Sway Bar Opinions? R32 Gtr.

[Sportmax]

Hi again my skyline friends from down under

So im looking into getting sway bars for my Skyline next. I have heard either Cusco or Whiteline is the way to go. What does everyone think? Pros and cons?

Heres what ive heard: Cusco is stiffer then whiteline but non-adjustable, and more expensive. Whiteline is not as stiff but adjustable but you have to buy there links too?? Im thinking whiteline due to cost and the adjustablity. I think pure balance will be better then just sticking in some really stiff sway bars from Cusco.

This will be going on a 1989 GTR

Front and rear upper adjustable control arms

Older Zeil coilovers

Cusco tension rods

Thanks Guys,

Your American friend Kirk

And i did try to Search this first but it wouldn't work for me.

Edited June 30, 2009 by Sportmax

[Sydneykid]

Hi again my skyline friends from down under

So im looking into getting sway bars for my Skyline next. I have heard either Cusco or Whiteline is the way to go. What does everyone think? Pros and cons?

Heres what ive heard: Cusco is stiffer then whiteline but non-adjustable, and more expensive. Whiteline is not as stiff but adjustable but you have to buy there links too?? Im thinking whiteline due to cost and the adjustablity. I think pure balance will be better then just sticking in some really stiff sway bars from Cusco.

This will be going on a 1989 GTR

Front and rear upper adjustable control arms

Older Zeil coilovers

Cusco tension rods

Thanks Guys,

Your American friend Kirk

And i did try to Search this first but it wouldn't work for me.

In your location, 22mm front and 24mm rear Whiteline adjustable swaybars are most likely the go. But there is some cross over with anti roll and spring rates, so to be precise what spring rates are you running?

Cheers

Gary

[Sportmax]

In your location, 22mm front and 24mm rear Whiteline adjustable swaybars are most likely the go. But there is some cross over with anti roll and spring rates, so to be precise what spring rates are you running?

Cheers

Gary

Im honestly not sure what my spring rates are. I know they are older KEI springs. They were on the car when i bought it. I could always measure them and figure it out if i get a chance to.

[Beer Baron]

how much have you been quoted for the whiteline and cusco bars? in my experience the cusco bars were very good. i've tried both. they also come with new backets and bushes and they are literally half the weight of the whiteline ones. off the top of my head the cusco bars are about $320 or so. I agree that not having the adjustment is a bit of a downer, but to be honest once I was happy with the balance I never had a need to re-adjust my whiteline ones...

[Sportmax]

how much have you been quoted for the whiteline and cusco bars? in my experience the cusco bars were very good. i've tried both. they also come with new backets and bushes and they are literally half the weight of the whiteline ones. off the top of my head the cusco bars are about $320 or so. I agree that not having the adjustment is a bit of a downer, but to be honest once I was happy with the balance I never had a need to re-adjust my whiteline ones...

I found some Whiteline bars one Ebay for $350 plus shipping front and rear. My guy here in the states quoted me Cusco for $575 plus shipping for both.

He said i need Whiteline links to make the bars work, and that would make it about the same cost as the Cusco. The Cuscos are alot stiffer but with out corner balancing my car and getting different spring rates i won't be able to adjust them. Thats why im thinking the whitelines!?!?

[djr81]

I found some Whiteline bars one Ebay for $350 plus shipping front and rear. My guy here in the states quoted me Cusco for $575 plus shipping for both.

He said i need Whiteline links to make the bars work, and that would make it about the same cost as the Cusco. The Cuscos are alot stiffer but with out corner balancing my car and getting different spring rates i won't be able to adjust them. Thats why im thinking the whitelines!?!?

Adjustability is all good up to a point. The point being you cannot adjust a Whiteline bar to be as stiff as a Cusco one. So you need to have a good think about what rates you run rather than just pick a bar because it is cheap etc.

Actually does anyone have the diameters (internal & external) for the Nismo bars???

[funkymonkey]

imho since whiteline started shipping stuff out of china, their product quality's gone down the drain. I'd go cusco if i were you.

[Sydneykid]

imho since whiteline started shipping stuff out of china, their product quality's gone down the drain. I'd go cusco if i were you.

China? Korea more like it and most of the Skyline part numbers are still made locally as there isn't enough volume to justify the lead times from Korea.

Cheers

Gary

[Sportmax]

Thanks for the good opinions guys. Guess i have some thinking to do.

I know if i go with cusco bars i will need to get the car corner weighted to balance it out properly(which i want to do anyways, I just can't afford that right now) and i would like new coilovers before i do that.

Cusco being a lighter bar does sound good too.

I think i do have pretty good spring rates thats why i don't know if i need to go as stiff as cuscos. I don't have a ton of body roll and didn't even think i needed bigger sway bars untill recently.

[Sportmax]

Heres a few pics from my last race. Give you and idea of my body roll and they are nice pictures you may enjoy

[Sydneykid]

Thanks for the good opinions guys. Guess i have some thinking to do.

