Okay, stock S suspension here. Tons of understeer as you guys probably know.

Reading and reading for a few days now I've decided that the first thing I'm going to do is change the rear bar.

I see the HR Sport 19mm bar is $210 from M7, and the H&R 19 mm is on sale for $166 from Turner.

I'd just love to save the $44, but the H&R is 2 way adjustable, while the HR Sport is 3 way.

I can't seem to find anything here that helps me decide if the HR Sport is worth the extra money. Money no limit I think I'd get the Webb, but I don't think it's worth the cost. This is my wife's car mainly, and not a track car. It will most likely NEVER see the track or an autox.

She is definately a spirited driver though (I have trouble keeping up in my 330i), and when I drive it, I want to have FUN!!!

So, can anyone here tell me from experience what the difference between the bars is and if the HR is worth the extra money?

Also, what do you think of this? First add the rear bar, then add the rear chassis brace from M7, then the FSB from M7 (mostly to prevent mushrooming) and finally the USS system.

I think the stock spring rates and damping are sufficient, I'd just like to stiffen the chassis a bit and let the shocks and springs do their jobs.

 

I had a JCW with JCW suspension (no change to rear bar) and added the H-Comp 25.5mm bar. Left it on the soft setting and it was still understeering a bit.

I would go H-Comp simply for the Jerk fitting (easy to lube).

 

i have a 06 JCW and i have a RSpeed 22mm sway bar. had it installed at RSpeed too and they are great and the bar is great too! i have it set on the middle setting.

 

19mm H-Sport...

 

If you're NOT going to track or autocross it...

1) H-Sport 19mm sway. Good adjustability and not "too much bar".
2) If mushrooming is your primary concern, get the strut tower plates instead of the brace. Brace looks cool but just gets in the way IMHO.
3) Put on the USS before the rear brace and decide if you have what you need. In my cabrio, H-Sport 19mm (middle position) and USS = neutral handling bliss.
4) Rear brace is just something else to get in the way IMHO. No reason you need that for the street IMHO. Others WILL differ (mainly those who have a vested interest to believe they spent their money well... )

USS can create issues for non-OEM exhausts. So know what your plans are before you begin.

 

For what it's worth, my opinion that is, I would do the rear sway bar last if at all.

The suspension mods I have done to my car, in this order, are the M7 USS and Ireland fixed camber plates.

The most difference, day and night, came from the M7 USS. The camber plates were done for two reasons, one was to help to stop mushrooming and the other is for better tire contact patch and tire wear.

I do some track events during the year and still are, at this time, running the stock directional run-flats and it, the camber plates, have helped a great deal with the turn-in and feeling transmitted back to the steering wheel as well as to make the tire wear more even. That is the tires are not just wearing on the outer edges but more evenly across the entire tread. The ride will be more positive and less harsh, that is the front wheels will have more grip and will cushion more than when it was stock.

Yes I do rotate front to back on a regular basis.

The M7 USS is with out a doubt a very worthwhile addition. The front wheels will now act in concert rather than in contrast with the rear. The whole car feels more connected and less flexible, and seems to be smoother, working together rather than separate, as well over bumps and imperfections.

I may or may not, I'm leaning toward may, do a rear sway bar in the future and if I do will most likely use a 19 set on the softest setting. My car has the JCW suspension and with this setup I still have some under steer but also can toss the rear end out, but I think I want more, with out getting out of shape or out of control going into or in a corner.

I am thinking about the M7 rear chassis brace, it makes a great anchor for what ever is in the boot that you don't want moving around, and will most likely do it later this year. I try to drive each new mod for a few months so that I can get a feel for what and if it does what it is supposed to do.

After I add the M7 rear chassis brace, even if only for the anchoring ability because I carry too much crap at all times, then I'll most likely add the rear sway bar.

I'm two for two so far and I'm quite satisfied with what I've done to this point.

Hope this helps...

 

Thanks for the input. I have the JCW engine so that means JCW exaust. Will the USS fit?

I've always subscribed to the theory that you want the chassis of the car to be as rigid as possible, so the suspension can do it's job properly. I agree the USS is probably awesome, but I haven't heard much input from someone who can tell me if the USS alone will acheive neutral handling as a RSB would.

Who knows, if my house closes at the end of the month I may just have to drop a grand and get everything at once, leaving the JCW suspension upgrade for last. I want to see how the stock suspension feels after stiffening and adjusting dynamics.

So, Anyone out there try the USS and the RSB independant of eachother and can tell me what you think of doing USS first? I'll be very dissapointed if I do USS first and still have lots of understeer. I want totally neutral.

 

I think it's "zerk" fitting. No?

Concerning the rear sway bar, I too am very happy with my RSpeed bar that I got for $160 on one of their ebay auctions. As someone else also said, I keep mine on middle setting and it works great.

 

I haven't done the USS, but can tell you that with the RSB and proper tire pressure you can acheive a pretty neutral handling MCS. Would it be "totally neutral?" I can't really answer that b/c my MCS is the most neutral car I've owned. I'm sure someone with a Lotus Elise might be less satisfied.

 

I did USS, then rear sway - so I haven't tried both independently on the same car. But I DO drive a car where these are the only two suspension/handling changes - otherwise the suspension is bone stock (including wheels and runflats, springs, camber plates, alignment, shocks, control arms, end links, everything).

In my experience, the USS made the most difference (though I may have thought the same thing had I done the sway first). They really do two different things and make different contributions to neutral handling. The rear sway just lets you "dial out" understeer by making the back end rotate "more" to counteract the feeling that the car is plowing ahead in corners...

The USS actually reduces understeer by stiffening the chassis and allowing the front suspension to follow the road better and translate steering input better into directional change. Or something like that.

I'm not an automotive or mechanical engineer - but this is my theory and is consistent with the changes in "feel" that I've experience, and with all the other folks I've talked with about the results of the two different mods.

The USS isn't adjustable, and in my experience didn't make the car completely neutral - but went a LONG way toward doing this. I think it actually IMPROVES grip while reducing understeer. But I can't guarantee that you still won't have a little understeer with just the USS - though you might THINK it's neutral at that point.

With a swaybar alone, you can adjust the sway rate to achieve "neutral" handling, but actually may not have as good a grip as with the USS (because the front suspension is still having to fight chassis flex) - So it may "feel" neutral, but I'm very confident that my "neutral" car can do things on the Dragon and in other handling challenges that some "neutral" cars can't... because of better grip and better front suspension management due to the USS.

Again - all theories. But I DID sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

Okay, thanks for the input. I think I'll get BOTH at the same time ahaha.. hell with it.

I know I could get it neutral without the USS but I don't really like the idea of all the flexiness. So USS it is, thanks for all the well-informed and well thought-out input.

BTW what the hell does sleeping in a HIE last night have to do with anything? hahha.

 

I'm going to get an H&R for our 06 because I've heard they don't squeak. The bar on our previous Mini squeaked alot and it was horrible.

 

I had been getting ready to buy rear sway bar after hours or internet I selected to buy HSport sport at Tire Rack they had it on sale. Check their prices.

 

How much did you pay for your at TTR?