Questions for those with 19mm or 21.5 mm rear sway bar on a P5.

[mp5]

Ive decided my next mod will be a rear sway bar but I cant decide if I should get the 19mm or 21.5mm bar. So I have some questions for those that already have one installed on a P5 to help me make my decision on which to get.

Regarding the bar: 1)What diameter bar did you install? 2)How much was it? 3)Where did you get it? 4)Was everything included(end-links, bushings, brackets, etc)? 4b)If not, what else did you have to get?

Regarding installation: 1)How difficult was the install (from what Ive read pretty straightforward but some had problems with removing old end-links and mounting the bar backwards)? 2)Any problem areas to look for (clearance, end-links hitting on bumps, squeaking, etc)? 3)On bars that have more than one mounting location, softer or stiffer setting, which setting did you use?

Regarding handling: 1)How much difference does it make? 2)Is the car still balanced at the limit or does it have a greater tendency to over-rotate(rear steps out)? 3)How is ride quality affected on single wheel bumps (does the car toss you around excessively when only one wheel hits a bump)? 4)If you where to buy again, would you get the same diameter bar? 4b)If not why not?

Thanks in advance to all that respond.

 

[twilightprotege]

i want someone to make a new front sway bar....awr pretty please?????? the mp3 bar isnt quite enough

 

[mp5]

I know there are members out there that have installed rear sway bars, no one is willing to help me out?

If there are too many questions, the most important things I'd like to know is what diameter you went with, is the car still balanced at the limit or does it over-rotate, would you get the same diameter again?

 

[crayz_d]

The bar:
I have the Racing Beat MP3 front and rear sway bars. Dealer installed it before i bought the car so I can't help with any installation issues.

Handling:
Big difference, lots less body roll (i know because my wife's P5 is stock and it drives a lot different than mine). Rear doesn't step out at all. Since I also have the struts and Eibachs on my car it is a bit bumpy but not too bad. But again that's what you get when you have an awesome suspension setup. It drive's like a slot car. I wouldn't trade my bar for anything else!

Daniel

 

[Natey]

Bar: I bought a 21mm AWR from Protege5online. It cost around $220US. The 21mm comes with adjustable endlinks included.

Install: You nailed it. Straightforward and simple, but the stock endlinks can be a b****. I used WD-40 on the stock endlinks about 45 minutes before I started working, and the bolts came off without a problem. I guess I got lucky. Yes, the endlinks clunk a little bit. You can minimise the clunk with some grease, but the design of the endlinks means that they will rattle/clunk a little. I've never had any clearance issues with the swaybar at all, installing it or otherwise.
One tip I have for you is to pay attention to which washer goes where. There's three different sizes/shapes of washer, all with their own place.
Oh yeah, there's an AWR sticker on the bar. Just install the bar so that the sticker is right-side-up and facing rearward.

Handling: I love it! It really helps take care of our P5's understeer...I've never driven in the snow with it, but on the dry tarmac and even in the rain it really seems to make a nice difference. The car is so much more composed and flat in the corners. I've never even come close to losing control because of it. I'll happily take a minor clunk in trade for the performance I've gained with the bar.

Here's a pic of what came from Mitch at Protege5online:
Included are 1 Swaybar, 2 Endlinks, 2 Silder Brackets, 2 bushings, 2 Hangar Things(they go around the bushings), and some assorted hardware.

Installed. (see the sticker in the center?):

I hope I've helped a bit! (rockon)

 

[ATLskate]

Make sure that you have upgraded your struts, b/c the stock struts on the P5 just can't handle the upgraded swaybars. so before you do any of this, get the MP3/MSP struts.

 

[YanceySlide]

Can't handle? Huh? I don't understand. I think I've seen a few people post saying they have the AWR bar on stock suspension, and all they have is the slight clunk. I've been pondering the AWR bar myself, but I don't want to have to do the whole suspension at the same time.

 

[changedman]

im not sure how the p5 could get the clunk either as it is a diff suspension. even with a rear sway bar. diff design (if made by other company)

 

[Dimitrios]

ATLskate: you need to clarify that the mounting tab on the Pro5 struts isn't of large enough gauge for the stiffer 21mm sway bar and it may cause the tab to bend or shear off.

Just thought I'd include that

 

[DevilsSi1481]

exactly Dimitrios, so in other words trust me u people would not like to have a subframe tear!!

 

[ATLskate]

Thanks alot Dimitrios, i didn't know why exactly they wouldn't safley fit, so i was looking it up, but i guess you beat me to it. Well, now i know.

 

[mp5]

So basically if I don't want to upgrade my struts, I'm forced to get the 19mm bar, correct? And if I get the 19mm can I use the stiffer setting or am I forced to only use the softer setting?

 

[YanceySlide]

Hrm, okay. Thanks for the clarification. I guess it's springs, then struts, then sway bar.

 

[70]

i want someone to make a new front sway bar....awr pretty please?????? the mp3 bar isnt quite enough

The MSP front bar is 27mm and the MP3 bar is 25mm...How big do you want?

 

[twilightprotege]

the mazdausa.com website says the msp is 25mm....but 27mm is what i want on the front, 21.5mm on the rear. that would be an almost perfect upgrade to the p5. that would give very close to neutral handling

 

[70]

Hmmm, the FAQ says 27mm for MSP front...

 

[twilightprotege]

hmmmmm....interesting. maybe that's a typo on the faq part, coz mazdausa.com definately says 25mm....UNLESS the earlier model msp's had 27mm on the front????

 

[70]

hmmmmm....interesting. maybe that's a typo on the faq part, coz mazdausa.com definately says 25mm....UNLESS the earlier model msp's had 27mm on the front????

I thought that's what night have happened. Although a number of things have been changed on the MSP that's not really mentioned.

Such as the stronger rods that were put in at port on the intial launch.

 

[70]

Interestingly, the Mazda Media web-site says 27mm front sway bar on the MSP.

It also says polyuerathane bushings on the front bar and rubber for the rear bar.

 

[twilightprotege]

what the hell is mazda doing to us??? i wish they'd get it right....or atleast consistant