Proturing or roadrace rear suspension

A properly set up torsion bar system will be just as fast as a properly set up coilover conversion. Not a single doubt in my mind, the physics of the geometry says its true. Now, both torsion bars and coilovers have their advantages and disadvantages, and it depends on what you're doing and what your capabilities are. It's still easier to tune a coilover set up, although the options and parts for torsion bar set ups have improved a lot and continue to get better. But that's the front, and this is about the rear. ;)

The "best" set up for the rear is probably a 3 link, as long as your horsepower isn't obscene. Stupid simple, very tunable. More adjustable than a 4-link. But if you're putting down gobs of horsepower the 3 link won't handle it as well as a 4-link. And then you can argue triangulated 4-link vs straight, etc.

But really, if a '68 Valiant can hang with a Z06 while still equipped with torsion bars and leaf springs, what's "best" is just magazine racing.

I agree with what tomswheels said about his barracuda awhile back...

Here's the quote

tomswheels said

Hey I know I'm a little late adding my 2 cents, but it really is all about what you want to spend. I'm sure a car with coil overs and a rack and pinion will be EASIER to drive quickly on an autocross, and if you have the money to do it, great. I don't have the money so my 69 Barracuda convertible runs torsion bars, leaf springs, $14.95 Gabriel gas shocks, a firm feel box, front sway bar, and subframe connectors. That's it. Less than $1000 in suspension/steering. At the last Goodguys Autocross in Del Mar it beat the $150k Camaro that just got invited to Optima (Alcala) and Steven Rupps "Bad Penny" Camaro. Just goes to show you torsion bars can still surprise the big-bucks guys....

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