Gen V Upgrade to TA sway bars what kind of lap time improvements

[Dr.Ron]

For those that upgraded their sway bars from stock to the TA sway bars, what kind of lap time improvements did you see?

Preferably where this was the ONLY change done to the car.

Thanks!

Ron

[Bleed viper]

I just got mine installed about two weeks ago, unfortunately I don't have a lap timer to tell you anything concrete, but my seat of the pants timer tells me that the car feels much better. Here was my quick thread about it: http://driveviper.com/forums/threads...Mark-Jorgensen

My GTS rolled around a good bit in the corners and I went to a track day this past weekend, first one since getting them put on and I could tell a big difference. This was the only change to the car also. The car felt more solid and level through all of the turns. The hollow bars I took off were very light compared to the solid ones I put on. I wish I had numbers to back it up, but for the relatively cheap cost, it was well worth it to me.

[Nightstalker]

^^^ Not a hard upgrade to do.

Agree with what Bleed states: " The GTS rolled around a good bit in the corners and I went to a track day this past weekend, first one since getting them put on and I could tell a big difference. This was the only change to the car also. The car felt more solid and level through all of the turns. The hollow bars I took off were very light compared to the solid ones I put on. I wish I had numbers to back it up, but for the relatively cheap cost, it was well worth it to me."

I also feel the azz does want to come around a bit more than before, but this maybe just me.

It just took a long time to get mine when I ordered them. They were on back order.

Here is a thread on the TA Sways: http://driveviper.com/forums/threads...t=nightstalker

[ViperSRT]

Was this with the TA alignment?

[Arizona Vipers]

For those that upgraded their sway bars from stock to the TA sway bars, what kind of lap time improvements did you see?

Preferably where this was the ONLY change done to the car.

Thanks!

Ron

I'd say no lap time improvement with the sway bars alone. (BTW they add 14 lbs in weight) With the TA sway bars, 1.0 aero, alignment, shocks/springs etc maybe half a second. If you compare all the magazine tests over the years there was never much difference between the TA's and base cars and I'd say most of that was due to the alignment. My '13 with full TA 1.0 setup (except with MCS shocks) the car seems to be about 1 second faster overall looking at my lap times over the last year or so, but I'd most of that is due to seat time/improved skills.

[Terminator02]

If someone is an amazing track star I suppose one could argue .5 seconds if that's what magazines show. However 95% of us here aren't track stars so any case that makes you much more comfortable with the car to go faster and "approach" the cars actual limits will net some people huge lap time differences. So it's really up to the driver and where they are and how the particular upgrade makes them feel.

[Dr.Ron]

I also feel the azz does want to come around a bit more than before, but this maybe just me.

Well that's not good...

Keep the responses coming!

[Bruce H.]

Jeez, if you can buy even 0.5 sec improvement for a few hundred dollars I'd spring for a couple of grand to be quicker than an ACR-E

TA bars front and back definitely don't make the car tail happy, with a little understeer still baked in.

[Terminator02]

Jeez, if you can buy even 0.5 sec improvement for a few hundred dollars I'd spring for a couple of grand to be quicker than an ACR-E

TA bars front and back definitely don't make the car tail happy, with a little understeer still baked in.

Hehe well people tend to collate data from mags. So Laguna seca the TA did 133.62 on stock tires. MT switched tires same day, same conditions and ran 130.xx. The acre ran 128.65. Tires can make the biggest difference followed by extremely aggressive aero for anyone modding in my opinion. It would take a very upgraded viper to beat a stock ACR that's for sure. However a great viper driver will beat the novice acre driver all day just as the Miata will beat me when I start tracking. Personally, I love the TA from its aesthetics, ride comfort, to its very cool story. With my HC package I definitely need better tires but I can't wait to start really tracking next season. I will be the slowest person for awhile but I have no shame in learning slow but correctly. I love my 1/4 races but want to track as much as possible. The TA is a great track weapon.

[Dr.Ron]

Good replies guys!

Everyone reading this thread should keep in mind this is aimed specifically at cars that have added only the TA sway bars but have the stock shocks still..the only mod was sway bars.



