Sorry if this is a dumb question but I have an r56 mini cooper s. I'm looking at getting the rear sway bar from Alta or Eibach 19 and maybe some springs. I have no clue really what they do besides improve handling. Will the sway bar make the back end kick out or stop it from kicking out as much? And the springs by themselves are they just looks or will I notice a difference in performance with just lower springs? ohh and btw i just got 17" rims if that makes a diffrence at all...

 

I assuming you're looking a rear sway bar, correct?
Increasing diameter and therefore torsional stiffness of the rear sway bar will actually increase oversteer handling characteristics.
That means that rear end will tend to "snap-out" of line and rotate during throttle-lift hard cornering.

Question for you, how do you like or not like the car's capability at the moment?
What would you like to change in terms of feedback?

- Erik

 

Yes the rear, I love the car's handeling now i just want to be able to push it further from time to time. i have never tracked my car but i would like to. i drive aggressively. i have had the back end kick out once and it was a thrill ever since then iv been trying and i can’t do it lol. I’m am concerned a little bit about it kicking put too much in the winters around Chicago though so i was thinking the 19 would be best and if its adjustable i can change it if it gets out of hand.

 

Are you planning on a set of winter wheel and tire set-up?
If so, the rear sway won't come into too much play...

But based on your response, yes, an adjustable 19mm sounds like a good choice for yourself.

- Erik

 

there are adjustable bars that can be changed very easily. Ive run the alta adjustable bar on both of my minis on my r53 i ran the middle setting on the street and the hard setting on the track. on my clubman i run full hard all the time.

 

No matter what 19mm bar you get, make sure it has at least 3 holes for adjustment.

Full hard will make your MINI kick-out/rotate on an aggressive turn, not a bad thing if that is what your trying to do.

Middle for mountains, twisty roads or for general day to day.

Soft for winter.

You might find that middle with the proper springs, NM or TSW Linear will cause the MINI to kick-out more so than the rear-bar with MINI stock springs or even sport springs.

I run the TSW and H-sport (Hotchkiss) 19mm bar. I run the MINI on the street full soft and run it on lapping track days this way too.

Whiteline makes a great 20mm bar for the MINI, Alta makes a decent set of bars, 19 and 25 I think. Hostchkiss (H-Sport) make a very nice 19 and a couple of others.

Way handles the TSW/WMW Springs and a good bar selection.

Don

 

Got the Alta 19 today in the mail! I'm going to try and get it on this weekend I can't wait to try It out! I was reading about It squeaking does anyone know how to avoid this with the Alta bar?

 

You need to keep the bar properly greased to minimize squeaking.
Helix is having a group buy on intercoolers at this very moment, now would be a very good time to rob Peter to pay Paul to get one. It will make you very happy if you do. Good luck.