Cobb (Rear Only) Swaybar installed

[SwampAss]

New Thread for joooo swampy - jbiird



I installed the Cobb rear sway bar. I didn't buy the front. I've had a few VWs with aftermarket rear swaybars and stock front swaybars with very solid results.

I've learned two things.

1. Mazda, without rhyme or reason will put 500ft lbs of torque on one bolt, and 3.5 lbs of torque on another. Both bolts are doing the same job.

2. installing a rear swaybar only (at it's stiffest setting) will alert you to just how bad your all seasons SUCK ASS. (albeit in a controlled manner)


The rear swaybar is a very easy install provided you aren't shitting your pants about ringing off mysteriously tight bolts. The results are astounding. The car stays FLAT.

 

[Antoniogut]

i was thinkin of doin jsut a rear cuz i keep readin the front is a PITA...i think i will

 

[Supermex]

Pictures?

 

[SwampAss]

there's a lengthy (How I did it) pictorial in the how to section done by Rotus8. Just pretend the red bars are blue.

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

2. installing a rear swaybar only (at its stiffest setting) will alert you to just how bad your all seasons SUCK ASS. (albeit in a controlled manner)

Try putting the thing on the lower setting (closest to the end of the bar). It still tracks flat and the handling is much more predictable with that in combination with the front bar.
I had Kuhmo all seasons on with the rear bar like that and had a blast with them. They do not compare (of course) to the RT615's, especially since I also just did the springs as well, but I still had a lot of fun with them like that.

 

[Kain]

On my last car (which had a solid rear axle), I put just a rear sway bar and set it at 100% stiff. I was soon fishtailing like a prize bass in a boat from lift-throttle deceleration. So in fear of dying, I installed a lower tie bar a week later to connect the front control arms and it was very neutral. Because of this, I'm wary of just installing a rear sway bar alone. Would you recommend putting it on full stiff without any additional front bars?

 

[fructus]

I don't know why but I had clanking with the bar installed in the lower setting. When I changed it to the stiffest setting everything was fine. The car handles just fine, no fishtailing.
BTW, Cobb RSB comes with ES greasable bushings but with stronger than ES brackets

 

[hectik1]

I've been thinking about doing this since doing the rear sway bar on the Evo was an awesome mod. Good write up.

 

[ericrapp]

I am scared of the front bar install. Have them but worried i will mess it up. Mid life, did you say your front is on? I might need advice since yours seems to be fairing well. And I can not wait any more to have this modification on.

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

I am scared of the front bar install. Have them but worried i will mess it up. Mid life, did you say your front is on? I might need advice since yours seems to be fairing well. And I can not wait any more to have this modification on.

No, I did not do the front. I decided to try just the rear and see what kind of results I got. I am so pleased with it that I see no reason to go through the incredible hassle of swapping the front bar in my driveway. The factory front bar and the Cobb rear bar on its lower setting (near the end of the bar) makes for an amazingly well balanced car. It tracks flat and I get no surprises from it. I drove like that for about 5 months and loved it. Now that I have added the Cobb springs, an already fun car is just beyond description, especially for the amount of money I have in it.

 

[ericrapp]

No, I did not do the front. I decided to try just the rear and see what kind of results I got. I am so pleased with it that I see no reason to go through the incredible hassle of swapping the front bar in my driveway. The factory front bar and the Cobb rear bar on its lower setting (near the end of the bar) makes for an amazingly well balanced car. It tracks flat and I get no surprises from it. I drove like that for about 5 months and loved it. Now that I have added the Cobb springs, an already fun car is just beyond description, especially for the amount of money I have in it.

This is good news from you. I will get the front and rear on and see what I see pain in ass or not. If the rear is that good w/springs than adding the front must be betterer.

 

[mark404040]

i have the cobb since last summer, and I can feel the difference on cornering ability. and I just installed the front sway bar. Oh, the cornering ability improved A LOT!!!!!!

 

[derspi]

Interesting, thanks for the writeup. I knew going with just a bigger rear swaybar on the MS3 would help beat out a lot of the understeer. I'm fairly certain the results would be similar to swapping a bigger rear sway on my old Civic Si - it made a world of difference!

 

[spotthedogg]

I put a MazdaSpeed rear with AWR adjustable end links, bushing re-locators with P/U sway bar bushings F&R. very balanced feel (with stock front).