Ron

[VENOM V]

I agree with Arizona and Terminator. I tracked my GTS quite a bit for three years. After talking to the Viper engineers at length, I was convinced that the TA sways would only add a minimal improvement, so I decided against it. I settled on adding TA 1.0 aero (best that was available at the time), an aggressive alignment to TA specs but with front camber at -2.8 degrees, and Hoosiers. It is a beast with this combo.

Better yet- spend the money on a private lesson with a pro coach in your Viper with data acquisition and analysis, something I do from time to time to this day. This will more likely yield a bigger improvement in lap times than sways or even coil-overs. The best upgrade you can make is to the nut behind the wheel

[Dr.Ron]

Well said Venom V.
I use the TA alignment specs.& I have the TA 1.0 Aero as well.

Ron

[esm_viper]

Did you get the sway bars on the car yet? Here's mine at COTA earlier this year. I was getting up to 1.4g's but usually around 1.2 - 1.3 in most slower speed turns. The back tire is a little of the ground in this pick!

[Dr.Ron]

No. I've just been poking around about them thus far.

[dmann]

Hehe well people tend to collate data from mags. So Laguna seca the TA did 133.62 on stock tires. MT switched tires same day, same conditions and ran 130.xx. The acre ran 128.65. Tires can make the biggest difference followed by extremely aggressive aero for anyone modding in my opinion. It would take a very upgraded viper to beat a stock ACR that's for sure. However a great viper driver will beat the novice acre driver all day just as the Miata will beat me when I start tracking. Personally, I love the TA from its aesthetics, ride comfort, to its very cool story. With my HC package I definitely need better tires but I can't wait to start really tracking next season. I will be the slowest person for awhile but I have no shame in learning slow but correctly. I love my 1/4 races but want to track as much as possible. The TA is a great track weapon.

you and I are in the same boat. I have done one track day and man was i slow.. lol but i wasn't after trying to be fast. Speed will come with time. I tried to learn as much as possible about the track and be safe.

[Bruce H.]

you and I are in the same boat. I have done one track day and man was i slow.. lol but i wasn't after trying to be fast. Speed will come with time. I tried to learn as much as possible about the track and be safe.

Right on. Like they say..sometimes you gotta slow down to become fast!

[Dr.Ron]

Did you get the sway bars on the car yet? Here's mine at COTA earlier this year. I was getting up to 1.4g's but usually around 1.2 - 1.3 in most slower speed turns. The back tire is a little of the ground in this pick!

Is that pic with the TA sway bars installed? That seems like a lot of body roll still....

Ron

[Racingswh]

Is that pic with the TA sway bars installed? That seems like a lot of body roll still....

Ron

Hmm. I think that looks ok.

In this pic I lead my friend in his C7Z. I thought it had a lot of body roll. My Wife's car is on Penske Doubles with 650 lb springs and Pfadt sways set in the middle of the range. It seems comparable to the car above.

[Dr.Ron]

I suppose, but I assume you're on a slick tire?

[Racingswh]

I suppose, but I assume you're on a slick tire?

I was on a slick tire and for clarification I feel my Wife's car is fine regarding body roll. It's compliant and quick over bumps. Too much roll stiffness and a car feels skittish over bumps to me.

I am guessing I would feel quite comfortable in that Viper pictured. I know I turn down the compression stiffness on my ACR-E on bumpy tracks. I would rather it be softer than stiffer.

I felt the C7Z in the pic had excessive body roll especially considering it was on a stock treaded tire.

[Dr.Ron]

Agreed... And it looks like the C7Z may go over! lol Joking.

[Stealth]

The TA Sway Bars make a noticeable difference in cornering and keep the car flatter through the corners. I did before and after HPDE days and am experienced. I do not believe in timing HPDE track time so there are no before and after times, and if you have participated in HPDEs, then you know there would be many variables which go into a given lap time. Bottom Line: the car is better with the TA Bars and it is a relatively inexpensive and reversible mod.

Good luck with your choice.

[Arizona Vipers]

Bottom Line: the car is better with the TA Bars and it is a relatively inexpensive and reversible mod.

Agreed. The TA sway bar is also the same in the ACR, so it must be doing something right. lol. They do add 14 lbs to the car though, but worth it.

[esm_viper]

Is that pic with the TA sway bars installed? That seems like a lot of body roll still....

Ron

Yes, sway bars installed and Corsa tires.

[Apxnv]

Thanks for the insight. I'm looking forward to getting my car back with TA alignment and swaybars.