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TR2/3/3A TR3A Sway Bar?

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G

Gordo

Jedi Hopeful
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While I'm blistering the numbers off the VISA, I'm researching the possibility of installing a front sway bar on my 3.

I thought I saw someplace that we could use the bar and attaching hardware from a 6 mounted to the extenders?

What did you guys use?

This is really going to sound off the wall but did you install in front of the suspension or behind? The reason I ask is I saw a picture of a 3 with the bar installed behind the front suspension.

Gordo
 
The Addco bar mounts to the front bumper supports and to the front lower a-arms using a metal plate.

The TR6 radiator shield can be fit to a TR4A and used as a mount for the center suports but won't fit the TR3 frame.

You might be able to use the factory 6 mounts to the lower a-arms but the 6 bar would be too long.

Best bet (for the money) I found was the Addco and was not only an easy install, but dramatically improved the handling of my 3A. It mounts forward of the suspension.
 
I also have the ADDCO bars (bought through JC Whitney).

Richard Goode at Goodparts told me he could custom bend a bar for me, but I never followed up on the idea.

Mounting to the rear would involve some compromises I believe, since ideally you would like the arms to be parallel to the suspension at ride height; but the frame is lower than that. Could be made to work I'm sure, but you would also be giving up ground clearance.

Note that the ADDCO setup mounts to the frame extensions on a TR3A. The TR2-3 are different and don't have any good place to mount the ADDCO bar, so you would have to fabricate something (or switch to the 3A apron/bumper/frame extensions)
 
Sorry for the minor detour but will this really make any appreciable difference for street (non competition) use?
I have a 4A IRS and regularly wonder about the validity of front and rear bars. Maybe I am just trying to perpetuate my continued of card "melt down" as Gordo states above
 
Depends entirely on how you drive. If you always drive like you are in a parade, then no, it won't make any difference at all. But if you've ever cornered hard enough to hit the suspension stops, then increasing roll stiffness will help.

I've never driven a 4A, so I don't know what it needs. Even on a '3, the rear bar is debatable. But the front bar makes a clear and definite improvement, IMO.
 
Just my personal opinion here...I have owned a TR6 (which has a front bar) and a TR4a which I have driven both with and without a front bar, and a Spitfire with a bar.
All of these cars have irs, so different handling from the live axle cars.
The front bar will help reduce body lean and oversteer in corners, if you drive hard enough for this to be a problem. It will also help keep the inside rear wheel from spinning (not prevent it from spinning)as you exit tight corners, again this may not be a problem anyway unless you are "pressing on" as they used to say in the road tests!
On my TR4a I liked the bar for track use, but find it not necessary for street driving. The narrower track of a TR3 might cause more lean for a given cornering speed, so it may benefit more. I like the way the Spit corners flat with the bar, but felt it caused understeer on the TR6. I would suggest you do not consider a rear bar or you will have way too much oversteer.
Hope this is not confusing, might be best to try to get a ride in a car with a sway bar to compare before you decide.
Simon.
 
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