Looking to drop this into my JCW.

Is it a must to add in the NM end links as well or can I just use the OEM plastic links? I'm worried that adding in the metal links will generate clunking sound from the rear which of course I rather not have.

Please enlighten!

 

I have the 25mm bar with the OEM links for now. LOVE IT. Also put on the NM springs. Ride is firm but not harsh. Go-kart like handling now!

 

Not a must, I guess. I did install the end links with my NM sway bar though. If for no other reason than I prefer steel to plastic in my suspension components. Haven't noticed any additional noise. I have the NM sway bar, end links, springs, and lower control arms.

 

Which setting did you put your 25mm GT sway bar on?

 

Medium, LOVE IT. Haven't tried the others yet, but the car is dead level on all street/highway driving. No track time for me :(

 

Will the 25mm bar be too hardcore for street use?

 

Doesn't seem to be that hard core, but I have only had it about 10 days. The 25 is hollow, while the 22 is solid. I went 25 for the grease fittings on the brackets mostly. Figure I will have the car for years, and a squeaky bar would annoy me.

 

I don't think you can go wrong with either one. I have the 22mm, but I also bought the billet clamps w/grease fittings from NM.

 

I get mine next week (25mm GT). I'll start with the soft setting and see how that feels. I daily drive my JCW.

 

Whatever you get it's way better than stock if you don't have the Sport Suspension which is mainly sway bars.

 

Dial it in the middle and see how it feels at first. The end links you can adjust if you get the metal ones. The plastic ones with age can go bad , but it will be much longer down the road. With plastic ones i have seen the end caps pop off from the mold on other vehicles, not just MINI.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2014-Cooper-F56-S-3_Door-B48A20A/Suspension/Sway_Bar/

 

Are you driving a JCW?

I'm vexed choosing between 22 or 25mm. I'm worried that the latter might be too twitchy and over reactive because I use my JCW primarily as a daily.

 

Just a Cooper S. Still very happy with it on medium. It's like a go-kart, so much fun to drive both on back roads and highways. I did the springs and sway at the same time, so I can't say which one helped more. But the combo is great

 

I spoke to Jerry at NM and he recommended the 25mm. He said the softest setting still understeers a bit. I tested this on the track and he is right. I set mine to medium and have only driven on the street so far and think it's just right. Seems very balanced now.

 

That's good to know. I'll start with the medium setting then, and see how that feels. Thanks!

 

I just installed the 25mm rear sway bar onto my JCW. I find it odd that the medium setting is "lopsided" in the sense that one side is the front hole and the other is the rear hole.

I chose the medium setting as everyone here seems to recommend it but when I started driving the car, I felt the car have a strong tendency to veer to the right and the steering wheel doesn't feel right at dead center.

My car is a RHD. Does that make a difference to the LHD cars?

Help!

 

should be the same and not lopsided ?

 

One forward and one rear hole is the standard Medium setting on that sway bar.

That's how mine is set and it tracks dead straight.

 

Sorry forgot about that with the NM on Gen 3. On the second page, the set up.

http://www.nm-eng.com/media/attachme..._NM.258846.pdf

 

Uh, did you disconnect any of the camber bars when installing? Sounds like an alignment issue.

 

Mine is on medium and dead on alignment and car balance. I did also replace the end links as recommended by Jerry at NM. Did you add a power module too? I get right pull torque steer from that but not the sway bar.

 

First track day with the 25MM on medium and stock suspension resulted in 3 wheel corning. I put it back to low setting until the I get coilovers. Too much suspension travel for medium when stock.

 

My engineering brain tells me that is what is supposed to happen. The cheap way to reduce understeer is to make the back wheels less grippy. A heavy rear sway does this by restricting the travel and response speed of the suspension causing the rear of the car to "drift" more easily. This is why the higher settings cause overseer.
In theory (in my head anyway) the car will go faster around a corner with the stock bar...you will be fighting understeer the whole time however.
So...for the average guy like myself the neutral handling makes the car way more predictable and easier with the heavier than stock bar. I'm happy!

 

So..... what would you recommend for mountain daily driving 2 lanes twisty roads?

 

I think the 22 solid or 25mm hollow is the # 1 best bang for your buck on this car. Especially in your case. It will transform those mountain roads. Your F56 will be less tiring to drive, more fun to drive and put a smile on your face every day. On the 22mm bar that I have on my JCW (I have 215 tires) I initially started with the low position but ultimately found that the middle position was best.

In theory the other cheap way to make the steering more neutral would be to balance up the equivalent weight of the vehicle. If you put the weight of the engine in the boot you would likely get good results....although your car would be way, way slower around the corners and up the hills!