are instock and ready to ship:

996-343-701-90: Front GT3 Bar: 230$CDN
996-333-701-90: Rear GT3 Bar: 200$CDN


Also in stock are the Agency Power Adjustable Links and other suspension goodies.

Sorry Dead, I forgot that you were selling the stuff now. Jim

no worries jim.

side note: i just got some rx8 swaybars in and compared 2 the GT3 bars, the fronts are gigantic! 32mm fronts. i don't know whether to actually install them or use them as a club to bludgeon my smartallicky disobedient little cousins when they come over to visit. *Smack!* NO you cannot play with that! :D

I don't see how it could be a problem mixing bars. If you could only change one bar on the 996 it would be the rear, so do it and see what happens. Don't think about how you can only adjust one end, think about how you can now adjust one end after you get the GT-3 bar in the rear.

I'm gonna give it a whirl and see what happens. I'm taking the M3 and 996 (if it's here) to Nelson Ledges for a test and tune day in May and I might even install the rear bar on the 996 at the track to more accuratly compare the effects. I'll report back what I find.

The real fun will start when I get some $$$ saved up for Motons!!!

Andy

WOOHOO! ya finally got a 996! where are the pics? i guess i am just late to your party ;)

Yes, you've got to think of the whole package when you want to get your car to handle well.