I have a daily-driver 04 MCS with 94,000 miles on it. Last year I was itching to get a new car, but after looking around I decided there wasn't anything I could afford that I'd rather own so I decided to improve my R53 instead. I got a Way Motor Works pulley package installed which was pretty much as great as advertised, but then I moved on to the suspension.

My plan was JCW suspension with a 19mm rear bar when I talked to Way and ended up with something much more elaborate!

At AMVIV Way's fine installers, Blair and The Man Whose Name I Do Not Know, installed:

• Hotchkis Front Sway Bar
• Hotchkis Competition Rear Sway Bar
• Hotchkis adjustable rear lower control arms
• JCW struts
• TSW springs

Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "Way saw that guy coming from a mile away and sold him way more than he needed." And you may even be right! After all, I can only compare this new set-up to a stock suspension with 93,000 miles on it, so what do I know?

Well, what I do know is that this is not at all too much suspension for a daily driven car owned by someone who is not at all a street racer. Driving back from Las Vegas to San Diego was a 5-hour test of freeway compliance, and it came through well. Yes, it gets a little porpoisey over washboard bumps, but for the most part it only feels more settled than the old suspension, not more harsh.

The real test is in the turns, though, and I've done a little exploration in that regard: It rocks! Very little body roll, the car feels much more tossable, and there is just a great feeling of confidence in the car - like it can be thrown into a corner and I know I'm going to make it through to the other side. The handling is more neutral, of course, but there is still some understeer to keep it from getting out of my clumsy hands. I notice the understeer at the exit of corners, but that could be my uneducated driving as much as the suspension.

In conclusion, I'm adding this to the countless suspension threads to show that there is an option for daily drivers other than the usual springs/struts/rear sway bar. I didn't really add that much to my bill by getting the front sway bar, and if you are considering springs/shocks/rear bar/camber plates, this option might even be less expensive.

Oh, and by all means talk to Way before taking my advice. The guy knows what he's doing.

 

Front sway bar just doesn't sound like it would help with the under steering issue that FWD cars have from the get go. Maybe that is just me, but seriously love the setup minus the FSB!

 

Look at it this way: a 19mm RSB reduces understeer with a stock FSB, but you've only tightened the rear without improving the front. It's not a complete solution.

By adding the Hotchkis FSB with the competition RSB the entire car gets stiffer, the rear ends up stiffer than the front, and you get less understeer.

 

^^^agreed. If it weren't for the annoying install I would have done one already. Im waiting till I replace the LCA bushings to do a FSB since they are all connected.

 

Bushings were on my list, too, for that reason. After the first afternoon of installation I drove the car with the bushings and FSB done, but everything else was stock. Obviously I didn't drive the car very hard, but if you thought the stock set-up had understeer in, you have no idea how much understeer it could have!

 

Nice little writeup. I know you prob. haven't pushed it really hard yet, and they may be why you say it still slightly understeers at the end of the corner. But don't forget your rear sway is only set on the middle setting so you can set it to the stiffer setting and that will reduce the understeer more, remember you can always go back to how it is now, so you can't screw it up.