I know if i go with cusco bars i will need to get the car corner weighted to balance it out properly(which i want to do anyways, I just can't afford that right now) and i would like new coilovers before i do that.

Cusco being a lighter bar does sound good too.

I think i do have pretty good spring rates thats why i don't know if i need to go as stiff as cuscos. I don't have a ton of body roll and didn't even think i needed bigger sway bars untill recently.

You shouldn't be using excessive spring rates to control the roll, that's the job of the anti roll bars. Excessive spring rates simply limit the traction under braking and acceleration. Whereas the anti roll is only there when you need it, under cornering. Adjustable swaybars would always be my recommendation as quite simply they are the best way to tune handling balance. That's why race cars have driver adjustable swaybars. Adjusting an externally adjustable swaybar is far easier than changing spring rates to tune the handling balance

Cheers

Gary

[Sportmax]

You shouldn't be using excessive spring rates to control the roll, that's the job of the anti roll bars. Excessive spring rates simply limit the traction under braking and acceleration. Whereas the anti roll is only there when you need it, under cornering. Adjustable swaybars would always be my recommendation as quite simply they are the best way to tune handling balance. That's why race cars have driver adjustable swaybars. Adjusting an externally adjustable swaybar is far easier than changing spring rates to tune the handling balance

Cheers

Gary

You basicly put my thoughts into words. Thats why i want adjustable. To much understeer, tighten the rear sway bar or loosen the front.

So you would still recommend Whiteline? I am having my guy price them out as we speak.

Do you know if you can use the factory links or have to buy Whiteline links to make them work??

[Sydneykid]

You basicly put my thoughts into words. Thats why i want adjustable. To much understeer, tighten the rear sway bar or loosen the front.

So you would still recommend Whiteline? I am having my guy price them out as we speak.

Do you know if you can use the factory links or have to buy Whiteline links to make them work??

Whiteline swaybars come with everything necessary to fit them to the car included in the fitting kit. In the case of an R32GTR that means D bushes only for the front as the standard ball jointed links work OK with the adjustment holes. The rear swaybar fitting kit has links as well as D bushes as the standard "I" links don't allow adjustment Unlike Subarus which have weak standard links, R32/33/34 front swaybar links are pretty tough, so no need for a heavy duty link kit.

On the race cars we use adjustable length spherical bearing links to faciliate corner weighting, but never reccommend using sphericals on a road car.

You will be OK with the off the shelf 22/24 swaybar diameters, there is plenty enough adjustment to tune the handling.

Cheers

Gary

[Sportmax]

Whiteline swaybars come with everything necessary to fit them to the car included in the fitting kit. In the case of an R32GTR that means D bushes only for the front as the standard ball jointed links work OK with the adjustment holes. The rear swaybar fitting kit has links as well as D bushes as the standard "I" links don't allow adjustment Unlike Subarus which have weak standard links, R32/33/34 front swaybar links are pretty tough, so no need for a heavy duty link kit.

On the race cars we use adjustable length spherical bearing links to faciliate corner weighting, but never reccommend using sphericals on a road car.

You will be OK with the off the shelf 22/24 swaybar diameters, there is plenty enough adjustment to tune the handling.

Cheers

Gary

Thanks a ton man. This is why i am on this forum. You guys are all nice and definitly know your stuff when it comes to skylines. I asked the same question on our USA site and havn't gotten a single reply lol.

Think i made up my mind and will go with whitelines

[MrStabby]

Only problem i had with my whiteline adjustables was that the ends of the front bar touched the driveshafts, so they needed a bit of grinding. Other than that, all good.

[Roy]

And occassionally dont come with the fittings they should. Or the wrong size fittings. Or with damaged threads, or end up denting your sumps. I hope they have got control of their quality again as during 2007-2008 it went to shit. Dont know what it is liek now

[Sydneykid]

Only problem i had with my whiteline adjustables was that the ends of the front bar touched the driveshafts, so they needed a bit of grinding. Other than that, all good.

When GTR's have a fair amount of caster that can be a problem, pulls the wheel forward and obviously the drive shafts go wth them.

Cheers

Gary

[predator]

And occassionally dont come with the fittings they should. Or the wrong size fittings. Or with damaged threads, or end up denting your sumps. I hope they have got control of their quality again as during 2007-2008 it went to shit. Dont know what it is liek now

I bought a new set in January for the 32gtst and no problems such as these... guess you get some bad batches along the way.

[Sportmax]

When GTR's have a fair amount of caster that can be a problem, pulls the wheel forward and obviously the drive shafts go wth them.

Cheers

Gary

Im running 4 degrees of caster so hope that isn't to much. If i need to grind a little off i can do that no prob

I was looking at these. Looks like a good deal as long as they ship to the USA

http://cgi.ebay.com/R32-GTR-Whiteline-FRON...%3A1%7C294%3A50

Edited July 4, 2009 by Sportmax

[battery]

i need a pair of the 3 hole adjustable ones for my GTST where can i get them? it seem the groupbuy has finished.