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I just installed a 22mm alta sway bar on my 05 mcs. The car rides on stock springs and struts. WOW! What a difference. It feels like the MINI lost about 200lbs from the front. It turns effortlessly. I will participate in a BMWCCA autoX on saturday and I am looking forward to it. This should have been my first mod
How easy was it to install? I was looking at this for a while. Whgat setting are you using?
install was not that bac. I used the instructions from Randy Webb which can be found at webbmotoresports.com website. He called for two hours for the first timers with another person helping. I did the job by myself and the subframe is a pain to deal with alone. Everything worked out at the end but I suggest using another able body.
I also converted my car to wheel studs and nuts at the same time and the whole thing took 3.5 hours.
I am using the middle setting right now on the street. Tomorrow I will change to full stiff when I swap wheels.
Thanks, Yea i debating between Atlas sway bar and H&R sway bar. I heard and now H&R is a good brand and now Atla is pretty good from what i read. I have bought the Alta Intake. It worked out good.
Yea, there are a few things that are differnt. The Alta one is 22mm (or 19mm) and has 3 setting. The H&R is only 19mm and has 2 setting. How big of difference between 19 and 22mm? I have the sports package on my 04 MCS.
i got to try out the 22mm alta bar during autox. At the stiffest setting the rear end was too loose for me. The car drove more like a RWD M3 during the slalom. However with the yoko evs100 tires the car was not sticking. You can really drive the car with the throttle now. Completely transformed the feel. During the lunch break I changed the settings to the softest and left things there. could not be happier with the mod.
I too have the Alta 22 bar on my 05' MC and here is what I have experienced with different set ups.
Bar with stock springs and struts the softest setting and the aid of some added rear tire pressure the car was neutral. Mid setting with less air pressure in rear tires netted slight oversteer (twitchy). Stiffest setting...good luck keeping the rear planted with the slightest of throtle lifts at tire limits.
H-sport progresive rate lowering springs pretty much offer the same results as above, just that the car feels more planted and responsive. Did notice a tendency to snap oversteer but only in extream autox cases.
TSW Linear lowering springs with H-sport 26mm adj front bar Koni yellows (full stiff front 7/8 stiff rear). Body roll-b-gone!! Front bar on stiff setting (only 2 to choose) rear bar stiffest setting, increadible feel of the road the car is one with it, predictable oversteer (too much for my liking) front bar rewards smooth driving. Rear bar mid setting front bar soft setting with slight tire pressure adjustments car is neutral with very little body roll, predictable induced oversteer. This is where I curently have the car set to and is very drivable for daily use.
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Life moves pretty fast...Driving a MINI..slows everything down but you!
Way installed my H-sport competition sway bar. It is a very nice mod, but one thing I did notice was at high rates of speed on any uneven road surfaces it really made the car feel squirmy and unstable. For example if you were going flat out in 3rd gear and up into forth and then switch lanes on a highway with a little slope to each lane its really noticable and unnerving.
I too have the Alta 22 bar on my 05' MC and here is what I have experienced with different set ups.
Bar with stock springs and struts the softest setting and the aid of some added rear tire pressure the car was neutral. Mid setting with less air pressure in rear tires netted slight oversteer (twitchy). Stiffest setting...good luck keeping the rear planted with the slightest of throtle lifts at tire limits.
H-sport progresive rate lowering springs pretty much offer the same results as above, just that the car feels more planted and responsive. Did notice a tendency to snap oversteer but only in extream autox cases.
TSW Linear lowering springs with H-sport 26mm adj front bar Koni yellows (full stiff front 7/8 stiff rear). Body roll-b-gone!! Front bar on stiff setting (only 2 to choose) rear bar stiffest setting, increadible feel of the road the car is one with it, predictable oversteer (too much for my liking) front bar rewards smooth driving. Rear bar mid setting front bar soft setting with slight tire pressure adjustments car is neutral with very little body roll, predictable induced oversteer. This is where I curently have the car set to and is very drivable for daily use.
Did you do both front and rear bars at the same time?
