I see on the h-sport web site that they have a competition and sport version of their swaybar. Anyone have any experience with the sport swaybar. I wonder if that would be a good choice for a Cooper.


Andy

 

In short Andy - The Sport bar is all but pointless. It has an effective rate of 17mm (if I remember correct), making it all the same as a Cooper S rear bar. To make a useful increase in torsional stiffness, you'll need to go with ALTA's 19mm bar

The stiffness hierarchy:
Stock MC
Stock MCS and H-Sport Sport
H&R 18mm
ALTA and H&R 19mm
RDR 20mm
everyone else: H-Sport Comp, Madness 21mm, ALTA 21mm

I would say the ALTA 19mm is a good choice for a tracked Cooper. A 21mm bar would be better suited for auto-x.

Hope that helps,
Ryan

 

Doesn't the stock cooper come with a smaller front bar than the Cooper S? If it does I think using a 21mm bar will be too stiff (nothing but Oversteer) unless you uprade the front bar also. The front and rear bars work together to create Under/Neutral/Oversteeer. So using the Sport bar would be benificial to a Cooper that doesn't have the SS+ suspension. Using the Sport bar on a Cooper S as Randy mentioned on his sight would be almost pointless.

 

>>In short Andy - The Sport bar is all but pointless. It has an effective rate of 17mm (if I remember correct)

===>I believe that the Sport bar is 19mm (the same as Alta's 19mm -- the difference: the H-Sport has three settings while the Alta has two, the H-Sport is hollow while the Alta is solid, & the H-Sport is blue while the Alta is black). H-Sport wouldn't produce it if it served no purpose. I'd say that Super_MINI's entire take is accurate. Peace

 

I think Ryephile is correct on this. The H-sport sport is a 19 tubular with an effective rate of 17. I am thinking that the Alta 19 is a better match for a cooper. Has anyone tried the minimania adjustable swaybar?

 

hi ryan,
thanks for all your good work on the yo-yo problems, it is very much appreciated!
that said, i am looking at replacing the stock anti sway bar on my mcs. i want to improve the overall handling and i'm not ready to committ to the time to race. so do you reccommend going with a 19mm over the 18mm? is there any point in changing to anything less than a 21mm. so far i've been looking at the Alta, MiniMania and H&R (which seems to be a favourite of vendors). any advise will be appreciated.

 

I'm interested in this as well. Based on that list, with 19mm being best for track use, it seems isn't much point in upgrading this part for a street car.

 

Hey guys, to add a little bit...

I just picked up a rear H-Sport Comp. bar, and I'm wondering what settings I should go with when I install it. My suspension is a stock set up right now on a 2002 MC, however I am planning to add springs in the near future. I was thinking of starting with the middle setting right now, and see how that goes...

Any input?

 

I went with an R-speed 22mm bar which should be roughly the same as the H-sport comp bar. I started with the middle setting, and found it to stiff for higher speed turns. It was nice and predictable on slower turns, but hairy above 70 mph. I would start with the softest setting, at least until you do springs. I am planning on h-sports springs in March.

 

<??<???y guys, to add a little bit...

I just picked up a rear H-Sport Comp. bar, and I'm wondering what settings I should go with when I install it. My suspension is a stock set up right now on a 2002 MC, however I am planning to add springs in the near future. I was thinking of starting with the middle setting right now, and see how that goes...

Any input?[/QUOTE]

Using an H-sport comp rear bar on an MC with stock suspension would be too stiff for most owners. Always choose the softest setting (hole farthest from the bend and nearest to the end of the bar) first. Roughly, H-sport advertises that the three holes for adjustment on the H-sport comp rear bar is similar to increasing the stiffness of a stock MCS bar by 2x, 3x, and 4x.

For most MCS owners the Rspeed rear swaybar is worth a look. Strong and well made. Competitive price. Comes in black finish. The stiffness of rear bars are a result of materials used and bar design. Tubular bars may have a larger diameter which reduce relative weight compared to a solid bar of the same diameter yet be as stiff as a solid bar slightly less in diameter.

