F55/F56 :: Hatch Talk (2014+) MINI Cooper and Cooper S (F55/F56) hatchback discussions.

F55/F56 front sway bar

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Old 08-12-2017, 06:58 AM
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front sway bar

Hi everyone. Has any body done an uprated front sway bar in addition to the rear. Are there any benefits in doing both. And is it a big job. Or do you think that some eibach springs and just the rear bar would correct the bodyroll. Just for daily drive not track use.
 
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Old 08-12-2017, 12:58 PM
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Daily drive? Rear bar only.
Look at NM for both bar and springs.
 
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Old 08-12-2017, 01:49 PM
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I have eibach springs and a 25mm rear sway bar. The sway bar did next to nothing for body roll. The springs made a huge difference it decreasing body roll.

I wouldn't bother with a front bar. Not worth the work involved to completely drop the front subframe, and then you will need to pay for a front alignment afterwards increasing costs further.
 
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Old 08-12-2017, 01:58 PM
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I'm running NM springs and the NM 22mm solid rear sway bar. The OEM sport suspension front bar seems to be working fine for me. Not sure what the difference is between the sport and standard sway bar is though.
 
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Old 08-12-2017, 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Nick89
Hi everyone. Has any body done an uprated front sway bar in addition to the rear. Are there any benefits in doing both. And is it a big job. Or do you think that some eibach springs and just the rear bar would correct the bodyroll. Just for daily drive not track use.
Might want to hold off a bit.

H&R has Frt and Rear sway bars, but in EU only. Hopefully will be imported to US soon.
Along with their springs, should be a killer set up.
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 07:33 AM
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Nm

Thanks. I live in Scotland, so can't get NM.will be Eibach or the h and watsit ones. Which do you think are best? The bar will have to be a Hardrace 22mm hollow. It's the only one we can get in the UK as far as I can see. Or an Eibach kit which includes the front one.
Originally Posted by TVPostSound
Daily drive? Rear bar only.
Look at NM for both bar and springs.
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 07:42 AM
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thanks

Thanks everyone. As I live in Scotland I could get the H&R springs and full sway bar kit. As you said it could be a killer, but would cost the best part of £1000.00p including fitting. Tempting though. Thanks again.
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 08:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Nick89
Thanks everyone. As I live in Scotland I could get the H&R springs and full sway bar kit. As you said it could be a killer, but would cost the best part of £1000.00p including fitting. Tempting though. Thanks again.
https://www.tunershop.co.uk/catalogs...ult/?q=33803-2
https://www.tunershop.co.uk/catalogs...ult/?q=28813-1

£500.00p for all plus fitting.

I personally would not get Eibach. Tried them, and returned. But thats my opinion.

Had H&R on my 2013, and other cars before that.
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 08:43 AM
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thanks

Thanks, I will check that out.
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 05:28 PM
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I have Eibach springs on my F55 and absolutely love them. TVPostSound I'm curious how you had them on your F-series as to my knowledge Eibach springs are not available for sale in the US.
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by trentiles
I have Eibach springs on my F55 and absolutely love them. TVPostSound I'm curious how you had them on your F-series as to my knowledge Eibach springs are not available for sale in the US.
First, I never said I had them on the F56, I just bought the F56. Ive tried them on previous vehicles.
I don't like Eibach in general. I prefer linear, progressive is acceptable if done in a, for the lack of a better term "more linear progressive" fashion. Eibachs scare me at the end of compression.

My springs of preference are Swift Springs, but the gentleman is from Scotland, and A: can not get them, B: if he did, can not drive through Germany without TUV approved aftermarket equipment.
So his best choice, in MY opinion is H&R, over Eibach.

Myself, Im either going to wait for Swift, or maybe go the full spring/ sway bar package from H&R.
I am also a believer that a front bar reduces understeer, thus not needing to go too big on the rear to avoid unnecessary oversteer.
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by trentiles
I have Eibach springs on my F55 and absolutely love them. TVPostSound I'm curious how you had them on your F-series as to my knowledge Eibach springs are not available for sale in the US.
Oh, look what I found!!
# E43-57-004-01-22
http://eibach.com/america/en/perform...ion/buy-online

http://www.autoanything.com/suspensi...7A6407993.aspx
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by TVPostSound
Cool! Good find
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 07:22 PM
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Anyone know the sizes of H&R bars? I can't see it on their site. Eibach says:

Front: 28mm
Rear: 23mm
Footnotes: Front Sway Bar Is Tubular And Non-adjustable/ Rear Sway Bar Is Solid And 2 Way-adjustable.

