What is an electronic Sway or Roll Bar?
Hello, guys today I will explain what is electronic sway bar is and how it works. We know what is the purpose of an anti-sway bar or you can call it an anti-roll bar. Anti Sway bar is the part of your vehicle’s suspension which helps reduce the body roll of vehicles during high-speed cornering. It connects opposite wheels together through short lever arms linked by a torsion spring. Basically, it stops your car from rolling over a high-speed turn.
Electronic Sway Bar
It is similar to a normal anti-roll bar, but you can vary the stiffness using the electronic control. Basically, ECU is going to have sensors that are going to sense the steering wheel, steering angle etc. If it senses a body roll the electric motor would send torque to the respective arm which is pushed down and lifts up the wheel to control the body roll.
If your car is turning left the electric motor will sense it and send power to push the right side up and vice versa. But it is not going to happen like it is going to roll first and then control the body roll, but the system monitors and acts accordingly.
Audi is bringing in a system in SQ7 with a 1.5 KW motor which would generate 1200 NM of torque which is an incredible amount. This Audi SQ7 will have a front and rear electronic anti-roll bar. The working is the same, the electric motor would sense the body roll and twist the anti-roll bar to push down the control arm of the side which leaned in and makes the body flat by providing counter torque.
Electronic Disconnecting Anti Roll bar
It is mostly used on an uneven surface (off-road), where you need more axle articulation. There is a disconnect in the sway bar, connected with an electric motor. Under normal conditions, the sway bars will be connected but when you press the switch to disconnect the electric motor will push the shift fork and disconnect the sway bar. Now when it is disconnected you can have more articulation of your axle.
While switching off the button it does not allow if the sway bars are uneven and not in a straight line. There is a position sensor that senses and avoids any damage which may be caused due to the wrong portion of the sway bars.
On a normal road, the sway bar should be connected or else you may lose the stability of your vehicle and have a high chance of body roll. Anti-roll bar Disconnecting is widely used in off-road conditions for better climbing and clearing obstacles.
