i'm a little confused. i'm looking at the sport suspension package or to go aftermarket. is a strut tower brace the same thing as an anti sway bar? and why do the aftermarket sites i look at all seem to list rear ASBs but not fronts? and if i get a decidedly thicker ASB (like 20-23mm) will i incur bad handling by not beefing up the rear accordingly?

 

the tower brace goes on top of the strut towers in the engine bay, the ASB goes underneath the car.

 

You can't get a front ASB, only rear at this point. That's enough. The strut tower brace is mostly for looks IMO. The rear ASB is for handling (get one).

 

thanks for clearing me up. i've done some more research today (thanks wikipidea!) found there is a top and bottom strut brace and they seem largely ineffective. i believe i'm going to go with the 22mm adj model from one of the vendors i saw on here. install seems pretty straight foward with good set of hand tools. yes or no?

 

Your correct in going with the rear swaybar. Install on the R56 is pretty straight forward. Let me know if I can help.

 

You'd do well to have someone who has done it help you install it. You have to remove the bolts that attach the body to the subframe and then line up the holes are put the bolts back in. Lining up the holes requires something like a piece of wood or handle on a jack. I saw a video on it somewhere.