Which bar did that happen with?
COBB & Hotchkis rear sway bars
- Thread starter Kain
- Start date
Which bar did that happen with?
It wasn't this car. It was on my old Sentra (solid rear axle) with a NISMO RSB set on full stiff.
As far as bushings are concerned, COBB bar comes with Energy Suspension bushings. I assume it is the case with Hotchkis as well.
I have my COBB on the stiffest setting and the car has a tendency to fishtail on wet roads in tight turns. But for some reason I couldn't successfully use the bar in the softest setting - something was hitting sopmething on the bumps like it was loose, but I couldn't figure it out. When I switched to the stiffest setting it went away.
I have my COBB on the stiffest setting and the car has a tendency to fishtail on wet roads in tight turns. But for some reason I couldn't successfully use the bar in the softest setting - something was hitting sopmething on the bumps like it was loose, but I couldn't figure it out. When I switched to the stiffest setting it went away.
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- 13 MX-5
I just installed the Hotchkis RSB, it sure is a nice feeling of having an upgraded rear sway. Now I need to get new tires.
madvillian
Member
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- Mazdaspeed3
do they sell just the rear sway bar? who wants to trade me a cobb rsb for a hotchkins rsb?!?
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- 09 mazdaspeed 3
are you lowered on anything? i was kinda leaning towards sways or short shifter for my next mod. i was leaning towards cobbs but the hotchkis looks too good. good write up/comparo
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- 13 MX-5
No, Hotchkis sells the sways as a kit (front/rear). Only Cobb sells them separately.
You put the collars on after taking this pic, right?
(ughdance)
I did not. It didn't come with any collars and the instructions didn't mention collars. Can I reuse the stock collars?
Edit: Looks like I can't reuse the stock collars
Does anyone know where I can acquire some collars for this RSB? What's the worst that can happen if I run without them for a while? Will my turbo start smoking and my wife divorce me?
Edit 2: I ordered some collars from some clamping place I read about in Subaru forums. In the mean time, I'm using 35 cent hose clamps from VATO-ZONE to keep the bar from walking. I hope they don't scratch the bar up too much...
I did not. It didn't come with any collars and the instructions didn't mention collars. Can I reuse the stock collars?
Edit: Looks like I can't reuse the stock collars
Does anyone know where I can acquire some collars for this RSB? What's the worst that can happen if I run without them for a while? Will my turbo start smoking and my wife divorce me?Edit 2: I ordered some collars from some clamping place I read about in Subaru forums. In the mean time, I'm using 35 cent hose clamps from VATO-ZONE to keep the bar from walking. I hope they don't scratch the bar up too much...
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madvillian
Member
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- Mazdaspeed3
rut roh!
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- 2007 MS3
The Cobb doesn't use collars. It has a welded flange on each side that is positioned to fit tightly against the bushing, as was pointed out in the well written first post.
I'm starting to wonder if I should have just gotten the Cobb... Oh well, collars are on the way.
Is it normal for the RSB to increase noise from the back of the car? I definitely hear a lot more from the rear when I go over big bumps and crappy roads. I can live with it as long as it's normal. It's starting to feel more like my P5 did stock
Is it normal for the RSB to increase noise from the back of the car? I definitely hear a lot more from the rear when I go over big bumps and crappy roads. I can live with it as long as it's normal. It's starting to feel more like my P5 did stock
Collars should only be needed if that bushing is "slippery", meaning it can rotate and move around on the bar. Hence the collar is needed to hold it in place. Some sta bars utilize "grippy" bushings that cannot move from their original location. If the Hotchkiss bar has the latter you won't need collars.
The bar shouldn't make any more noise unless something's loose, maybe the endlinks gave way?
The bar shouldn't make any more noise unless something's loose, maybe the endlinks gave way?
Oh lawd I hope not. I really think it's just noise from added stiffness but I'll get under the car soon and take a look.
The bushings on the Hotchkis are definitely not designed to be used with no collars. The guy who sold it to me forgot to send the collars :\ And Hotchkis seems to have two different manuals for two different sway bar designs. I got the manual for the bar with the rings that doesn't require collars.
The guy sent out the collars when I alerted him to the problem. I had already ordered my own collars at that point though.
Edit: What does it mean when endlinks "give way"?
The bushings on the Hotchkis are definitely not designed to be used with no collars. The guy who sold it to me forgot to send the collars :\ And Hotchkis seems to have two different manuals for two different sway bar designs. I got the manual for the bar with the rings that doesn't require collars.
The guy sent out the collars when I alerted him to the problem. I had already ordered my own collars at that point though.
Edit: What does it mean when endlinks "give way"?
Hmm... it's hard to describe. It's not a squeak. It's not a metallic crunch or ping. It's more like a sturdy WHOMP WHOMP sound when going over significant bumps or rough roads at speed. It doesn't necessarily even sound like a bad sound. It sounds like my stock Protege5 did with its ridiculously stiff suspension.
I can torque them endlink bolts down harder. I wasn't sure how extreme to get with those so I just tightened them up hard and gave them an extra 1/4 turn or so.
I can torque them endlink bolts down harder. I wasn't sure how extreme to get with those so I just tightened them up hard and gave them an extra 1/4 turn or so.
