View Single Post
      02-04-2012, 09:07 AM   #33
armyav8tor
n1smo
armyav8tor's Avatar
United_States
97
Rep
1,483
Posts

Drives: E92 M3
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Huntsville, AL

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave IV View Post
This is true for double wishbone suspensions; but not for strut suspensions:

A sway bar limits camber changes. The camber is the angle that the tire leans in or out at the top
relative to the chassis of the car. The camber directly impacts the angle at which the tire
cross section meets the road and thus controls lateral grip. As the suspension compresses
the camber angle generally changes relative to the chassis. With a normal Macpherson
strut
that hasn't been lowered, the camber goes from positive to more negative as the
lower A arm swings out straight, and then back to positive as it swings up. That swing
up into positive camber is BAD. At that point the chassis is already leaned over so the
tire may be starting to roll onto its sidewall. Changing the camber even more positive
just just nasty. A big sway bar will prevent the body roll in the first place, and
prevent the suspension compression on the outside which causes the positive camber
change relative to the chassis.


http://www.houseofthud.com/cartech/swaybars.htm
Good read. Most of my knowledge on this topic is from the FWD community so apparently what I know doesn't translate to the M3.
Appreciate 0