Corksport Rear Torsion Bar installed!

[Gravity]

Ok... Now I understand why this was the first suspension part CorkSport put out.

I think this might be tied with my H&R springs for the single greatest improvement in handling I've made to the car.

Maybe it's the combination of the front strut bar and springs and torsion bar, but when that bar went on, the handling almost completely transformed in cornering.

Cornering is tighter, there's less understeer, the car seems to turn in faster and stick better. It feels so much tighter and more responsive. It might be the combination of all the parts that got brought together by this one part but whatever it is, I like it. I can throw the car around with reckless abandon and it just sticks and takes it. (I might need a new set of summer tires by the end of the season though...)

It's not as tight as my R3 rx8, but it's just as much fun now. For the money, and the 10 minutes worth of installation time, this is almost a non-optional upgrade for every 2 in my mind.

 

[rchrist364]

I’m sold. My next purchase.

 

[Gravity]

For $100 I can't see NOT doing it. I mean, maybe there's a bit of placebo effect, but I was really quite impressed how much faster i could apex a few of my well-travelled twisty off-ramps on the road to my house.

 

[Gravity]

I'd be curious to know how the rear trunk brace works compared to this. It's quite a bit more expensive, so I'd expect a similar or relative effect...

 

[XCLR8TN]

+1 on the bars effectiveness

 

[Racebrewer]

Hi Gravity,

From my experience on other vehicles............

I'd think that the trunk brace would improve the "feel" or "tautness" as it would keep the body from flexing. The rear torsion bar is going to do more to lessen the understeer and make the 2 more responsive in corners.

I think that the torsion bar would do more and the trunk brace would be "icing on the cake". I hope that makes sense. If the trunk brace changed the handling 'a lot', I'd get worried about the integrity of the car.

John

 

[avera01]

Just got the bar installed a few days ago and have not fully tested it out. During the install I did not have a torque wrench and tighten it as tight as I could using two 3/8 socket wrenches. I figured 60 ft/lbs is somewhat high. I finally got a 1/2" torque and went to check the install and found the nut needed to be re-tighten with a few more turns, perhaps 1-2 full turns.

During the install, the bolts were really tight going in the torsion bar holes and most likely did not "sit" in all the way and or the bar did not mount flush with the axle beam. The few days of driving probably helped to adjust things.

Anyway, as an FYI I suggest anyone who has one on to double check the lock nuts.

 

[Racebrewer]

How could you not go out and test it immediately?<LOL>

You have a lot more patience than I do. I'd be off to the closest cloverleaf........

Great suggestion on re-tightening the bolts. I do the same with lug nuts whenever I swap wheels.

John

 

[ddawson]

So on a stock MZ2 how does it feel by just adding the torsion bar "sway bar"?

I've been looking at the Cork, Beat and Steeda bars.

 

[JJC3925]

yea the corksport torsion bar is an incredible upgrade for the money..i love my gfs Mazda2 with it.

ddawson on a stock car it will still improve body roll and understeer, and will improve your handling, obv paired with springs and various other stuff it will be a bit better.

the rear trunk brace is essentially a strut bar for the rear. Sway bars always have a more noticeable improvement because they eliminate body roll and such...the brace will be like Racebrewer said, the icing on the cake. it will improve turn in response

the torsion bar is what you want first...and look at that its cheaper

 

[Racebrewer]

Thanks DDAWSON, I wasn't aware of the Steeda bar. I looked and found the bar for the Siesta:

http://www.steedafiesta.com/fiesta-suspension/ford-fiesta-rear-swaybar-2011/

I'm assuming that it fits the M2. Looks like you have to drill a couple holes for the cross bolts.

Just from looking at photos, which is a poor way to do it, my impression is that if there is a rank to the stiffness, it is Corksport, Steeda, Racing Beat.

I think that the Racing Beat rear bar is designed to go with their front bar and would be too much without a bigger front bar to balance it. BUT that is 100% conjecture.

