![]() ![]() The final thing to consider when selecting an anti-roll bar is the installation. Modern day racers are lucky to have companies that specialize in direct-fit anti-roll bars that can be installed with very little modifications to the car. If the vehicle is going to be used primarily for the street, with occasional trips to the track, a hardcore race anti-roll bar might not be the best option, as the ride quality of the vehicle will suffer. When selecting an aftermarket anti-roll bar, the user should take into consideration the intended use of the vehicle. A pair of thru-bolted anti-roll bar arms are being machined in the photo aboveĪpplication Considerations (Street/Strip, Race Only) Alston explains the coming of age of mail order ARB’s, telling us “While we didn’t invent the drag race anti-roll bar, we were one of the first companies to offer an anti-roll bar kit that customers could install in their garage.” Modern day racers are lucky to have companies that specialize in direct-fit anti-roll bars that can be installed with very little modifications to the car.Ĭhris Alston Chassisworks has invested in state of the art CNC machining systems to lower their manufacturing costs while improving quality control. The drag race anti-roll bar has been around since the 1970’s, but racers would have to take their car to a competent chassis shop back in the day to have a custom anti-roll bar fabricated. We will discuss the construction of the anti-roll bar and walk you through an installation later within this article. Any flex in the anti-roll bar system can result in inconsistencies in the launch, which is why the construction of the anti-roll bar is very important. ![]() With an anti-roll bar installed, the torque pushing the left rear tire down is counteracted by the ARB’s connection to the differential which results in a level launch and consistent elapsed times. This unloading of the tire results in a reduction of the tire’s force into the pavement, ultimately resulting in wheel spin. Without an anti-roll bar, the left front of the car wants to lift higher than the right side which could cause the right rear tire to unload. – Thor Schroeder A drag race anti-roll bar, on the other hand, is intended to keep both rear tires firmly planted on the ground by counteracting the natural roll-rotation of the car during launch. There isn’t a specific horsepower range when racers should add an anti-roll bar, but if the car is experiencing body roll during launch, then an anti-roll bar will definitely help. In heads-up racing, this can mean the difference between winning and losing a race. When the force is transferred to the left side of the car, the force on the right tire is reduced, which can result in traction issues. What is actually happening is the car is transferring force from the right rear tire and putting it onto the left side of the car. If you’ve spent much time around a drag strip, you have undoubtedly witnessed a car that pulls the left front tire higher off the ground than the right front tire. We also spoke with Steve Spohn, president of Spohn Performance to get a better understanding on their bolt-on anti-roll bar kit that is marketed towards street/strip and drag race applications. Thor Schroeder, who is the National Sales & Marketing Manager for Competition Engineering/ Moroso also provided technical insight on Competition Engineering’s product line. Chris Alston Sr., the president and CEO of Chris Alston’s Chassisworks provided insight on their manufacturing operations and full line of anti-roll bar for street/strip and drag race applications. As you will see within this article, there are multiple anti-roll bar configurations to meet the needs of the street enthusiast all the way to the hard-core drag racer. One of those components happens to be an aftermarket anti-roll bar, which is virtually standard equipment in drag racing.įor this story, we spoke with several experts in the automotive race community to get their assessment of what makes a good aftermarket anti-roll bar and how it can improve a drag race cars’ performance. As a drag racer, we tend to focus our time and money on the engine combination, yet we overlook some very basic and relatively cheap components that would accomplish these very things. Drag racers are always looking for ways to make their car faster and more consistent at the race track.
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