I was wondering what you guys would do if you could only pick one. The M7 Under Strut System or a larger rear sway bar. With the new sale on the USS I am rather currious since I have neither right now. Many people say the sway bar in one of the best mods they did, if I was to spend another 300 for an under strut system how noticable would the gains be?

Thanks for any advice/opinions.

 

sway bar..
cheaper and more effective..

 

I honestly whouldnt know how to answer this one myself . Sprp85 when you put the USS on in what way did you find the rear sway bar to be more effective?

Randy
m7 Tuning

 

SPRP85 , Class , Buller, anyone LOL

Randy
m7 tuning

 

What sale?

 

Sway bar on a hard top, USS on a cabrio.
Wes

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=73318

This is a interesting question. Which is more effective now. A rear sway bar or the USS. Or do they effect the car in different ways? Do they compliment each other?

 

Thanks for the link. I have a cabrio, and was thinking of getting both. Is this a mistake or do they compliment each other?

 

I'd get both on a cabrio.

 

I think the USS has one safety flaw. The frame is supposed to crumple in a front end accident and the USS will hinder the motor from dropping like it should in that kind of accident. Any other thoughts?

 

Well the Understrut system will tighten up the car as a whole...

The rear Sway bar will affect Oversteer/Understeer ...

If you already have a rear bar ( u used the Word *upgrade* ) maybe the USS will tighten the car up a bit and you'll get a bit more out of the bar you have ?

What bar do you have ( are you taking about going from the Stock or SS+ to something bigger )

 

Ah I wasn't too clear there. I ment upgrade to a rear sway bar. I have nothing now.

 

I put a rear sway and a USS and a Dinan Upper strut on my 05 MCSC on the each succesive day for the 3 days of the Dragon this year.
First was a Hotchkis H&R Rear Sway (middle adjustment) MAJOR, MAJOR, MAJOR Improvement. Even my wife, who was new to the car noticed the difference in the rear. With respect to M7, that's what I would do.
On the second day installed the USS, MAJOR improvement, but not a dramatic as the rear sway. Made the entire car feel stiffer, well worth the money, but I had about a $750 budegt to improve the handling...
Third day added the Dinan, no real noticible improvement, it's nice and I think I'm a bit protected against mushrooming, but I did not really notice much on this one.

Only thing I cannot comment on is how the USS would have compared if I had taken off the Rear Sway, but I'd do it in the order I did it. I spent aproximately (includes install) Rear Sway $250, USS $400, Dinan $125. Best money spent on the car... On the twisties (or even on the on ramp) my car sits and scoots... Michael

 

I agree. If you have a cabrio and your budget only allows one at a time, I'd start with the M7 USS. The rear sway's effect is during quick or tight turns that would make the car lean. The USS improved my cabrio's responsiveness in all conditions: straight and curves, fast or slow. It also reduced my understeer, and I suspect it was making the rear sway (already installed) work better.

 

Do both is you can - they should compliment.
Wes

 

I did both. AWESOME!!!!

 

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses . Based on SPRP85's initial response I figured he had a USS system and was basing his answer on actual knowledge and I was curious as to the reasoning for his opinion. I see now that may not be the case . For those of you that know what you are talking about I appreciate you taking the time out to answer . Your opinions make sense and we agree that on a cabrio the USS makes a much more dramatic improvement . For the hard top a good rear sway may be the way to go if you have to make a choice as the first mod in that area. There are several excellent bars to chose from.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Well I do not have the USS on my car but I do have a rear sway.
But I have driven one with the USS when I was in Korea for a few days... one of my cousin who also drives a mini in Korea had installed the USS. after driving it, I thought to myself, it is not effective as the rearsways. of course i did notice the car felt alot stiffer and attached than the stock ones, which is great. I believe it is a great product and all but the poster seeked opinions from people who have experienced both. So I told him what I thought. . . i'm planning to get the USS in near future. so don't get wrong.

 

Thank you for the more detailed responce and they are in stock

Randy
m7 Tuning

 

So as I read it you're saying in essence that the Cabrio has more flex in the body than in the suspension. Scary! (otherwise the sway would be more dramatic than the USS)

 

Based on the responce we have gotten via Pm's and phone calls from Cabrio owners something very positive is accomplished by the USS. You could also do a search in the Cabrio thread , I think there is a lot of info there.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

I don't doubt the USS accomplishes something very positive - but that's very different than saying that it is more effective in stiffening the handling than a sway bar.
I've been in the Miata community for years, and we've gone through similar efforts to stiffen the chassis using underbody/overbody/inbody() bracing to reduce body flex. But swaybars were always the first step to improve handling. Then again, the Miata was built from the ground up as a convertible, and don't have the additional mass that the MINI convertibles have.

 

We have an 05 S cabrio,which I was going to put a 22mm rear bar on last month.To our surprise,there's a spider web of brackets up under there!Before we dis-assembled the car,we made some inquiries,and our answers were "yes,it takes a few more hours to put a rear bar on a Cabrio".Now I am wondering if we should do it all at once!(Her Cabrio does ride smoother than my Hardtop,which has a 22mm rear bar on stiff.)What do we do now?!

 

You have NO rear bar today - is it a One ? or you have No aftermarket bar ?
( sorry to be so Picky )

 

I do not have a convertable either so the opinion that perhaps the USS would be a better first mod than a rear sway bar comes from the experts , those that own the actual car.

Randy
M7 Tuning