I am looking into possibly purcahsing a rear sway bar for my 2004 Mini Cooper. It does not have sport suspension, so I am assuming it also does not have the factory rear sway bar since the cooper did not come with one standard. If this is the case, I am looking at purchasing the H&R 19mm Sway bar. I don't really track my car, but I do some spirited driving here and there. What sort of changes will I experience with this mod and is it worth it? Thanks to all who chime in.

 

ALL MINIs come with a rear sway bar. I think the Cooper is 16mm?
The sway will reduce understeer (plowing), and, depending on the setting and the conditions, possibly induce oversteer. It's well worth it, IMO.

 

Excellent. I wasn't aware that they all had a rear sway bar. I would check but it's freeaing cold here and snowing. Anywho, would it be better just to get the adjustable links then for the factory sway bars or is it still worth it for the H&R?

 

Adjustable links won't change the stiffness of the swaybar. An adjustable 19mm is what you want.

 

What sort of difference would I see in a 22mm sway bar?

 

One other option is for the Ireland Engineering hollow bar with the drop links included.

Going to a 22mm may be a bit too much for a stock car only driven on the street. It can induce an over-steer situation and that can be dangerous.

 

Get a 19mm, and if you really want something stiffer, just sell it on NAM and get the 22mm. A 19mm will sell quickly.

 

A 22mm will definitely be overkill for an otherwise stock Cooper. One option you might want to consider is trying out an S swaybar. Lots of S owners have their OE bars sitting around, you might even be able to pick one up for free from someone local.

 

That sounds like a good idea. I would definitely be interested in free!! Otherwise, I think I will end up with the H&R bar. Thanks for the help!

 

I gave my 19mm stock away while having the 22mm Alta installed @ Mini in the mountain's last year. Ck what your stock setup is as it may be a 19 already. The 22 with the middle setting is nice and certainly not radical. At the first setting I doubt it would feel much different than 19mm. At the middle setting car feel's neutral in the corner's.

 

I have a stock S bar you can have free if local or you pay actual shipping

 

I suppose my final question would be whether or not there is any difference in sway bar size between the basic cooper and the cooper S?

 

Yeah, there is, I think it's something like 16mm for the Cooper and 17mm for the Cooper S.

 

I believe muggy is correct. It doesn't seem like a huge leap, but then consider that most only go from 17 to 19 with the S. Then consider that the Cooper must have a dinkier front sway as well, which affects things, and.. Well. For the price of shipping, it's worth trying. (Try searching the forums too for impressions on this change)

 

Sounds good, I think I will try out the S bar and see what sort of difference I notice. Thanks again for all of the help!

 

If the non sport suspension has softer springs and sway bar on the front, the stock s bar will make it turn even more..The 19mm adjustable is the bomb though, with the adjustabilty for different situations..Just my 2 pennies

 

Took my WMW RSB to my usual MINI mech and he surprisingly said the job would be a bear and complicated. And quoted me $1100 for the job.

13 coupe s
​​​​​​ON KWv1 C/O
Would Anyone be able to offer insight why this chap says it would be a beast to install and many others say quite the opposite??

 

Yep ! No surprise.
Are you going to be racing the car ? Most seem to prefer the OEM anti-sway bar in the front for, even spirited driving on the street. I've seen many large front anti-sway bars for sale over the past couple of years !
All you have to do is...look under the car, you'll see just how difficult it will be !

Mike

 

Thank you. Though my dilemma is in reference to the REAR sway bar. NOT the front

 

Are you asking about a 2013 Mini Cooper? Because this section of the forum is for 2002-2006. And on the the r53 it is a pretty easy job to change out the rear sway bar. No idea on a 2013.

 

I did a diy 22 mm rear sway install after viewing several youtube videos. It wasn’t at all difficult. Just a tad time consuming since it was my first time. Later I helped a friend install his and it took a little over an hour after we got it up on jack stands. It is about as complicated as rotating your tires. Just follow the youtube videos and be patient. PS—if you find that that the bolts on the lower attachment of the shocks are not turning easily when reinstalling them, stop have a friend take a pry bar and gently nudge the shock to and fro until the bolt turns without resistance. BTW—I would find another MINI tech after that $1100 quote. A labor rate of $1100 an hour would make his competence and or business ethics suspect. Good luck.