The TRZ stabilizer bar is like a stout, short torsion bar. When the suspension moves straight up and down, without chassis roll, the respective anti-roll bar levers move together. The stabilizer bar simply rotates on these bushings and suspension movement is unaffected.
“The torque delivered by the engine is not constant. It varies with the RPM of the engine. When an engine is tested on a dynamometer, incremental torque measurements are made throughout the tested range of engine RPM. A computer plots this data as a “torque curve”. For example, the peak torque reading on a Pro Stock engine might be 800 foot-pounds at 7500 RPM. But you have to remember that the torque falls off at engine speeds that are either higher or lower than this. The amount of torque delivered at launch depends upon the engine RPM. Keep in mind that the torque is multiplied by automatic transmission torque converters, so in truth, even a small displacement, relatively low horsepower small block with a basic automatic transmission can deliver considerable torque to the chassis.”
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| These brackets are welded to the anti-roll bar tube. There are two sets of these brackets per side. |
Inertial Torque Forces…
There’s more here too: Bickel points out that another source of torque delivered to the chassis comes from inertial forces of spinning power train components: “Inertia is the force that causes an object to resist changes in motion. In a car equipped with a manual transmission, the engine, crankshaft, flywheel and clutch are spinning at about 6500 RPM prior to launch. Together, these components can weigh more than 130 pounds and store a lot of inertial energy. When the driver engages the clutch, this power is added to that of the engine to accelerate the car and create chassis roll.
“If the spinning mass energy of the crankshaft-flywheel-clutch assembly is delivered too quickly to the drive train, the torque will break the tires loose and slow the elapsed time. We adjust the pro stock clutch to slip for several hundredths of a second off the starting line so that the inertial power is added more gradually. Clutch adjustment becomes yet another variable in the overall torque that is applied to the chassis and rear wheels.
“Race cars equipped with automatic transmissions have a torque converter instead of a clutch. This device is a fluid coupling that can multiply engine torque at launch. RPM lost through torque converter slippage are returned, in part, as added torque.”