Sway bars

[iam7head]

one more interesting note, i know some ppl run a meaty rear bar adn disconnect the front stock sway at autocross, some seems like like it alot but I almost lost control of my car without the front bar

not exactly the best thing when you doing road racing in the canyon :mad:

 

[SFC01v2]

I guess the point to be made is to understand what impact a mod will have on your car, the way it handles, or makes power before you buy it.

Just because someone else has that mod doesn't mean that it is the be all and end all. And it certainly doesn't mean that it would certainly be right for you!

For me I have no aspirations to run a larger front bar, which would then mean to get the handling balance that I have and like now I would have to go with an even larger rear bar. I think that the roll stiffness of the chassis with a rear bar of 24mm effective diameter and stock front bar is sufficient to my 'spirited' road driving requirements.

 

[Installshield 2]

Excellent posts man...The most important part about this issue is for the buyer to understand what it does...hanlding and suspension mods can not be coined up simply by saying "it makes the car handle better"...there is no single way to define that...

These rear bars make our FWD's easier to rotate...there isn't much of simpler way to define it...Some guys probably know enough about how the car behaves to understand that and what the new bar will do, but some definately do not...

 

[twilightprotege]

imo a pretty neutral setup for the P5 would be 27mm up front, 21mm in the rear

any thoughts?

 

[70]

I've been wondering why Mazda went froma 27mm bar on the 2003 MSPs to a 25mm front bar on 03.5 and on...

At least, those are the published specs I have seen. I thought the MSP came out with slightly more neutral handling than the MP3. I thought this was mostly because of the slightly larger front bar along with some other things.

But, Mazda went back to the same sized 25mm bar in front for 03.5s...Or, so I have come to believe.

Unless the intial specs on the 03 MSPs were wrong. I don't know...

I think if Mazda ultimately went with 25mm bar, that would be fine. But, I suppose it depends on what you are looking for in handling characteristics.

 

[SFC01v2]

I'd think that the handling balance at 27 front and 21 rear would be similar to stock SP20 - just stiffer! Which means lots of understeer, and a whole stack of power on understeer.

I'm stock front bar ~25mm but don't quote me on it and 24mm effective on the rear and it is still limit understeer oriented.

But that is just MHO

 

[FunkyBuddha]

Should I need to reinforce the rear struts and/or replace the endlinks to put in the 19mm or the 21mm rear bar?

 

[70]

It is probably a good idea...

 

[SFC01v2]

So far so good for me without them. That is about 10K miles under the belt as well with the rear bar.

If you have the inclination and resources with which to strengthen them then what the hey, why not?

 

[akhilleus]

A 21.5mm or greater rear sway bar kit is definately a good upgrade. But there is still no manufactured or easily producable "clunk" fix. Unless u have perfect weather and roads this bar may give u problems. It has alot less flex which is awesome in turns but basically gives u a fixed rear suspension, less independent. If only someone could produce the mounts.. which were supposdly under production by micaspeed... but no word for months. It also will improve the handling further..

 

[garretts77]

I just don't know what to do. I am probably going to get a rear bar for my b-day, but I don't know which to get. I know that everyone says "it is up to you" but if I get the 19mm, am I just going to wish that I got the 21.5mm? I am guessing that the 19 is probably pretty nice, I just don't want to get it and then wish for the 21.5. On the other hand, I don't want to be a tail happy mess either. I would say that I know my car fairly well, but I am by no means a pro. Just a lot of canyon carving behind me. Are all of you 19mm owners happy with yours? Or do you wish that you spent the extra $70 or so and got the 21.5?

I'm so confused...
Maybe I should write Whiteline...

 

[akhilleus]

Well the 21.5mm isnt much more money and it handles extremely well. I can do things with my p5 i couldnt before. Keeps the rear down and level. I havent had any problems with the strut mounts either. Also the touch of oversteer on my car is nice.
But i am warning u to make sure u address the flex issues.... because when the clunk rears its ugly head... u might regret it.

 

[garretts77]

I see a "clunk fix" in your upcoming attractions... What have you got in mind?

 

[akhilleus]

Well i had hoped on getting delsing motorsports clunk fix... but i was told it was incompatible with the AWR bar. So currently i am looking at adding teflon tape and mobil 1 synth grease for now, its winter which makes it worse,... then switch my bars and fix some of the issues. The poly bushings are worn... i want to put on the msp 20mm rubber bushings..plus teflon tape. This summer i will investigate some type of bracket with energy susp bushings. they can be greased through a tapet. But these bars do require maintenance.. epsecially in bad weather/cold temps.

 

[PR5Matt]

Are the AWR and SR motorsports ones solid or hollow???

And I have lowered my car, should i get the 21mm on then?

Go larger. On my fOCUS I went to a 23mm rear bar (with the stock 21mm front, plus poly bushing all around. The fOCUS uses stiffer springs in the back too) and it made the handling very neutral. Another thing that would help this is stiffer rear springs, shocks, or both. I would much have controlable oversteer than understeer anyday.

 

[70]

Go larger. On my fOCUS I went to a 23mm rear bar (with the stock 21mm front, plus poly bushing all around. The fOCUS uses stiffer springs in the back too) and it made the handling very neutral. Another thing that would help this is stiffer rear springs, shocks, or both. I would much have controlable oversteer than understeer anyday.

The Protege 5 and Focus don't handle the same.

The 21.5 mm bar is the largest available and makes the Protege 5 tail happy as it is...

 

[2k3 PrO RiDa]

what would be pretty neutral for a regular protege es/lx/dx???

 

[MarkSpark]

what would be pretty neutral for a regular protege es/lx/dx???

stock is 16mm, so the 19mm seems neutral