[MR2] heavier frt sway bar effects

[jderyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/21/10 3:33:18 PM, ronewing at wowway.com writes:

> On some cars it can also cause metal fatigue - a problem with mk1's? 
> 
Dunno about early MR-2s but my '92 failed BOTH sides of the front frame 
horns with an oversized front bar (added to increase understeer and balance out 
factory-built-in oversteer). The oversteer was designed out with the '93-up 
cars so this may be a rather limited failure point. The oversized front 
bar's outer bent area also touched some 205-50 x 15 front tires in full lock 
turns, until a 1/4" spacer was added behind the wheels. One corner worker told 
me she could see smoke and hear squealing in tight fast turns from a tire 
rubbing the bar.
Oversized bars can cause problems in other cars too. I used to autocross a 
lot and fix others' cars that also competed. I wound up rewelding a Ford 
Escort (rear swaybar mount torn out of the lower trailing arm) and both a 
Sunbeam Tiger and a TR-5 (upper a-arm mounts torn away from the frame) after 
owners added big bars and drove the cars hard in turns. Likely, adding big bars 
and cruising around Burger Town won't cause any trouble, but if you push it, 
jack up the car now 'n then and look for trouble starting. Good luck with 
your early- J DeRyke