Folks, I'm interested in swapping the current stock 17mm rear sway bar for one a bit more hefty that would eliminate understeer and instead provide me with oversteer properties. I don't track the car but do like to push it occasionally on the street. What is a good sway bar diameter for a street-driven Mini that wouldn't provide too harsh a ride (I understand that the link connections are adjustable to tune the ride)? Please let me know what size you're running and why you think it's perfect for my application. Thanks.

 

22mm or higher.

 

25.5mm hollow Hotchkis (H Sport) bar
is the same stiffness as a 22mm solid
bar, but much lighter, and is adjustable
with three settings.
Highly recommended.
Try the lower setting for winter driving,
middle in the summer, and high for
autocross.

 

I've run both of those bars with my JCW suspension.....Ran the hollow bar, then the 22mm solid then back to the 25.5 hollow bar.
The hollow Hsport (Hotchkis sport) Competition Rear Sway bar 25.5 is definately far superior than any bar I have tried including the 22mm solid.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

I bought my mini with a 19mm RSB already installed. I ended up changing it out to a 22mm with 3 settings and I’m super pleased with the stiffer bar, FSD shocks and stock springs. I have had this setup on the track a couple of times ( novice) and twisty roads out to the coast a ton and it feels great.

More info
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4408741

 

Semi-off topic comment.
Interesting to hear. Good actually, as the Hotchkis used to be real garbage. Nice to see that they've stepped up and are manufacturing...real...anti-sway bars.

Mike

 

I just had to replace my 25.5mm this summer when I found that I'd twisted one end off of it. The cheapest place I found one was Tire Rack (NFI). It failed after 170k miles and since I didn't put it on, I figured that 170k miles and 15 years of DD and AX was enough to kill a tubular bar. BTW, That Hotchkis 25.5 is a rebranded WMW bar, just sayin'

 

Interesting.
I assumed my WMW 25.5 mm hollow bar was a rebranded Hotchkis bar.

 

The install instructions were all WMW, So I assumed....

 

What !???

 

What are you guys running for front sway bars?

 

Mostly to be a contrarian, I have a 19mm ALTA rear sway bar and love it. I have the stock front sway bar, stock springs, koni FSD shocks and IE fixed camber plates. I do the occasional track day but mostly it's a daily driver. It's incredibly balanced but rotates well at turn in. I do usually run it at the stiffest setting which is probably comparable to the softest setting on a 22mm solid or 25.5 hollow bar.

I think a softer (though stiffer than OEM) rear sway bar is safer for most people and faster on a track. A twitchy back end is not confidence inspiring, and to be able to really push a car, it helps to be confident in your knowledge of how it will behave at the limit. Also the back end stepping out on you on the street can be disastrous.

Also the stiffness of the rear sway bar has little impact on the harshness or softness of the ride. It has more to do with the weight transfer across the car.

 

Stock

 

I have the stock front sway bar too.

 

Since you have an R53 hands down the 25.5 hollow bar has proven to be the best option. I've personally sold and installed over 1000 of them and they are perfect. I just put it on the middle setting and you will love it.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-rear-sway-bar.html

 

Any coupon codes or sales coming up soon? I plan on buying one for myself for Christmas along with a set of Koni Yellow...I'll be buying them regardless but figure it never hurts to ask

 

Koni usually has a sale in the spring. I can't remember exactly when, but I want to say around March.

 

I like the Koni Yellows.
Have them on my R55 and had them
on my old R50. Firm and not too harsh.

 

Nice always like to see a vote of confidence. What kind of springs were you running and do you recall where you had them adjusted to? Mostly asking about them on the R50 since I have yet to drive anything other than R53s (and one R50)

 

Stock springs.
I’m a big fan of preserving suspension travel.

3/4 turn from full soft all around in winter.
In the summer I increase the fronts to
1 full turn from full soft, but I’m too lazy
to change the rears seasonally.