As some of you may have heard, our friends at Race Roots have been hard at work. Not only developing their own custom parts, but also seeking outside manufacturers for the development of parts as well. Recently, they approached Progress Technology with an idea for a rear sway bar for the MS3that would not only offer more strength, but a vast improvement of performance over the stock piece.
They obviously liked the idea because here it is!!!
The new Progress Technology Rear Sway Bar (RSB) for the 2007-2009 Mazdaspeed 3!!
Specs/Pictures
- Bar Size: 32mm
- Bar type: Tubular Bar
- 2 Way adjustable
- Polyurethane bushings
- Reinforced mounting plate!
STOCK: 25mm Solid non-adj 862.12 lbs/in
2 settings of stiffness:
(soft) 56% stiffer than the stock sway bar with a rate of 1342.89 lbs/in
(firm) 79% stiffer than the stock sway bar with a rate of 1542.27 lbs/in
After careful research, they discovered some issues of ovalizing and cracking from prolonged use of traditional mounting brackets. To remedy this problem, Progress is offering double reinforced mounting brackets for all of their MS3 RSB's. As you'll see from the pictures below, this new design greatly reduces the possibility of cracking or warping.
Compared to stock bracket.
Compared to stock bar.
Installed. It's currently set on stiff.
Now, on with the driving impressions...
My first destination after the install was a nice, empty parking lot. While on my way there, I could feel a big difference in rear end stability during average cornering around town and during lane changes. The vehicle moves in unison as opposed to the somewhat washy feeling of the stock set-up.
The open lot gave me a chance to really push the car. Coming into the lot I hit the throttle in second and went to third, I rounded the first light post hard left and gave it some gas. The body roll was so minimal, the back end of the car started to break loose during hard cornering. It felt awesome!! I never took the car out of third. I threw her into some pretty hard turns and she held like a champ!! Everything was much more responsive than stock.
There is also a huge difference in response and stability during highway cruising. Simple lane changes and hard maneuvers are rock solid and induce an added feeling of confidence and security in the event something sudden were to occur.
These are all just my initial impressions as the bar has only been on for one day. I'll update this thread as time goes on.
I'd like to close by saying that the rumors about the rear sway bars are true. It is easily one of the best suspension mods for the MS3. Progress has hit a home run with this one!!
This bar is everything you could ask for in an aftermarket part and the fact that Progress has addressed some of the issues that have plagued other manufacteres, sets them apart from everyone!!
Get excited people, this thing is affordable as well!!
MSRP is $195
Thank you to Jeff and Joey at Progress Technology and Brice and Dimitri from Race Roots for this opportunity. This is an outstanding product!!!
A+
They obviously liked the idea because here it is!!!
The new Progress Technology Rear Sway Bar (RSB) for the 2007-2009 Mazdaspeed 3!!
Specs/Pictures
- Bar Size: 32mm
- Bar type: Tubular Bar
- 2 Way adjustable
- Polyurethane bushings
- Reinforced mounting plate!
STOCK: 25mm Solid non-adj 862.12 lbs/in
2 settings of stiffness:
(soft) 56% stiffer than the stock sway bar with a rate of 1342.89 lbs/in
(firm) 79% stiffer than the stock sway bar with a rate of 1542.27 lbs/in
After careful research, they discovered some issues of ovalizing and cracking from prolonged use of traditional mounting brackets. To remedy this problem, Progress is offering double reinforced mounting brackets for all of their MS3 RSB's. As you'll see from the pictures below, this new design greatly reduces the possibility of cracking or warping.
Compared to stock bracket.
Compared to stock bar.
Installed. It's currently set on stiff.
Now, on with the driving impressions...
My first destination after the install was a nice, empty parking lot. While on my way there, I could feel a big difference in rear end stability during average cornering around town and during lane changes. The vehicle moves in unison as opposed to the somewhat washy feeling of the stock set-up.
The open lot gave me a chance to really push the car. Coming into the lot I hit the throttle in second and went to third, I rounded the first light post hard left and gave it some gas. The body roll was so minimal, the back end of the car started to break loose during hard cornering. It felt awesome!! I never took the car out of third. I threw her into some pretty hard turns and she held like a champ!! Everything was much more responsive than stock.
There is also a huge difference in response and stability during highway cruising. Simple lane changes and hard maneuvers are rock solid and induce an added feeling of confidence and security in the event something sudden were to occur.
These are all just my initial impressions as the bar has only been on for one day. I'll update this thread as time goes on.
I'd like to close by saying that the rumors about the rear sway bars are true. It is easily one of the best suspension mods for the MS3. Progress has hit a home run with this one!!
This bar is everything you could ask for in an aftermarket part and the fact that Progress has addressed some of the issues that have plagued other manufacteres, sets them apart from everyone!!
Get excited people, this thing is affordable as well!!
MSRP is $195
Thank you to Jeff and Joey at Progress Technology and Brice and Dimitri from Race Roots for this opportunity. This is an outstanding product!!!
A+
