I have been researching sway bars for use on my CMS (R60) and as I have come to find, there are several rear bars from which to choose, however, there isn't a single front bar to be found anywhere.
Now, having done a lot of track time and having fully modded many cars including a Porsche 996 turbo, I fully realize that increasing one bar or the other (front or rear) will yield different results (oversteer vs. understeer). I guess my question is if you choose to go with the stock front sway bar and a 22mm rear sway bar, there is a ratio of front to rear anti-roll stiffness. I would think if you choose to go with a 24mm rear, there should be an option to upsize the front bar to some degree to keep a similar ratio of anti-roll stiffness front to rear while improving overall anti-roll stiffness further. At the very least, I would think that an adjustable front bar should be available.
Does anyone know why a front sway bar is not to be found anywhere?

 

There has been a front available int he past but they never really sold that often ad people usually just do the RSB. More labor to do the front and it usually gives some more understeer. Most of us have added the RSB to get closer to neutral or oversteer so that the car can be flicked upon command and rotate it.

I see what you are saying though. Knowing the front will counteract the back, you wan tot really stiffen up the rear and sort of stiffen up the front?

 

FWD cars dont really need stiffer front sway bars, better off just doing the rear and calling it a day buddy.

 

+1

 

This is as close to front end stiffening as you'll likely get.
http://www.outmotoring.com/mars-fron...n-paceman.html


After a few minutes consideration, that just doesn't sound right. Lets try 'front end stability' instead.

 

Oversteer and understeer behavior is a relationship of many suspension characteristics, not least of which is the front to rear ratio of chassis stiffness. By "ratio of front to rear stiffness" I am referring to anti-roll characteristics. Here is an example as to what I am referring....

Case 1:
Install a 22mm Rear sway bar. This has increased the rear chassis stiffness bias over the stock bar. This will promote oversteer, or tend towards oversteer over the car's baseline understeering characteristics. That is all well and good and it will lessen the understeer characteristics and make the car handle more neutrally.

Case 2:
Install a 24mm rear sway bar. This has increased the rear chassis stiffness bias as well, and more so. So, now, due to the larger diameter bar, you may have gone past neutrality and created an inherent tendency towards oversteer. Also, you have made the car roll less due to the larger bar. So, if you like that very low roll characteristic, yet want to bring the car back to a more neutral handling characteristic, one would think the availability of a larger front bar would be prudent. That way, you could gain the benefits of very flat cornering while allowing more adjustment to create a neutral handling response characteristic.

It is Case 2 that I am after. That was the reason for my original question. I am inclined to go with the Way 24mm race bar and start it on its least stiff setting (1 of 2 settings) but I do not want to have an excessively oversteering car. I had that with my 996 Turbo and changed the entire suspension to a 996 GT3 RSR suspension to lower control arm pickup points and allow greater front rear stiffness bias adjustments via the sway bars. The car handles very neutrally now and is a joy to drive. I am looking at all available options for the CMS before making any final decisions.

So, on this last note, has anyone installed the Way 24mm rear race sway bar and used it on either of the two settings? Can they weigh in on the car's handling characteristics? It would be greatly appreciated!

 

There simply isn't much demand for suspension tuning the Countryman. Most people are using it as a utility daily driver. Even MINI has elected not to offer a JCW suspension for the Countryman (on other models, it stiffens both front and rear sway bars). Compare with the R56 and R53 hatchbacks, where front sway bars and many more aftermarket suspension options are available.

 

Understandably.
I used to have a MCS (2003) and modded the hell out of it. I would think the existence of the Paceman, with presumably similar/same parts and pieces as the CM would create the impetus for development.
Thanks.

 

Park a pacman next to a range rover evoque then re-examine the modding concept. The latest MINI hardware to come from BMW is miles away from the MINI we all knew and loved. Modding one of these new populist models smacks of lipstick on ... well ... leave it at that.

 

The problem is that Paceman sales have been dismal.