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jsgolfer
has anyone done this modification yet? if so was it worth it? it seems like a good idea but i had someone tell me that it would change the P5's neutral handling? is that true?
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4drmp5atr
sorry havent seen or heard or experienced much on that part.......if you hear anything let me know......
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Greg S
Adding a rear sway bar to any front wheel drive car will increase oversteer. This is a good thing if you have the ability to handle it. Basically the car will act more like a rear wheel drive car in a turn. If you aren't used to it you will end up spinning the car. 
Once you get used to it you can take the car through corners much faster. In a wagon it's going to really eat up the usable storage area though.
Once you get used to it you can take the car through corners much faster. In a wagon it's going to really eat up the usable storage area though.
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4DRMP5ATR
YEAH THAT IS TRUE ABOUT THE TAKING UP OF SPACE BUT IF YOUR RACING IT IT DOESNT MATTER SO..........ALSO WHERE CAN YOU GET THEM AND HOW MUCH ARE THEY.......????
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Greg S
Dont' think anyone has one out yet, but it's pretty easy to make your own. You just need a tubular section of high tensil strength steel. Cut it to length so that each end sits over the inside edge strut bolt. Flatten the ends and drill a matching size hole in through them and bolt it in place. A cheap and easy rear strut bar that actually works well. 
I would invest in a rear sway bar first or at least poly mounts for the stock unit. This will have a bigger effect and save space. You can then add the strut bar if it is needed.
I would invest in a rear sway bar first or at least poly mounts for the stock unit. This will have a bigger effect and save space. You can then add the strut bar if it is needed.
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jcilforever
jsgolfer what does AWR 
who are they? and could you leave their website address?
who are they? and could you leave their website address?
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Snomongoose
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jsgolfer
thanks for all the replies. i was starting to think no one ever replied to my posts. i think you guys are confused. i am talking about a rear sway bar, not a rear strut tower brace. the sway bar is underneath the car. you can get them from AWR (anthony woodward racing) its only like 150. SR motorsports has them too but they are 189. about the strut tower brace. i have seen several on Japanese websites but i have not been able to track one down yet. if anyone can get me one, i would appreciate it. i am really trying to improve the handling of my car before i go for power. thanks.
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4DRMP5ATR
DONT THE MP5'S COME WITH THE REAR SWAY BAR I THOUGHT IT DID THE FRONT AND REAR.......HUM I GUESS I WAS CONFUSSED NO MATTER I STILL LIKE MY CAR...........AND I THINK IT HAS GREAT HANDLING I MEAN SERIOUSLY IF YOU CAN DRIVE YOUR CAR AND THEN DRIVE A KIA RIO AND YOU WILL DEFINATELY SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING..........MP5 MUCH BETTER ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOWER IT LESS SWAY DIST...FOR THE STRUTS BECAUSE ITS ALL LOW AND STUFF..!!!
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Greg S
Damn, you did say sway bar on the topic didn't you. Well everthing I said still stands. If you add the sway bar the car will tend to oversteer a little more. This isn't a bad thing since the car is designed with mild understeer from teh factory. you just have to get used to the new handling characteristics.
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sttl013
The P5 does come with a rear sway bar, but it seems kinda small, and the MP3 comes with a larger one, right? I wonder if they're interchangable??
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<Protege5Driver>
A rear sway bar shouldn't take up any usable space, unless you store stuff under the car. I think you mean a strut tower bar. And that would take up a lot of space in a P5. The strut towers are buried under the rear seat belts about 8 inches into the plastic trim in the hatch, you'd have to cut a hole in the trim to mount one. But a sway bar that would be easy, however I've read that the MP3 rear swaybar can't be used unless you get the MP3 struts because they have reinforced end link mounts for the larger bar. The factory struts endlink mounts would probably bend or break off. However woith some inginuity a set of reinforced mount can be made that mount to the bolts that support the knuckle.SR Motorsports also sells a swaybar kit that can be used with the factory struts, I believe it's 19mm's.
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4drmp5atr
see i thought i knew a little something something about these cars.... and yeah a strut tower bar would be pretty hard to put in because of the locations of the bolts and etc to mount the bar in place.....
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<Zeus>
The beefier MP3 bar will fit the P5, but the MP3 also has a beefier bar drop link mounting on the struts to go with the bar. Putting the MP3 bar in the P5 could rip the drop link from the strut - not good. I hear KYB struts have a stout sway bar mounts though. I think with stiffer springs and poly bushings, the stock bar will be OK for street use. I'll know soon.
As for the strut tower bar - I jacked a rear corner up and measured the distance between towers. I only saw a 3/16" deflection. I think the rear is stiff enough to not need a tower bar - on the street any way.
As for the strut tower bar - I jacked a rear corner up and measured the distance between towers. I only saw a 3/16" deflection. I think the rear is stiff enough to not need a tower bar - on the street any way.
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jsgolfer
your right that the MP3 sway bar will not work with a P5. well, it will bolt up but there is the possibility of doing serious damage to your car. i don't know for sure if the AWR sway bar will work either. i need to call. if it does work, it will be in my car very soon. about the rear strut brace. i have a website bookmarked that has a sport 20 with one. it looks tight and does not really take up that much space. it is very close to the back seat and about a foot off the floor. if someone can make one or knows where i can get one i would really appreciated it. thanks
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4drmp5atr
jsgolfer whats the weblink with that pic showing it in the p5 i would like to check it out and see if i could possibly make it or not...............
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jsgolfer
i will post the web link as soon as i figure out how. can anyone help? thanks.
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jsgolfer
i guess i will just type it all out, this sucks but here it is Japanese protege web page
