A long time ago prior to building the S/C T-56 Brembo Brake $$$ export cars; I exchanged an 94 Impala SS frame for one from Progressive Automotive,a radically more rigid frame in every plane. The car rode better and handling improved a little. Seemed counter intuitive, but it wasn't. The more rigid frame leveraged the suspension with less frame flex, so it felt a little more precise in handling and it rode better because the whole car was more tied down. Flash forward and Install the Pro-Touring Sway Bar Brace and something similar happens in front. It took energy to flex the front frame rails without the brace, which effectively was like having a smaller, less stiff sway bar. If some bar stiffness (roll resistance) is used to bend the frame, it's not available for roll resistance. Adding the brace makes the frame more rigid so the previously wasted energy now is like making the suspension stiffer. So the frame being stiffer does not make the car ride harsher; it's the now more effective front sway bay, as if you increased the diameter/spring rate of the bar, making the suspension stiffer. That's what you feel. Take off anything that makes the frame more rigid and you'll perceive a softer ride but that's because you're back to diminishing the efficacy of the sway bars and springs, making the suspension feel less stiff. An infinitely (impossible at least today) rigid frame with no frame spring rate (flex) would ride better with a set up for equal handling to a weak frame car because you could use softer springs and sways to get equal handling now that you're not wasting suspension energy bending the weak frame.
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