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On the R56 models the Sport Suspension sway bars are not quite as thick as the aftermarket ones. The one I got from Way Motor Works in 2008 was 19mm rear bar. I think the OEM sport suspension is maybe 18mm. My SS seems to minimally understeer now, but I never had the regular suspension to compare to. If I had an F56 I'd opt for the adjustable dampers and get a 19mm rear sway bar. That would be sweet.
I'll tell you where the sway is in the 3-cylinder with the sports suspension, it's more than the R50's regular suspension, but only when pushed. You only notice it when taking sharp turns fast [but that is the only bit of fun I have on my drive to work].
Is this something I could get my dealer to install?
The other thing that has interested me is the Cravenspeed Big Pair. Maybe it's one or the other, or one then the other?
I wonder what the difference is between this and the F56 3-cylinder's sport suspension's sway bar?
The 3-cylinder sport suspension sway bar is 33506853919, which is the same one on the S. The regular sway bar on the S is 33506853918.
Last edited by hammerhands; Jun 17, 2015 at 08:51 PM.
On the R56 models the Sport Suspension sway bars are not quite as thick as the aftermarket ones. The one I got from Way Motor Works in 2008 was 19mm rear bar. I think the OEM sport suspension is maybe 18mm. My SS seems to minimally understeer now, but I never had the regular suspension to compare to. If I had an F56 I'd opt for the adjustable dampers and get a 19mm rear sway bar. That would be sweet.
Negative is you can't lower the car if you have dampers.
Ok, got my NM springs, NM rear bar, and Cravenspeed Big Pair installed, on my S with sport suspension. Some notes:
-NM springs are similar to the SS, but a little more forgiving on the freeway. They seem to be more progressive- the first inch of travel is softer. I think that they might even be unnecessarily soft on non-runflat tires- have to wait until these tires wear out to test that. Also the rear is a little lower than the front, to my eye. So I do like them on the freeway, but I think the SS actually drove slightly better on winding roads.
-NM rear bar is a moderate improvement over the SS. The SS bar is 22mm, but hollow. Maybe with the SS springs the difference would be more noticeable. I have it set to full-stiff. I'm sure it's a big improvement over the standard suspension.
-NM endlinks- I also put these in. Pretty surprised that the OEM ones are plastic! Dunno how much difference these made, but probably a little. I did have one small problem- they made contact with the car body in the upper spring seat area, under compression. I'd get a big thunk going over something like a speed bump. Maybe I was supposed to shorten them when using lowering springs... dunno if that would've given enough clearance though, and it seemed like they could be at a steep angle and contact the trailing arm. There are small notches in the body to clear the OEM end links, so I got out my dremel and enlarged them by a couple mm. Once painted over, I feel good about my solution.
-Big Pair. Very easy to install, with a T45 bit and 18mm socket. I think they did make the chassis feel a little stiffer. A little more "premium"- hah. Worthwhile upgrade, for the cost / ease.
Overall, the car handles very similar to with the SS. I get just enough throttle-lift oversteer. I wish it leaned a little less, but dang it looks so good low!
Ok, got my NM springs, NM rear bar, and Cravenspeed Big Pair installed, on my S with sport suspension. Some notes:
-NM springs are similar to the SS, but a little more forgiving on the freeway. They seem to be more progressive- the first inch of travel is softer. I think that they might even be unnecessarily soft on non-runflat tires- have to wait until these tires wear out to test that. Also the rear is a little lower than the front, to my eye. So I do like them on the freeway, but I think the SS actually drove slightly better on winding roads.
-NM rear bar is a moderate improvement over the SS. The SS bar is 22mm, but hollow. Maybe with the SS springs the difference would be more noticeable. I have it set to full-stiff. I'm sure it's a big improvement over the standard suspension.
-NM endlinks- I also put these in. Pretty surprised that the OEM ones are plastic! Dunno how much difference these made, but probably a little. I did have one small problem- they made contact with the car body in the upper spring seat area, under compression. I'd get a big thunk going over something like a speed bump. Maybe I was supposed to shorten them when using lowering springs... dunno if that would've given enough clearance though, and it seemed like they could be at a steep angle and contact the trailing arm. There are small notches in the body to clear the OEM end links, so I got out my dremel and enlarged them by a couple mm. Once painted over, I feel good about my solution.
-Big Pair. Very easy to install, with a T45 bit and 18mm socket. I think they did make the chassis feel a little stiffer. A little more "premium"- hah. Worthwhile upgrade, for the cost / ease.
Overall, the car handles very similar to with the SS. I get just enough throttle-lift oversteer. I wish it leaned a little less, but dang it looks so good low!
-Jeff
Not sure I really agree with your thoughts here. I have taken a rners at triple the recommended speed and only get roll at the ragged edge of tire grip and I have wider,stickier tires. The SS has a lot more body roll and rides stiffer than NM springs.
