Strut Bar / Sway Bar
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Ponte Vedra, FL
I have the front and rear Hotchkis sway bars on my 08 Sport coupe, with the rear on the stiffest setting, and the car's back end is giving up traction too easily around corners. Cornering quickly is my handling priority, and my car is street driven only. Will adjusting the rear bar to the middle setting (+90% stiffer than stock) be the answer, or should I dial it all the way to the least stiff (still +50% over stock) to achieve the best result? And toward that goal, is the Hotchkis bar on the front helping matters, or would I be better served by going back to the stock front?
Another issue is that the Hotchkis front bar is doing a lot of groaning and creaking over speed bumps, dips, etc.. I had the bushings re-lubed and the noises lessened for a while, but they're back now. I'm wondering if another shot of grease will do it, or whether this is just an issue with poly bushings that I have to learn to live with for higher performance. It wasn't making these noises when I first had it installed.
Another issue is that the Hotchkis front bar is doing a lot of groaning and creaking over speed bumps, dips, etc.. I had the bushings re-lubed and the noises lessened for a while, but they're back now. I'm wondering if another shot of grease will do it, or whether this is just an issue with poly bushings that I have to learn to live with for higher performance. It wasn't making these noises when I first had it installed.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: SARASOTA, FLORIDA
how do they feel in comparison to the stock? When people say they are stiffer does it mean when you turn in a normal way they seem to give a car more precise feel? How would you describe it?
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: SARASOTA, FLORIDA
I always have doubts if they have done enough R&D..
Stiffer sway bars can make you feel better becaues it change the way the car behaves.
If you look at Hotchkis, the front is 200% stiffer.
The stiffer, the more traction you will lose compensating for less body roll.
This effect becomes greater on streets than tracks because the streets are not even.
So, such a huge increase in front stiffness will lead to understeer on streets.
That's something you should look at when considering sway bars.
Stiffer sway bars can make you feel better becaues it change the way the car behaves.
If you look at Hotchkis, the front is 200% stiffer.
The stiffer, the more traction you will lose compensating for less body roll.
This effect becomes greater on streets than tracks because the streets are not even.
So, such a huge increase in front stiffness will lead to understeer on streets.
That's something you should look at when considering sway bars.
How would you describe the difference between the stock and the others in the way they feel? Does it give you a more precise steering in normal driving?
The biggest improvement I noticed was decreased body roll in turns from start to finish. It's felt at all speeds, streets and highway. When you're changing lanes, the decreased body rolls helps stabilizing the car when you're driving. Overall, the car feels tighter and more responsive. I also have Eibach's spring so my center of gravity is also lower.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Ponte Vedra, FL
Why don't you drill some holes in the stock sway and report back.
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Joined: May 2007
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@ucla bruin, re: effect of Hotchkis: - you put it perfectly.
You have Eibach springs - is that the Pro Kit? Did you install the camber kits front and rear? And how do you like them on LA roads? I'm in LA as well.
You have Eibach springs - is that the Pro Kit? Did you install the camber kits front and rear? And how do you like them on LA roads? I'm in LA as well.
Prokit, there's only prokit for our car. I don't have any camber kits. You don't need them to dial the alignment back to within stock standards with the Eibachs.
I'm more in Orange county and do freeway commute so it's not bad at all. Pretty fun actually, haha. When I'm out on crappy roads, you do feel the stiffness but if you think about it, the pros will outweigh the cons.
Very well worth the investment and enjoyment IMO.
Got them installed from Lou at Amplified Motorsports.
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I'm more in Orange county and do freeway commute so it's not bad at all. Pretty fun actually, haha. When I'm out on crappy roads, you do feel the stiffness but if you think about it, the pros will outweigh the cons.
Very well worth the investment and enjoyment IMO.
Got them installed from Lou at Amplified Motorsports.
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@ucla bruin: thanks for sharing your impressions. The Eibachs are my next mod.
Interesting to hear you haven't needed a camber kit to keep the alignment to spec. That makes the springs a lot easier to justify, $ wise. Did you buy them from Amplified, or elsewhere and have them installed there?
Interesting to hear you haven't needed a camber kit to keep the alignment to spec. That makes the springs a lot easier to justify, $ wise. Did you buy them from Amplified, or elsewhere and have them installed there?
You can feel less body roll when you make a turn.
It's very noticeable..and yes it will provide more precise handling.
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Never mind re: I didn't see the front kit for sale by Amplified. It just didn't show up when I searched by car model. I see that they indeed have it, at a very nice price. This whole thing is becoming more tempting by the minute.
