I saw the post under the 1st gen but wanted to ask this question in the 2nd gen part just encase the sway bar is a bit different. I understand what the sway bar does and how it can improve handling. But as Im doing my research I have come across a lot of different manufacturers that produce these for MINI. My question is whats the difference between a 19mm and a 22mm sway bar and what would be best for a daily driver but lookin for a little improvement in aggressive handling. Thanks for the tips !!

 

Beyond the obvious of size difference?
Construction and weight; there are both solid bars and hollow bars.
Next would be end-link attachment and bushing mount design.

What do you like more? To simply reduce understeer?
Or to remove it completely and have some oversteer?
Really all depends on what you want out of the vehicle.

- Erik

 

For just a daily driver street car I'd say just get the 19mm bar hsport, or the TSW 19mm.

If you want a looser car the Hsport Comp bar is going to make it pretty loose

 

Thanks a lot for the responses ... I just wanted to know if the actually size of the bar made a huge difference but I think I will be going with a 19mm bar ... 22in seems a bit big and a little unnecessary... thanks guys once again !!

 

Anybody have any comments on the Alta Sway bar setup?

 

I have the 22mm on the firmest setting on
my daily driver and I couldn't be happier.

 

Same

 

The differances are in the stiffness of the bar, expressed in %.
alta's do tend to peel (the paint), but maybe it is just noticable because of the colour....one thing to look for is the quality of the bushings...they keep the bar quiet (as long as there are no interferance issues). Good ones have grease fittings, or chanels to hold grease, one maker has impregnated the lube...carbon or teflon.
Sometimes one bar might cost an exta $10 -20 for a reason (better bushings), but be well worth the money not to hear clunks, or have to grease regularly....

 

Like peeling coating? Get the Alta. The H-Sport is really the hot ticket with swaybars and control arms.

 

I have the hotchkis 25mm hollow bar. I have it set in the middle and the car feels more planted and doesn't want to dig into the turns. I also did a nice right up in the How-to section if you want to install yours yourslef. It is pretty easy.

 

Follow Way's advice...tried, true and tested


-Steven

 

Go with H-Sport. I had 25.5 Hollow H-Sport on my 2003 MCS. I now have 19mm Alta solid on my 2006 because I got the Alta for $110. The paint was peeling off the Alta bar right out of the box so I sprayed primer on the bar. The H-Sport bushings are also better so I install H-Sport bushing on the Alta bar.

 

I'm looking for hints and tips to remove the stock rear sway bar. Obviously it seems a difficult removal operation.

 

NM Engineering walks it through completely with images:
* http://www.nm-eng.com/media/attachme...258856_ins.pdf

- Erik

 

I have the NM Engineering 22mm adjustable rear sway bar, NM Engineering adjustable rear sway bar links, H&R Sport Springs, and Helix lower control arms. The end links are set at the middle position on the sway bar. With the setup I have, the rear end is firmly planted in the twisties as is the front as well. Up front, it is stiffened up with a NM Engineering ALuminum Tie Bar. For aggressive street driving, I could not ask for a much better setup.