Just a quick question ... what are other good companies that produce rear sway bars?? I want a 22inch one as well ... been looking at Altas ... any other suggestions ??

 

H-sport, Whiteline, NM Engineering

I like forged ends instead of welded myself. And some of these companies have zerk fittings to lube if necessary.

Why do you want 22mm?

 

is there a major difference between all these brands? I was comparing the 19mm Hsport (recommended by many) to the alta which is less expensive. Is it worth it to pay more for the Hsport?

 

i thought when you have a 22inch you can adjust it to be really stiff if you wanted to ... whats the advantages of 19?

 

Like I mentioned in my earlier posts, I think that the forged ends and greasible zerk fittings are advantages of the H-sport that are quite useful.

Sway bars can be noisy if not installed with ample grease on the poly bushings. The greasible zerks can help make that regreasing job much easier if needed later.

 

There lies both the advantage and disadvantage of 22 mm bars. For most people the 19 mm is perhaps enough stiffness. Some really like 22 mm. The key difference is in the behavior of the car with 22mm having significantly more oversteer, something that is not recommended for most drivers. Oversteer is the back end stepping out and wanting to spin around to the front, something not easy for a street driver to correct.

This is an area where bigger does not mean better.

That is why perhaps the 20 mm Whiteline can be considered. For me, I have tracked both 19 mm and 22 mm and would recommend staying with the smaller diameters.

 

thanks for the advice and tips ... any advice and recommendations on end links for the rear and front ??

 

What do you want to do with the car? Any lowering, track time?

 

i just want really nice handling .. rly didnt think about lowering it that much ... my car would get wrecked in my area if it where any lower :(

 

I do not really think you need end links for what you are doing

If you do go with end links from NM Engineering. These can be really big noise makers or clunkers so choose carefully and be weary of low prices and Version 2s (because V1 was really bad they had to make changes).

 

NM Engineering now has grease fittings on the bushings of its 22mm rsb. Check out the NM website.

 

I had the H-Sport 22mm Comp (with grease fittings) installed on my R53 at the Dragon this year. It was set on the medium setting. I kept the stock end links. I found the handling differences to be remarkable. With that bar I have the option of setting it stiffer or softer, but found the middle setting to be adequate with the driving that I do. My car is a daily driver, and I'm relatively conservative on the Dragon. Here's a link:
http://www.waymotorworks.com/h-sport...-sway-bar.html
This is the bar that I'll be installing on my wife's 2011 MCS. It's probably the first mod she has on her list after seeing and experiencing the difference it made on my R53.

 

A 22 mm in the middle setting and no mention of any oversteer. Hope you do not drive too close to the car's handling limits for oversteer to rear it's ugly head.

Interesting you are putting this in your wife's car as well.

 

I think im better off going with the 19 or 20 like slinger stated ... I am the farthest thing away from a professional driver and the fact that oversteering is more prevalent with a 22inch im gunna have to do my research on 19inch bars ... Slinger any other recommendations besides whiteline sway bars ?? between the three forums im on ive been getting mixed reviews of whiteline ...

 

I haven't noticed any oversteer issues. As I mentioned in my original post, I think I'm pretty conservative... I'm sure that I don't drive anywhere close to the car's handling limits. And I'm certainly NOWHERE close to being a professional driver. Nevertheless, I'm much more confident in the vehicle now than before the new sway bar. In fact, when I chose the sway bar, I went with the recommendation of the experienced vendors who were at the Dragon.

I'm not sure why putting the same sway bar in my wife's car is interesting to you?

 

Because it can be a safety issue if she is a real aggressive driver like mine is. But my wife also drives cars on the track so she will know how to corect.

If you are a really conservative driver, I am not even sure you need the sway bar. Dragan drivers may not be as aggressive as track drivers. On the track, if the tires are not singing to you loudly, you are not fast enough.

 

H&R

And if you were in the NE US, come to the track with us and we will show you what we mean.

 

would love to go to the track ... dont think my driving is up there yet but ill come check you and your wife out and then talk some mini talk after ... id def try the track but dont i need specific things for a track such as a roll cage, helmet, and all those other safety features ?? Where do you race at ? im located in northern jersey !!

 

and regarding my sway bar im gunna go to a couple more meets and rallys and just talk with mini owners that have sway bars and hear some first hand stories whether or not they like their sway bar and why ...

 

Forgot to mention h-sport I think makes the best 19 mmnin my opinion. Alex x294 at tirerack.com used to carry them. Give him anshout to see if he still has it or look up the website.

 

Ah, okay, I was wondering about the wife comment, now I understand.

I'd say I'm conservative, relative to other people I've ridden with on the Dragon. Just from the perspective that the car handles better now than before, I'd say I needed it. I've never done any track driving...that's on the bucket list for this summer.

I guess I'm glad that Dragon drivers are less aggressive than track drivers...the penalty for failure is a lot greater.

 

thanks slinger ... will do all this research tonight when i get home ... the company wont be too happy with me researching mini parts all day at work

 

Sly201,

It is not racing but learning how to drive better at themlimits of the car. A few mini owners are going to be at Watkins glen international June 13 for BMWCCA longest day event. I probably can take you out for a few laps to show you what the car does when it is at the limits and how that is counter to normal expectations and experience from the street.

If you want to drive for that event, all you need is a helmet, preferred SA2005 or newer (can be borrowed, as long as it fits well). It is also recommended you get a brake fluid flush with a better brake fluid, something like ATE typ200 or Motul and you are off for some heart pumping fun. An instructor will be with you all the time when you are on the track and there will also be lots of classroom sessions talkin about how to drive better and how cars behave.

 

Anitan1, June 13 at WGI. See comments in my earlier post to sly. Happy to help either of you get acquainted with this and show you the ropes.

The general penalty for failure is guardrail also called blue Armco to us.

 

slinger thats a monday correct? because theres a rally on the 12th and i believe its a sunday ... ill have to google it and see how far it is from me and either take off or ask to go home early that day ... id def take some classes and hop in the passenger seat with you ... just dont know if im up to driving my own car just cause i was look at helmets and ehhhh $$$ lol ... rather invest otherwise but if i can ill def be there ... thanks again !!