Sway Bar discussion. (AutoX related)

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ZX2_racer
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So i'm weighing out my options for my rear sway bar, and trying to decide if I want to remove the front one. I plan on AutoX later this year and would like the rear to be a little more stiff for it. What should I go with here?
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PBZX3
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You don't have to remove the front bar. Just unhook one of the end links. It accomplishes the same thing but allows you to still have it for daily driving. As for the rear I have the progressive 22mm bar. with the stock front bar. I can get a little throttle lift oversteer with that setup but speeds need to be pretty high. I would think a 22mm rear bar with the front disconnected would produce over steer at much lower speeds.
Paul

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o2designs
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What bars and suspension do you have now?
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ZX2_racer
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Stock front sway bar,no rear. Eibach Sportlines & Tokico HP's, strut tower bar.
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zurno
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You may not want to remove the front anyways, I think the 05-07's might have used a smaller front bar than the older cars, or atleast on the S models. Also, if you go the removing the endlink route, I would probably remove both since there are flats in the rubber mounts that would probably still give you some resistance on the one side.


As far as size on the rear, you might be able to find a SVT rear bar locally for cheap at some point in time to try out first. I know from time to time people will buy the kit and not use the rear bar.
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ZX2_racer
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I'll start a little searching. I plan on getting a bushing kit for the rear also, and to get the sway bar powder coated something pretty. :)
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o2designs
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Well, if you don't have any rear bar, just go with a stock SVT rear bar, you'll be fine, and notice it will be a huge help in rotating the car.
Pants too tight, wheels so bright!
ZX2_racer
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I'm sure i'll be able to find one around in a junk yard. Thanks.
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ZX2_racer
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Picked up a sway bar and should get it next Tuesday. How exactly do I go about installing it?
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MNiceGuy
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mnfocusS wrote:Picked up a sway bar and should get it next Tuesday. How exactly do I go about installing it?
Take a look at your rear suspension cross member to see if you have mountings. To my knowledge our cars only had a rear sway installed if they were SES or ST trim levels and lower models not only were missing the sway bar but the mountings for it as well (meaning there are two part #'s for that cross member depending on your trim level).

However...

My '05 SE didn't have the bar but it did have mountings for it. I took the sway from an '03 SE just to start off but it bolted up perfect. If you don't have mounts you have a couple options:

1. New OEM cross member with the mounts for $167. Depending on how rusty your undercarriage is that might be a task.
2. Adaptors like the ones from Steeda. You can get just the mounting setup for $40 but you'll still need your own endlinks if you didn't already pick those up.
3. Adjustable rear cross member from FRPP if Steve can get his hands on one.
ZX2_racer
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Still pokin around on endlinks.
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o2designs
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So what bar(s) did you go with? Just rear or both?
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ZX2_racer
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Stock SES 20mm for now. Got it for 20 shipped off [fj]. I already have the stock front sway bar, but i'm unsure what size that would be. I'll still have to look underneath to make sure I have proper mounting for the rear one. Once I get it and make sure it can go on properly i'll send it out to pc and make it pretty for myself.
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ZX2_racer
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Would some one want to post up a picture of the mounting points for me? o2?
Thanks. It's off at pcing right now, and I still have to get end links.
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o2designs
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Pants too tight, wheels so bright!
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