SO i was researching which hsport sway bar to get and came across this:

http://www.hotchkis.net/mini_cooper_race_rear_bar.html

i was wondering if anyone has purchased this and can anyone help me with which mm bar i should get? it seems 19 mm is popular and 22 mm for those who dare to try it for track or this one i just found from the website. I plan to track with my mini cooper.

 

That's their race sway bar. It's not suitable for street use. It's far too stiff for use on a daily driver.
Look at either their sport sway bar or their competition sway bar. Either will work great for both street and track duty.

 

If you plan to track the Mini, I would go for the 19 mm H-sport. When you add the adjustable camber plates up front, the 22 mm RSB would be a little too much introducing a lot of oversteer. The car can whip around with this combo. You can always add a stiffer spring later if you feel you need more oversteer at a later time.

Remember you are trying to create an integrated suspension that works for your driving style. You are not trying to maximize the size of every component you add because that does not necessary equate to good handling.

 

Well put! It's important to remember that the suspension is a system.

- Andrew

 

Andyroo,

You know we might be the only two people talking about the importance of an integrated suspension on this forum. I think it could perhaps be that many people don't really know what they need to aspire to in a well sort out suspension.

 

There are a handful of us out there, fighting the good fight! Suspension is tricky but I am surprised at the lack of real development of quality parts and quality suspension build-ups by members. There is some good stuff out there but even those people who want to improve things the right way are choosing from poor parts or just get bad advice. I do think it's getting better though.

- Andrew

 

Yes the 19mm and Comp "22mm" bars from Hsport are the most popular. But there is the Race rear swaybar which is a thick walled 25.5mm bar available. I actually have a few of them for $175 each if you wanted that, but it is for track use cause it's so stiff.

 

Have one waiting to go on the rear of my STX R56... purchased from Way above.

I have used a Hotchkis competition 27.5mm bar on the rear of my track car(Civic) and it was a wonderful piece. Granted, bar lengths, arm lengths, rear motion ratios, etc all differ slightly between the cars.... but they are both McStrut front/trailing arm rear FWD setups, and benefit from the additional rear roll stiffness provided the front is sprung stiff enough.

Edit: Errr... It appears there are 2 different "Race" bars. Part #22811R(linked in the first post), (25.4mm) bar is 3 way adjustable and offers stiffness settings equaling +314% / +394% / +501% from the stock bar.... and Part #22810R, 25.5mm tubular, 4130 chrome moly sway bar, +226%, +294% & +383%

I suspect I have the latter.

 

If you are asking which one to get the answer more than likely is 19mm. Nothing personal, just statistically speaking.

 

I've heard somewhere that the Alta 22mm bar set to its softest setting is approximately as stiff as the Alta 19mm, can anyone verify this?

I bought a 22mm bar and a 17% pulley from my cousin for $50, so I'm eager to get this bar in and try it out at the next autocross. :3