Hello. I'm looking to add sway bars onto my pre-LCI MCS. Seeking advice on the following:

1. Should I go with front only? Rear only? Or both front & rear bars?
2. Any additional components I will need to get the bars properly installed?
3. Any particular sizes and brands I should consider

Thanks in advance

 

Over the years we've installed every brand of sway bar made for the MINI and can say we find the Hsport Comp bars to be the best in quality, fitment, performance and weight savings.
You don't need a front bar unless you're building a true track car.
You also don't need any other parts with the bar, this is often the first mod people do. Many companies will tell you that you need new end links, but this is just a common sales tactic. You won't need them unless corner weighting the car or again building an all out track car.

 

I have the Alta 22mm rear bar on mine and very happy with the results. It came with new bushings and brackets. It's installed on the middle setting (hole), I wouldn't go stiffer without using the Alta end links.

 

rear only, hsport 25.5 hollow

 

+1 on the Alta 22mm, but I'm guessing almost any 22mm solid or the bigger hollow bars would do.


If you are not tracking or autocrossing, the 19mm bar is a pretty good option too.

 

If you never plan to add camber plates to the front, to increase negative camber to the -1.5 to -2.0 range, then a 22 solid or 25 hollow rear bar is a good choice without any other components required. I like the Hotchkis (H-Sport) products.
If you plan to increase the front negative camber I would suggest a 19mm solid rear bar.

 

H-Sport is the only way to go. There's a reason the top two vendors in North America only recommend this brand. Stay way from Alta's junk.

 

+1 for the H-Sport Comp 25.5mm hollow bar

 

'14 R55 fJCW Automatic w/no mods what so ever yet.

So if I get the H-Sport Comp bar as you have stated in several posts on NAM, would you recommend getting new or better bushings at the same time, or just install with the factory parts outside of the new bar of course?

Thanks in Advance

 

It comes with new upgraded bushings.

You can simply reuse all the other hardware such as end links.

 

22mm alta no complaints here

 

Thanks danjreed,

I went to Way's web site and actually read the info there.... lol
Good to know as I was making sure about what to package together so I had everything here at once.
Now I need to find an installer close by as I'm sure the dealer with buttrape my wallet if I ask them to install it.

 

If they're like my dealer, they won't do it, period. Mine just flat out refused to install any aftermarket parts.

 

This is an important clarification - don't got hot wild on reducing rear traction (which is what larger sway bar does!!) to achieve neutral handling, if you have plans in place to improve front traction via more negative camber, betters suspension, etc. !

Buying and installing rear sway bars is not hard, and an easy DIY job, just make sure you think through the reasons why you are doing it!

a

'08 MCS with KWv3's and 19mm rear Eibach sway bar at the softest setting

 

Please quit disparaging vendors out of spite!

It's hard enough to get aftermarket companies to pay attention to the MINI community (at a reasonable price point!).
Libelous comments against them only undermines MINI marketplace !

a

MCS with Alta, KW, Eibach, M7, VIP, Vorshlag, Hawk and Carbotech products <-- wish all of them well!
Wish there were more to choose from !

 

The Hsport bars come with new mounting brackets and bushings as the stock ones would be too small. Nothing else is needed to install a new rear sway bar.

 

+1 for the H-Sport Comp Bar!

 

I have the NM engineering 22mm. Comes with new greasable (zerk fittings) mounts excellent quality and perfect fit!

 

Tarett - one and done

 

Noisy, it rattles like crazy.

 

Try lubing the bushings. I've read (here, I think) that even though the instructions say it's not needed, it can help.

That said, I personally don't see much need for the adjustability the Tarret offers - on any car, much less a street machine.

Sent from my phone using NAMotoring, which is why I've probably mistyped something.

 

Its perfect for an autocross car, where we're trying to tune in the right amount of oversteer. Though we found we needed full stiff and a little more, I was a bit surprised by that.

 

Understand if your not one to want to play around on the weekend with a good twist road / autocross, club event here and there. I think having the adjustability is a plus plus

 

I just think that choosing one of the three settings on another bar (I have the Hotchkis) is likely to be fine. Maybe there's another benefit to the Tarett? I don't know.

Sent from my phone using NAMotoring, which is why I've probably mistyped something.

 

ECS Tuning has the H&R 22mm RSB for $194.00 FREE Shipping.

You can't beat that deal.

I just installed mine.

Even though Im an avid Hotchkis fan, I have them on my G37.
Im having trouble seeing how a 25mm hollow would work, as my 22mm is 1mm away from the subframe mounting bracket. I did shlide the sway bar brackets as far away as I could from the mounting bracket while tightening.

Maybe thats why people with Hotchkis 25mm complain of noise.

Word of advise, there are DIYs that tell you you only need to remove one shock, or you don't need to remove both side subframe bolts. Remove it all, the bar will remove, and reinstall much easier.

Also make sure you have a 30" "line up bar" with you. It will be needed to line up the subframe so the bolts go back in easy.