It sure would be fun to go to an autocross course with every available front and rear bar and PLAY!

John

 

[avera01]

Okay, here is my first impression of the torsion bar. Bear in mind, that without a stock car to drive immediately afterwards, its hard to compare.

It is my impression that the rear end of the end feels tighter on the road. It feels planted, especially on quick 90 degree turns at around 30 mph. I make the turn (keeping steady and or accelerating slightly) and the car seems to track like on a rail. I can feel the back end of the car dig in without any squealing of the tires following where the front wheels go. I was able to duplicate the effect several times. Now perhaps it always did that and I just did not notice it before. On regular turns/driving, I don't notice any difference.

Perhaps there is that illusionary effect of wanting something to be more than what it is simply because you are looking for a justification for the money you just spent. No matter, I am happy with the purchase decision.

 

[XCLR8TN]

Okay, here is my first impression of the torsion bar. Bear in mind, that without a stock car to drive immediately afterwards, its hard to compare.

It is my impression that the rear end of the end feels tighter on the road. It feels planted, especially on quick 90 degree turns at around 30 mph. I make the turn (keeping steady and or accelerating slightly) and the car seems to track like on a rail. I can feel the back end of the car dig in without any squealing of the tires following where the front wheels go. I was able to duplicate the effect several times. Now perhaps it always did that and I just did not notice it before. On regular turns/driving, I don't notice any difference.

Perhaps there is that illusionary effect of wanting something to be more than what it is simply because you are looking for a justification for the money you just spent. No matter, I am happy with the purchase decision.

I don't think it's an effect. I think I said it somewhere before, I drive the same road everyday on my way to work and I push the car, everyday. With the bar there was a noticeable difference. I even took the bar off and put it back on. There is a difference but you're right, if you do normal around town stuff you probably would never notice it. But if you push the car, it is definitely noticeable.

Edit: I wonder if you'd be able to see any difference if I mounted a gopro to the rear for view of the front/rear tires. Without bar vs with. Hmmmmm.

 

[ddawson]

OK I've ordered one.

 

[Gravity]

Yea... I'm very happy with mine. The observations of the other guys on here seem to fit my own experience to a T... I drive a lot of the same roads a LOT (one particular off ramp near my house is a beautiful wide->narrow S curve that you can apex beautifully at 120kph) and it all feels different when i push the same way. I think it's the best value (along side the H&R springs) upgrade i've done to my m2.

 

[Richard_rsp]

Thanks DDAWSON, I wasn't aware of the Steeda bar. I looked and found the bar for the Siesta:

http://www.steedafiesta.com/fiesta-suspension/ford-fiesta-rear-swaybar-2011/

I'm assuming that it fits the M2. Looks like you have to drill a couple holes for the cross bolts.

I talked with one of the engineers at Steeda at our local Autox event this past weekend (They're now located here in Valdosta - our cops have Steeda Mustangs..). He came and asked me about my 2 and mentioned that he might want to use mine to try out some parts if I didnt mind... We will see if he calls, and I will let you all know!

I currently have the Racing Beat bar and besides having to re-tighten it (it is recommended after 200 miles), I am thoroughly impressed. However, I have the front RB bar as well...

 

[ddawson]

Well that was easy. It took me more time to setup the ramps then it did to bolt it on.

Nice job Cork using the existing holes. I thought I'd be breaking out my drill. LOL, the rear control arms are stamped Ford so my guess is all the Steeda parts would fit.

 

[CorkSport]

Well that was easy. It took me more time to setup the ramps then it did to bolt it on.

Nice job Cork using the existing holes. I thought I'd be breaking out my drill. LOL, the rear control arms are stamped Ford so my guess is all the Steeda parts would fit.

What do you think of the change with the bar installed?

-Derrick

 

[XCLR8TN]

For what it's worth, my car LOVES lifting the inside rear with the bar. Twice on my way to work this morning on long sweepers at speed the traction control light came on

 

[DaleNixon]

Three wheel motion!