Rear Sways Only?

[cat9050]

I'm considering Cobb Rear Sways on my '07MS3 set for 50% increase - only 13,000 miles on my MS3. Anybody have experience - good or bad - with just rears and not fronts (which are a PITA to install)?? How 'bout squeaking & noises form the rears? (help)


Black Mica with CPE turbo-back, Cobb Short Shift, MS3 intake, MS3 factory Rays Wheels

 

[CWPspeed3]

I went with the RSB only set to the stiffest setting myself as well as a few others i know. I think its a great improvement and dont intend on doing the FSB. the RSB is simple to install and as long as you tighten everything down properly and use loctite you shouldnt have any squeaking or noises from the rear. I havent had to touch or adjust mine since i put it on.

 

[Kain]

You'll be fine. I have the Hotchkis RSB on the less-stiff setting, which is comparable to the COBB RSB on full stiff, and I never felt anything but confidence taking a fast turn.

Squeaks are from the bushings not being greased. The RSB's brackets come with zerk nipples so you can hook up a grease gun and recoat the bushings.

 

[leadf00t]

I have the hotchkis set on the stiffest setting, and the car feels very good. I did not expect to notice a difference off of the road course, but you can really feel the difference. I have however noticed a thunking nosie during turns into driveways. Anybody else hear their rsb thunk during driveway transitions ?

 

[funksilver07]

Hotchkis RSB here as well (softer setting) with good results, no clunking/"thunking" noise...

 

[madvillian]

i too have the cobb rear sway on the stiffest setting, its an amazing modification and makes quite the difference when you're going into a corner. as for the front goes, on the stock suspension it may be a bit beneficial to body roll, but i cannot imagine it justifying the PITA install or the price. as for the squeaky bushings, the cobb comes with grease, you spread it on the bushings like you're makin' a sandwich, and you wont hear any squeaking.

 

[Hank3]

Who's got the best deals on a RSB (COBB or Hotchkis)?

 

[CWPspeed3]

Who's got the best deals on a RSB (COBB or Hotchkis)?

I heard one source say that cobb is only selling the sway bars as a set now. I havent bothered to check into that since I already have one. When I got mine cobb was cheaper.

 

[Hank3]

Bah humbug - maybe I'll have to wait for a used one to come on the market. Sounds like it's worth the money.

 

[CWPspeed3]

Bah humbug - maybe I'll have to wait for a used one to come on the market. Sounds like it's worth the money.

Scratch that, cobbs website still lists front or rear separate then the package for both. The RSB is $165 from them but with as many part outs as i see on this forum lately you may be able to find a used one cheaper.

 

[GhostMercury]

From what I remember a while ago, they are the same bars. Cobb went to hotchkis to get them made, then hotchikis came out with them. Atleast thats what was being said.

 

[CWPspeed3]

From what I remember a while ago, they are the same bars. Cobb went to hotchkis to get them made, then hotchikis came out with them. Atleast thats what was being said.

I think it was Kain that had the thread comparing them and showing pictures, the hotchkis is a bigger and thicker bar so their less stiff setting is equivalent to the stiffer of the cobb settings. Doesnt mean they werent designed by the same company.

*Edit, found it

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123716805

 

[Kain]

Just to add, yes, COBB farmed out production of the sway bars to Hotchkis. Lo and behold, Hotchkis released their own sway bar set shortly after.

And the link above is my comparison between the two.

 

[cat9050]

End Link Issues?

Anybody have issues with prematurely worn end-links with either Cobb or Hotchkiss?

 

[Mr_Boom]

Current set-up I have right now is the COBB RSB only with the stiffest setting (90% stiffer). I haven't touched the FSB and have no plans to since the car pushes like a pig enough as is.

Same here with the clunking noises when hitting driveways/bumps in the road and I'm pretty sure I need to get newer/better end links. Has anybody on here had any luck with any type of new end links?

 

[PaPaSpeed]

I had the driveway clunking noise when I first installed the Cobb RSB. I just went back under and re-torqued the end links, use some thread locker. (I used Prematex). Make sure to do the top nuts too.
Hit the grease fittings with some synthetic grease. (I used Mobile1). That should do it.
Then, you can hit those exit ramps like there's no tomorrow.

 

[cat9050]

Cobb Rear Sway on order!(yes)

P.S. F**K the Iowa State Patrol on I-380 in Cedar Falls - got zapped by Laser Trap hiding behind the cement barrier (too late for Valentine) - $260 donated to the Blawkhawk County General Fund (chair)

 

[leadf00t]

Cobb Rear Sway on order!(yes)

P.S. F**K the Iowa State Patrol on I-380 in Cedar Falls - got zapped by Laser Trap hiding behind the cement barrier (too late for Valentine) - $260 donated to the Blawkhawk County General Fund (chair)

Ouch that sucks !! F****n fund raisers !!!

 

[8.5MS3]

Anybody have issues with prematurely worn end-links with either Cobb or Hotchkiss?

I personally havnt yet. One of the local guys near me blew both his endlinks out with the cobb RSB, another local blew on of the front endlinks with the hotchkis. its gonna happen eventually, but its worth it IMO

 

[kwsmithphoto]

One thing to try is pull the main u-brackets and check them. The bolt flanges should be perfectly flat, and the bushing curve, perfectly circular.

Some brackets have been known to "ovalize" a bit, which in my case led to low frequency clunks. Usually at light loads, straight line, just driving around on bad streets.

But the deformation comes from driving the car quickly on bumpy surfaces, you just don't hear the result while it's actually happening.