I may be buying a Sway-bar in the next few days.....I may wait till spring though.
I was thinking....if I install it before winter hits, should I set it at a softer setting during the winter to make driving in snow safer, and then set it to a tighter setting come spring?

 

What size swaybar? I keep my 22mm bar on the stiffest setting year round. If I go too fast, it can over-steer like mad in the snow, but it's fun when no one is around.

 

Been thinking of a H sport Comp, but that might be overkill, still getting opinions from folks (effective rate of the bar is equal to a solid 22mm bar).

Nabeshin..I was lurker long before I joined, and watching you change your signature pictures have been great.....I went to a Half Japanese school, and it brings backs lots of memories (Great selection of gals!)!!

 

I installed mine last spring so I havent had it through a winter yet but I dont plan on changing mine. Mine's a Whiteline 20mm on the stiffest setting

 

Mine just aiding in my hitting the inside of a bad turn and could have turned out worse. For winter I suggest the softest setting, at least until it isn't so slippery. Even if the sway bar doesn't cause you oversteer, it can certainly make it harder for you to recover from a bad slide.

 

In this part of the country, the snow only lasts on the roads for about a day, if that. Not worth the hassle of changing the bar.

 

I set my H-Sport 25.5 bar to max stiff in winter, up from medium, to aid in winter fun.

Has saved me several times from understeering in slippery conditions, much easier to drive the car out of problems that way.

 

Sounds like some pretty crazy advise IMO. To each his own, and Cavat Empour....boy my Latin is rusty!!
Next time I'm in you neck of the woods, I'll be sure to stay off the sidewalks and behind the concreate barrier just incase you are around!!!

 

When I swap my summer tires for winter I back off the rear bar to the softest setting (19mm H-Sport). I'm running camber plates & with the rear bar tightened up it is a bit loose on low friction surfaces.

 

How much of a difference is noted in turn in when going from the medium setting to the stiffest with the H-sport 22mm comp sway bar? I am currently medium and a while ago I was going flat out up through 3rd and into forth. I changed lanes over slight crest between the backend felt really squirrelly, it was a scary feeling... Is that normal and will it get more squirrelly on the stiffest setting?

 

It will definitely get more squirrelly on the stiffer setting.

My advice is if you get a lot of snow and find yourself driving on it a lot, it's worth backing down on the rear bar. Doesn't take long and you'll have more grip.

- Andrew

 

With an R53 the Hsport comp bar is ideal. The rates work great and will make the handling ideal with just the middle setting. If your concerned start out on the soft setting and run it during the winter, but when the weather is good go to the middle setting and I think you'll like it so much you won't go back. Honestly alot of people buy the adjustable swaybar with intentions of adjusting it, but in reality they set it on the middle setting and end up leaving it.

 

I've tried all 3 settings on my comp bar & the softest setting seems a little too stiff for wet streets, snow or even uneven pavement.

I also have the comp front bar that I now run on the softest setting in conjunction with JCW shocks & springs.

I love the combo on dry streets, I'm OK with it on wet streets, and I'm starting to think about disconnecting on of the rear links when it snows for a week in Seattle.

 

I have the H-Sport 25mm bar and have it on the center setting year-round. Add Blizzaks to that and there are no winter driving issues as long as you drive based on the conditions.

Hey Way, you're right. Who has time to play with all those settings. I once set the bar to the stiffest and the Koni yellows all the way stiff, and the only bounce in that MINI was the flexing of the rubber on the wheels. Fun for a spirited day, but not for daily driving. But hey, at least we COULD set it stiffer if we wanna.

 

Some people buy a bigger sway bar to make their car corner flatter. I prefer to use a sway bar to aid balance AND inside front tire grip.

Since grip is reduced in winter - front and rear - the setting should be backed off if you live where snow is a constant threat.

Try this...in the rain pick a turn or parking lot and try going thru the turn without the rear bar attached. You will find that front end grip is all but lost. Add back enough rear bar so your front tires grip but without the sudden rotation necessary on dry summer roads.

Balance is key in snow and if driving in traffic you want enough progressivness in your setup to avoid snap oversteer on slippery surfaces when things don't go as planned...there are more than a few freaks driving in winter.

In my opinion the stock rear S bar is plenty for snowy conditions...a hair more than stock neg camber works too...about 1 degree. A hair toe in up front and a few hairs toe in in the rear. This is a very manageable setup.