I just got myself a new H-sport rear swaybar from RSpeed and I can't wait to get it installed. It's my first mod on the car and I'm hoping for a lot stiffer (and more tail happy) ride through the corners. Just wondering what setting you all have on the bar (I've got the SS+ Cooper). I think the middle hole would be best for all around but I'm not sure if the stiffest hole wouldn't help me out the most on the autocross course. Any input?

Thanks guys,
Kyle

 

I would say with the stock front bar, use the middle hole. If you have the H-sport front bar you can go stiffer on the rear and use the rear hole.

 

That was fast!

Most Mini Owner use the Middle settings

Keep us posted

Joseph

 

I have had a h-sport comp bar in the middle positon for about 9months and I am happy with it. It is quite "tail happy" when you push it. I guess that's what you are looking for. I just changed the front one to H-sport too and went to the stiffest setting all round. OMG! What a dfifference! I can take the same corners much much faster with ease. People said the front one doesn't make that much different but I disagree. It really made a HUGE difference in handling.

 

>>I have had a h-sport comp bar in the middle positon for about 9months and I am happy with it. It is quite "tail happy" when you push it. I guess that's what you are looking for. I just changed the front one to H-sport too and went to the stiffest setting all round. OMG! What a dfifference! I can take the same corners much much faster with ease. People said the front one doesn't make that much different but I disagree. It really made a HUGE difference in handling.

I agree. I wasn't able to upgrade from the H-sport rear only to the front and rear since I did them at the same time but the car feels so perfect with the front and rear bars on the track. When I went to order the bars, H-sport really recommended that they be purchased together because they were designed together. I don't think you can get a better performance suspension upgrade than the H-sport springs and front/rear competion bars without going to a full coilover setup.

 

is it tru by adding both front and rear that you bring back the push to the front end ive herd of this hapenning and i pute just the rear on and now i can literally drift the car around turns kinda scary and fun at the same time, but if this isnt the case then i geuss ill work on putting the front on!!!

equirering minds need to know

 

i have my sway bar set the middle setting as well. I find that it is stiff enough for me. it feels so good to just zip around those corners...

-chris

 

Hi Chris!

 

I installed my Alta 22mm rear swaybar (2 settings, not 3) and set it on the last or softest setting. This is a great street setting imo. I'm heading to a SOLO2 event Sunday and may move it to stiffest setting for that. I don't think I'd want to drive it on the street that stiff as it DOES degrade the ride.

 

>>is it tru by adding both front and rear that you bring back the push to the front end ive herd of this hapenning and i pute just the rear on and now i can literally drift the car around turns kinda scary and fun at the same time, but if this isnt the case then i geuss ill work on putting the front on!!!
>>
>>equirering minds need to know

What I have found on my car with the H-sport springs and front/rear competition bars is that with the front on the softest setting (still stiffer than stock) that you can use the stiffest setting on the rear bar and still have perfect control of oversteer. I'd say it's similar to what you get with the stock front bar and the middle hole on the rear. Are you using the middle hole right now? Rear hole without the front bar creates alot of fun oversteer.

 

>>is it tru by adding both front and rear that you bring back the push to the front end ive herd of this hapenning and i pute just the rear on and now i can literally drift the car around turns kinda scary and fun at the same time, but if this isnt the case then i geuss ill work on putting the front on!!!
>>
>>equirering minds need to know

Well I guess push/understeer can be revealed in different situations if the front sway bar is at the stiffest setting and the rear on the softest, but really only experienced people can tell, good question! I'm interested to know too, hehe.

 

I don't think its so much an issue of being able to induce understeer because you can make ANY car push through a turn given the right circustances. I just want to get the car some degree of rotation through turns without having to use my brake pedal, which I'm expecting from the bar. I'm installing it tonight, so I'll come back and share my thoughts for sure. I can't wait!

 

>>Hi Chris!

Hi Carl!

 

Okay all you guys in the know, I'll ask the stupid question. Which is the stiffest setting? The hole closest to the bend of the bar, or the one furthest away?

 

Because the hole is closer to the rotational axis, the bar can't bend as much, making the most forward hole the stiffest.

Randy

 

Anyone break their factory endlinks yet?

 

Kyle, you said, "I'll come back and share my thoughts for sure" well what do you think. Have you tried the softest setting to see if you still have some understeer for Winter driving thats what I'm interested in.

 

the factory endlinks aren't as crappy as the look Though for extended track or autocross, heavy duty (and adjustable) end links are a wise idea

 

Sorry, I totally forgot about this thread!

Well after an autocross and a very spirited run through the north GA mountains (where I was RIGHT on the butt of a modified BMW 3 series the whole time ) I must say the new bar is absolutely fantastic. With proper driving technique understeer is now a complete non issue. At the autocross I felt a little pushing here and there but only because I was entering the turns too hot, on my smooth runs the car rotated beautifully and very predictably. I'm definately very happy with the way the car handles now and I can't wait to get a set of coilovers and destroy everything on the road in the twisties.

So in short, the bar is awesome. Almost no noticeable difference around town but a HUGE difference in autocross/spirited driving situations.

 

Kyle/anyone, do you have any feedback using the softest setting??

 

Sorry, I've only used it on the middle setting.

 

Mine (H-Sport Comp) is on the softest setting with the stock front bar. I have H-sport springs and Yoko Spec II tires. My car handles neutral during Autocross events. I had it on the middle setting (before the springs) at Buttonwillow and it was a little too tail happy for the long, high speed, sweepers. I'm toying with the idea of moving it back to the middle setting for the upcoming Autocross if the track is tight.


Has anyone put the rear on first, drove for awhile, and then added the front? I'd like to know if it's a big difference before I install the front. I hear it's a pain to put in.

 

the softest setting is perfectly fine for the street.. it does still retain a tad understeer so it's perfectly safe... if you take it a bit quicker the rear pops out just a tad so it's easy to control...

of all the mods i've done, the h-sport comp rear bar has been the best one i've made... re750s don't squeal which only adds to that fun factor!

 

In consideration of all the great feed back and a converstion with Eric at Helix I decided and ordered an RDR rear antisway bar. After motoring year round for a almost a year now I believe I have a pretty good handle on the OEM sport supension and what I want from it. I think this option will offer me a wider range of tuning/adjustability for a car that see's 99.5% of it's miles on the street year round.
The only thing missing were the zerk fittings in the retaining caps for greasing the bushings. This can be solved as I have done on my last two car's by adding zerk grease nipples to the caps in the same manner as H-Sport has done. As for the 5 lb. difference I'll just lose 5 lb's. I have been watching all post's on the H-Spot Comp. for almost a year now as my 1st choice and still think that it is at the high end of all bar's but just not for my motoring needs.
Now I'm just waiting on parts, you know what that's like.

 

I have just ordered the H-Sport comp bar from Helix. Since all the bars seem pretty similiar in stiffness, I opted for the grease fittings of the HSport. Looking forward to real world results!