 

Thanks guys...

I think I've decided to wait to install the bar until I get my springs, but I think I'll take your advice and start with the softest setting, unless I'm feeling ancy and just use the middle one, haha... we'll see what kind of mood I'm in

 

I've got the front and back sway bars and well I'm using the middle setting..
for your setup I would use the softest since it oversteers slightly with a soft front and medium setting back.

this thing is stiff.. whatever people say.
I've tried it on bumpy roads and off-roads. That's why it says for track use

 

Yeah, as I talk to more people, I think I'm going to leave it on the softest setting until I decided to AutoX or whatnot.

 

guys you have the specs wrong... H-sport competition rear sway bar its 25.5mm... not 21...

- competition sway bar 25.5mm click the link for info...
http://www.h-sport.com/cgi-bin/EDCst...atalogno=22810

- sports sway bar 19mm click the link for info
http://www.h-sport.com/cgi-bin/EDCst...atalogno=22800


it is the biggest sway bar for the mini and it will make the mini feel like you lost you independent rear suspetion almost and you will have to learn to drive all over but it kicks *** on turn...

i dont the research this is my next mod!!!!

Carlos

 

I was looking into gettin this comp bar also. So how does the car handle with this bar if you saying it feels like you have lost the independent rear? Hows the Oversteer/understeer? Anybodys comments would help in making a decision.

 

I don’t have them I my car like I said it is my next upgrade... but I have driven a mini with them and all I have to say is wow.



to start the car has no roll I mean none! It feels like a different car... There is so little roll that by the time you feel like you losing control you already have... I always get confused the over and understeer thing... but you back tires come lose a lot... I did auto-x in a parking lot with it and I spin out plenty of times but the owner did fine besides the point that I was unable to beat his times... keep in mind my mini is much faster than his on str8t line.



the sway since it is so damm fat... it makes your rear work almost as if your tires were linked by a tube... if you get a bump with the right back tired the left one will feel it as well.



On the expressway at high speeds the car feels really stable... is like mine feels like its waving around when you do turns his is flat to the street.



I mean I love the set up is a little dangerous if you don’t know how to use it like i said you cant tell you are losing control... by the time you feel funny you spinning... but if you know how drive it kicks ***.



I hope this helps



CArlos

 

warchieft2k.... Thanks for the Fast reply . Another ? was this car that had this bar on it lowered? And did the owner say how the ride was on the street as far as daily driving?

 

me and him both have the H&R lowering springs the ride is ok... with the sway bar you feel the bumps more... b/c your car has less body flex

it really depends where do you live... if you streets are full of hole then well sway bar or no sway bar it makes no difference but if you live in the city where street should be nicer... its ok...

 

Yes, but it's hollow so it has the specs of a 22mm.

 

what about the H sport front bar-what difference does that make when coupled to the h sport rear comp bar?

 

I use the 22mm effective rate bar on most applications for the S, and the 19mm for the Cooper.

The H-Sport bar is 25.5mm, but as someone stated, it is tubular, so the modulus is lower, resulting in an effective rate of about 22mm.

The front isn't worth doing - take a look here for some more info - about 3/4 of the way down the page:

http://www.webbmotorsports.com/faq.php

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Hope that helps!
Randy

 

Why do you use a 19mm on the Cooper, Randy? What are the negative side effects of using a 22mm+ on it? I'm starting to figure out what I want to get for the car so I need all the into! Thanks

 

Because the Cooper has a smaller front bar when compared to the S. Take a read through the FAQ on the link above, as it explains some of the dynamics.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Hope that helps!
Randy

 

So would there be a downside to put the Comp bar on the Cooper? Is it dangerous?

 

It isn't dangerous as long as you don't drive like a dufus (the car in stock form is dangerous that way!). The settings would be more aggressive, and I would start with the rear-most hole and go from there.

Randy