Ive been reading up and it seems like there is not a real clear answer.
Im looking to add a rear sway bar 19mm was recommend in par with IE fixed camber plates. But 22mm is just overall stiffer.
This is a street car, and Its hard to decide between actually seeing what it feels like. It also seems like alta is better then TSW or at least more popular.
Also this is a r50. I just wanted some recommendations or first hand experiences.

 

Anything is better than anything Alta. poor experiences on my end. I like the 25mm hollow Competition Hotchis sway bar. It gives the feel of a 22mm bar and weighs only 6.5 lbs.

 

I have been using an Alta for 2 years with zero issues.

 

Good For You. I think their products are crap....to each his own!

 

Is it me or do I sense some unknown attitude.

 

Yes, I don't like Alta products.....didn't I say that in my first post?

 

So why would you give me an attitude? You said you did not like them and I only said I had one with no issues. So why the attitude towards my comment?

 

No attitude towards your comment, sorry if you took it that way. Back on OT....I like the Hotchkins 25mm sway bar :-)

 

Its the general consensus of long time posters that are heavy modders that Alta is more of a marketing company than an engineering company.

I have the JCW suspension on my 09 JCW. I swapped out the rear sway bar from that kit for the Hotchkis 25.5mm rear sway bar. Its what I picked and I have nothing to really compare it to. I like the way my car drives.

 

two years with my 19MM alta bar, no squeaks or problems.

 

IMHO I would say 19mm for a R50 but for an '07+ I say HSport Comp bar (hollow 25.5mm = 22mm solid).

With how well my R50 handled in stock form I would say a smaller step up to a 19mm would be nice. But in my R55 it needed more help to get the rear end to rotate. Therefore I would say in a 2nd gen car if you are doing the labor to nearly drop the rear sub-frame, then do it right the first time. I am on the fence about stepping all of the way up for an R50 though.

 

I think im just going to go with the 19mm TSW. Its cheaper and now that I think about it if someone else is driving the car.. I dont want the to crash the car...
On that note what exactly has happened to alta swaybars?

 

For an R50 with IE fixed camber plates, go with a 19mm. I like my eibach bar.

- Andy

 

I had corrosion and the red paint coming of in pieces within the first year of it being installed on my '04 MCS. I've had Hochkis bars on every one of my MINI's since with no paint or performance issues.

On an R50 I agree that a 19mm probably is best as others have noted.

 

Morning ,have had the Alta 22mm bar for over 6years no problems with
their bar

 

With camber plates I suggest 19mm.
On my 03 R53 I had 25 hollow (=23 solid) without camber plates and it was fine. Once I added camber plates the 25 was a little too much.
On my 06 R53 I installed a 19mm bar which was not enough but then I added camber plates and they are a great combination.

On my 03 I had a Hotchkis bar which was great.
On my 06 I got an Alta bar (50% off sale) and I added Hotchkis greaseable bushings. The Alta bar came with paint chipping off the ends so I had to sand and paint. Otherwise the bar works fine.

 

^^^ This.

My MINI has IE fixed plates & a 19mm bar. With camber plates you may find that a 22mm bar makes your MINI a bit too twitchy. That is OK on an auto x course, but on track or in a high speed sweeper on the road it can bite you.

Not a fan of Alta bars either. I dislike how the ends where the links attach are welded on. I use a H-Sport 19mm bar & it is a one piece forging. I think the H-Sport has a powder coat finish, while the Alta has paint.

That's all folks.....

 

I have an Alta 19mm with camber plates (-2.5 camber) among other mods. I have only used the bar on the softest setting, and I would be very reluctant to move it to full stiff except for maybe an autox on grippy concrete. It's about perfect for track use as is.

I tune for max grip out front and adjust the rear for the preferred balance. I use to run some popular progressive rate lowering springs (200lbs/in frt and 300lbs/in rear) with the bar set at full soft and it was nearly impossible to keep the rear end under me when running a slalom on a low grip surface. I currently run the same spring rates at all four corners. Bottom line, consider all of your mods before selecting an appropriate bar.

Anyhow, be careful about running too much bar out back or you may find youself caught out in the middle of a fast sweeper especially on cold tires.

I think 19mm would be plenty of bar with IE camber plates.

Have fun!

 

I have run my 19mm at full-stiff ever since. Before and after getting coliovers w/camber plates. Love it.. but looking back I might would buy the 22 or 25 and run it on the softest or middle setting if need be.... Can't remember what the claimed number difference between them all is... Maybe someone will post it up to help "see the math" end of it and not just what everyone likes on their car...

 

Won't let me copy and paste it in here soooooo from the Alta site...
Assuming your stock Sway Bar is 17mm
19mm Setting 1 115% Increase over stock
" " 2 140% "
3 177%
22mm Setting 1 213%
2 260%
3 329%

Which really doesn't tell you anything unless you have something to gauge/compare too or with..

 

The difference is even greater when you compare the Hotchkis bars.
19 Solid stiffest 228% vs 25.5 Hollow softest 326%.
The 25.5 hollow is about equivalent to 23 mm solid bar.
The lp (flex) number for a 25.5 hollow (28376) is more than twice as stiff as a 19 solid (12794).

 

i have ie fixed camber plates with hsport comp (middle hole) using fsd with stock springs though i haven't tried it yet on the track or winding roads but not yet experience oversteer. incase of an oversteer is it correct if i reduce the psi in my rear tire?

 

If on an auto-x course that might be a quicker fix then moving the sway bar to the softest setting.. If at home I'd just move the sway bar setting, and see how that goes..