No I did not. I first installed the rear bar then about 3 years later did the front when I was changing out the front control arm bushings. I installed everything else in between these 2 mods. I really could use some stiffer springs though. The TSW linear springs are very predictable but a little soft for my agressive driving style. I have switchback roads that I travel on every day to get to and from work so needless to say the Mini spends alot of time at or near the limits of the suspension.
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Life moves pretty fast...Driving a MINI..slows everything down but you!
Been thinking of getting the H-sport holllow bar, actually spoke to way at wmw....liked the lightness of the compbar....just makes me worry that the highway manners will get a bit squirirly.....what setting did you have it set for when you noticed the instability on the highway?
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l 2005 MCS l 11-04 Production l owned since new l RMW Tuned l Craven -17% Pulley l Craven Speed STD l Dinan CAI l JCW 380's l H&R 19 MM Swaybar l MSD Ignition l Power Steering Fan Duct l LightInSight l "EURO" MINI Armrest l Euro Parcel Shelf l Brake Light PULSAR(gen2)l Detroit Tuned Tensioner Stop l Blitzsafe/xmradio l Cobra 19IV CB l 4.5' Francis CB25 CB Antenna, mounted on the rear tow rig!!
Alta still has their 19mm and 22mm rear bars on sale for 50% off.
I just ordered a 19mm bar for $100.
I was planning on purchasing a Hotchkis bar but could not pass on the Alta sale. I will just add a lube fitting to the mount.
I figured 19mm would be adequate because I have camber plates on the front.
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2006 MCS JCW GP #1405: Adj Front Camber Plates, 19mm Rear Sway Bar, MM Front Lower Brace, Milltek Cat-Back, TCE 13" Front/11.75" Rear BBK, 15mm Spacers, Wheel Studs, JCM Modified Intake, MM Filter, Gauges
If memory serves me correctly, SCCA autocross rules, changing the rear bar takes you out of stock.
Am I remembering correctly? Of course, that's only for those that autocross.
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2009 Laser Blue/Black Clubman S. Premium/Cold Weather/Convenience/Sport/
LSD/Sunroof/Alta CAI/Elbrus 104 wheels/yokohama S drive/Eibach Pro Kit springs/ ALTA 19mm adjustable rear sway bar/ ALTA frt & rear end links/ ALTA cat back exhaust/ Hotchkis rear lower control arms.
Yes adding a rear swaybar definetly takes you out of stock SCCA class.
ZippyNH, I wouldn't worry about highway loose feeling. That's the first I've heard of that.
FYI adding the zerks to the Alta brackets doesn't work well. The bushing doesn't have grease channels so the grease will only get where you put a hole in the bushing. That's another reason the Hsports are so good.
Thanks for the info on the grease channel. I was thinking that might be the case. Guess I will need to use the needle fitting on my grease gun to get grease between the bushing and bar or machine a small channel in the bushing.
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2006 MCS JCW GP #1405: Adj Front Camber Plates, 19mm Rear Sway Bar, MM Front Lower Brace, Milltek Cat-Back, TCE 13" Front/11.75" Rear BBK, 15mm Spacers, Wheel Studs, JCM Modified Intake, MM Filter, Gauges
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"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time." - Abraham Lincoln
[quote=WayMotorWorks;2895232]
"ZippyNH, I wouldn't worry about highway loose feeling. That's the first I've heard of that."
Good to hear....sounds like it will be on the list for spring...Most of the locals say to dial it way back if you have an aftermarket bar to make snow driveing a bit less scary!! I figure I might as well wait for the thaw...if I can make myself wait!!
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l 2005 MCS l 11-04 Production l owned since new l RMW Tuned l Craven -17% Pulley l Craven Speed STD l Dinan CAI l JCW 380's l H&R 19 MM Swaybar l MSD Ignition l Power Steering Fan Duct l LightInSight l "EURO" MINI Armrest l Euro Parcel Shelf l Brake Light PULSAR(gen2)l Detroit Tuned Tensioner Stop l Blitzsafe/xmradio l Cobra 19IV CB l 4.5' Francis CB25 CB Antenna, mounted on the rear tow rig!!
I have the 19mm on my R56 and am very happy with it.
2005 MCS BRG/W Sport Pkg / Chrono Gauges / Front & Rear Fog Lights
