Mis-matched Aftermarket Sway Bars

[siddr20]

Hey everyone.

Currently got custom made adjustable K-Mac sway bar on the rear of my R33. It is much thicker than stock item and i could feel the difference in terms of the rear being a little more stiffer.

I bought this item 2nd hand from a friend so i got it at a really good price.

This is a little more expensive than whiteline.

So i was thinking of purchasing some thicker ones from the front- either whiteline or cusco

But i wanted to know if its safe to have mis-matched sway bars?

The reason i ask is because each sway bar is a little different in terms of adjustment!!

Also whats the best setting i should have the sway bars for normal street driving?? All at lowest settings? that is not so stiff??

Cheers for the help

Sidd.

ps heres a pic of the sway bar:

Edited July 23, 2007 by siddr20

[PLYNX]

Dam it Sidd ! Your the one who beat me to that rear sway bar ! Ha HA !

Seriously though ! Shouldnt be a problem really as the majority of your body roll is controlled from the front so just get a heavy duty adjustable front one the same diameter as the rear.

As to settings thats really personel choice. But I sugest you start at the lowest settings front and back, drive around for a while to get used to it then got up to the next setting and see how it feels.

Hope this helps Dude

[scathing]

Having a stiffer front swaybar will just induce more understeer, so if it applies "too strong" an effect its not as dangerous as running an overly stiff rear bar....unless oversteer is your thing

If the price is right, go for it I say. If worst comes to worst you can either sell it, or sell your K-Mac and get the matching rear bar from the same manufacturer.

Since its the front bar, I'd suggest running it as stiff as possible (that way its going to be as understeery as possible, and as any OEM will tell you understeer is safesteer), see if you like it, and then slowly make it softer and softer until you find the optimal balance. Vice versa on the rear bar, if you're trying to adjust relative balances.

[blind_elk]

... and as any OEM will tell you understeer is safesteer ...

understeer is "idiot" steer. The reason manufacturers build in understeer is that the solution/reaction to understeer is to stomp the brakes - the natural reaction of the less-than-average Joe Citizen driver.

[Trust33]

nice bar.

have a look at some of the whiteline kit that are on offer.there are different combos that can be purchased in regards to front and rear swaybars.adj or fixed-22mm-27mm thick solid.i think they may even go thicker.not sure though.

is that bar you have a solid and not hollow?

mine is 24mm front adj and 22mm rear adj.if i remember correctly.they have made a big difference to the way that the car handles.and having adjustabilty there makes that much more difference when you are looking at getting different reactions from the cars handelling performance.also adding camber to the front helps allot for handelling.but wears the tyres out unevenly.

[siddr20]

PLYNX- hehe it was up for sale for ages.. no one bought it.. so im like might as well..

Cheers for the replies.. I might just go into K-Mac shop and get their opinions. They only about 20-25mins away

So for a bit of balance for normal street driving, you saying have the front a little bit more stiffer than the rear?

Atm, the rear is at lowest settings..

Edit: I think its a solid bar. Will double check tomorrow.. Does it make a difference tho?

Edited July 24, 2007 by siddr20

[scathing]

Edit: I think its a solid bar. Will double check tomorrow.. Does it make a difference tho?

Solid bars are stiffer but heavier.

[scathing]

So for a bit of balance for normal street driving, you saying have the front a little bit more stiffer than the rear?

Basically, yes. Swaybars improve response, at the expense of grip. The stiffer you make one end of the car, the more that end wants to push. Stiffen the front, better steering response but more understeer. Stiffen the rear, the back will want to come around faster but you'll find power-down isn't as good as it used to be. Stiffen everything up, four wheel drift time.

When I put adjustable swaybars in my car with stock suspension, I ran them at full stiff and it was great. When I installed my coilovers (where the spring rates are 2.5x stock), a light touch of the throttle would have me simulating Tsuchiya (actually, more like Lucas Black in the S15). Now I run the fronts full stiff and the rears full soft, although I may peg the front swaybar down a notch and see if my steering is still as responsive while making the car a little more neutral.

[Trust33]

for sure.a solid bar is much stronger than a stock hollowed out item.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question432.htm

[siddr20]

Thanks for the help!! Helped a lot..

Being RRP of nearly 400 for this custom made bar, i hope its solid.. Was heavier than the stock item when i put it on.

But didnt really check.. Will do it tonight when i get back from work..

Cheers all

[BHDave]

Just to add my 2c and muddy the water a bit.

Yes, you can run bars made by different manufacturers, however, you may find that their range of adjustment is insufficent for you to make them work properly together. You may end up with a car that, once you reach the limit of adjustment (eg front full soft, rear full hard), is still understeering, and so you have no option than to find a bigger rear bar or smaller front bar.

I found whitelines 24/22 combo on my r32 terrible as there was insufficient adjustment to get the car neutral. I had to upsize the rear to a 24mm bar to dial out the understeer completely.

I disagree with scathing a little on the understeer point, i tend to think it's a bit pointless getting bars if you aren't trying to get the balance spot on, tending to a touch of understeer at the limit (atleast initially).

[siddr20]

Sorry being lazy to check if its solid or hollow. Will do it today!!

BhDave- Yes you do have a point there. I did think of that before!! I might just go into K-Mac and get another quote, and ask their opinion and see what to do..

will keep you all informed..

cheers

[dead32]

on a lil side note, if your paying $400 rrp then your gettin ripped off, id rather buy an off the shelf cusco one if your gona spend that much, or a whiteline one which would be half the price thereabouts. my 2cents

[siddr20]

Nah i didnt pay anywhere near that RRP price.

Just remember that price is from a shop. So they also have overheads etc..

Also remember most sponsers on here probably just buy direct from the brand.. cheaper prices etc..

but lets not get into prices.

Another reason why it cost more is because this sway bar is SOLID, fully adjustable.. made here i think.. anyways.. lets not debate about that..

[dead32]

whiteline front swaybar gtst r32, $250 odd from autobahn, solid adjustable and made in australia. thats not trade price.. just so we are clear.

[Jax]

Whatever you use, DON'T set up a car to understeer. It FEELS safer than oversteer, so I s'pose you feel a lot calmer an instant before you hit the tree.

Work it out yourself. If you're going right, and the understeer is preventing you, and you put on more lock ( and put front wheels more sideways ) you lose more traction on them, and it understeers MORE, etc, Here comes the tree!!!. Oversteer is the opposite. You're instindtive reaction is the right one (work out what's happening with the front wheels) It might feel a bit tail-happy, even if you over correct. Your gut reaction STILL tells you which way to steer. All you need to know is where you'd like it to go, and keep repointing it there, and you're always doing the right thing. Most FWD cars are natural understeerers. KEEP OUT OF THEM.