And has anyone confirmed that you need to drop the subframe to do the front bar? Any idea how much work that is?
 
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Old 08-13-2017, 08:40 PM
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I found one how-to for the front bar, but forgot to bookmark it. It showed to lower the subframe, not completely remove.
27 frt 25 rr Solid

http://web1.carparts-cat.com/default...2107004&12=130
 
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Old 08-25-2017, 06:58 AM
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just springs. would you do just the springs then? as the sway bar made little d

Originally Posted by trentiles
I have eibach springs and a 25mm rear sway bar. The sway bar did next to nothing for body roll. The springs made a huge difference it decreasing body roll.

I wouldn't bother with a front bar. Not worth the work involved to completely drop the front subframe, and then you will need to pay for a front alignment afterwards increasing costs further.
would you just do springs then, as thevsway bar made little difference?
 
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Old 08-25-2017, 10:18 AM
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I think Trentiles is the only one here who hasn't given a glowing review of a rear sway bar. Everyone else swears it's one of the best mods out there, and very much improves handling. If you are only doing one thing to dip a toe in the water, then yeah I'd do springs first. But if you have a few bucks to spare, do a rear bar at the same time. The main thing under debate is a front sway bar, and I don't think anyone on this site has done one yet.
 
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Old 08-25-2017, 10:23 AM
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thanks.

Originally Posted by J_L
I think Trentiles is the only one here who hasn't given a glowing review of a rear sway bar. Everyone else swears it's one of the best mods out there, and very much improves handling. If you are only doing one thing to dip a toe in the water, then yeah I'd do springs first. But if you have a few bucks to spare, do a rear bar at the same time. The main thing under debate is a front sway bar, and I don't think anyone on this site has done one yet.
I will do probably h & r springs, and rear bar then. I will save up my pennies.
 
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Old 08-25-2017, 11:08 AM
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H&R is not selling the rear bar by itself in the EU.
H&R US will be selling the rear bar in a couple of months.

My first suspension mod, when I had the R56, was a 22mm H&R rear bar, and I gotta tell you it made the car rotate!! Had to back off to the softer setting, way too much oversteer with the stiffer setting.

My F56 is a little more balanced, especially with 38 lbs recommended to the front tyres.
Thats the reason I want to do frt and rr sway bars.
 
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Old 08-25-2017, 01:17 PM
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NM 22mm set on firm.
 
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Old 08-26-2017, 01:33 PM
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rear bar

Originally Posted by TVPostSound
H&R is not selling the rear bar by itself in the EU.
H&R US will be selling the rear bar in a couple of months.

My first suspension mod, when I had the R56, was a 22mm H&R rear bar, and I gotta tell you it made the car rotate!! Had to back off to the softer setting, way too much oversteer with the stiffer setting.

My F56 is a little more balanced, especially with 38 lbs recommended to the front tyres.
Thats the reason I want to do frt and rr sway bars.
yes the only rear bar I can get at the moment is a 22mm hollow bar from Hardrace. Larkspeed will sell me an Eibach 23mm solid bar when it comes off back order in late December. Mine is a cooper d with standard suspension on 16" rims. And I don't know if it's me but, I am getting beaten through corners by ordinary family saloons. Even a KIA picanto the other day. I just have a job to hang on in the corners, getting slammed against the door or the armrest. I can't remember my Seat Ibiza FR or my BMW 116D doing that. Any suggestions?
 
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Old 08-26-2017, 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by vetsvette
NM 22mm set on firm.
Showoff!!
 
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Old 08-28-2017, 01:18 PM
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Do rear bar only. I had 21mm solid on my R56 it decreased understeer just fine. I have factory sport suspension on JCW and it's fine also (the Coupe has virually no body lean anyway). Never heard of a Mini owner changing the front sway bar I started on NAM 2007.
 
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Old 08-28-2017, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by TheBigNewt
Do rear bar only. I had 21mm solid on my R56 it decreased understeer just fine. I have factory sport suspension on JCW and it's fine also (the Coupe has virually no body lean anyway). Never heard of a Mini owner changing the front sway bar I started on NAM 2007.
It increases oversteer, a front bar will decrease understeer.

Ill be the first!! Drove the F56 with the rear bar only, changed out the whole feel of the rear, its a good thing, now the front wants one.
Seriously, needs a front bar to balance it out
Thats my opinion!!
 
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Old 08-28-2017, 02:41 PM
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Increase oversteer and decrease understeer are the same thing lol. Somebody said doing front bar is a major headache. They did my rear bar in 1/2 hour. $100 labor. Good luck.
 



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