Ok, got my NM springs, NM rear bar, and Cravenspeed Big Pair installed, on my S with sport suspension. Some notes:
-NM springs are similar to the SS, but a little more forgiving on the freeway. They seem to be more progressive- the first inch of travel is softer. I think that they might even be unnecessarily soft on non-runflat tires- have to wait until these tires wear out to test that. Also the rear is a little lower than the front, to my eye. So I do like them on the freeway, but I think the SS actually drove slightly better on winding roads.
-NM rear bar is a moderate improvement over the SS. The SS bar is 22mm, but hollow. Maybe with the SS springs the difference would be more noticeable. I have it set to full-stiff. I'm sure it's a big improvement over the standard suspension.
-NM endlinks- I also put these in. Pretty surprised that the OEM ones are plastic! Dunno how much difference these made, but probably a little. I did have one small problem- they made contact with the car body in the upper spring seat area, under compression. I'd get a big thunk going over something like a speed bump. Maybe I was supposed to shorten them when using lowering springs... dunno if that would've given enough clearance though, and it seemed like they could be at a steep angle and contact the trailing arm. There are small notches in the body to clear the OEM end links, so I got out my dremel and enlarged them by a couple mm. Once painted over, I feel good about my solution.
-Big Pair. Very easy to install, with a T45 bit and 18mm socket. I think they did make the chassis feel a little stiffer. A little more "premium"- hah. Worthwhile upgrade, for the cost / ease.
Overall, the car handles very similar to with the SS. I get just enough throttle-lift oversteer. I wish it leaned a little less, but dang it looks so good low!
-Jeff
I've got the same setup. Dunno about the SS, but good to know that clunk is easily addressed.
Shortened the end links by 10 threads. Set to full stiffness. Clunking gone. (It was the top of the end link) Alignment on Monday now that it has settled. Lots of variables all at once (springs, sway, links, rims, tires) but very happy with the results. Has reaffirmed my strategy to always do handling first.
Now, if someone would do SS brake lines I would be even happier.
Shortened the end links by 10 threads. Set to full stiffness. Clunking gone. (It was the top of the end link) Alignment on Monday now that it has settled. Lots of variables all at once (springs, sway, links, rims, tires) but very happy with the results. Has reaffirmed my strategy to always do handling first.
Now, if someone would do SS brake lines I would be even happier.
Available in the uk from hel, for £77.00
Just delivered, waiting on caliper colour change
Should be fitted November
Installed the NM Engineering rear sway bar yesterday. I stayed with the oem end links even though I had purchased a set from NM. I'll see how they hold up before replacing. Overall a straight forward job. The 4 subframe bolts took a little coaxing to get back in place. Removing the plastic covers on the bottom of the trailing arms made it easier to get at the outer subframe bolts. My next autocross event is not until the end of the month. I'm interested in seeing if this change has as big an effect as new lightweight wheels and tires.
Boy wish I had read about the torx sockets. I followed the instructions from NM and used an imperial socket and stripped the heads of 2 bolts.
I have torx sockets now so will replace the bolts.
Huge improvement.
Is the swaybar fitting easier or harder on a car with DDC ?
Or am I overthinking this and it's just the same
Fitting stainless steel brake lines and jcw calipers + front poweflex camber adj bushes next week, just wondering if it's worth adding this job whilst it's wheels are off
DDC makes no difference. You don't need to take the shocks off completely. You have to drop the rear sub frame...and I'm thinking that if you are running full s.s. brake lines in the rear you would need to do that you get to the ones that run across the back above the frame. In that case it would make sense to do it at the same time.
Tip: I did my sway bar in my drive on stands and to put the sub frame back I lifted it up with my jack...this makes it really easy. I know others have struggled getting it back to put the bolts in.
I’m tackling a serious run for the G Street (SCCA Solo) crown, based on last year’s results. I want to cause a fuss by unseating the Focus ST in that class.
Accordingly I am going for the best legal improvements made for the F56 (B38) – which leads me to your door.
Have you any technical data which would allow me to make a confident comparison of the roll resistance created by the following three anti-sway bars?
- OEM: 335068853919
- NM: NM.258846
- NM: NM.258847
I’m tackling a serious run for the G Street (SCCA Solo) crown, based on last year’s results. I want to cause a fuss by unseating the Focus ST in that class.
Accordingly I am going for the best legal improvements made for the F56 (B38) – which leads me to your door.
Have you any technical data which would allow me to make a confident comparison of the roll resistance created by the following three anti-sway bars?
- OEM: 335068853919
- NM: NM.258846
- NM: NM.258847
Thanks very kindly...
We shall see what we shall see.
Cheers,
Charlie
Hello Charlie,
Thank you for your email. We actually did not measure in detail on the roll resistance but we have the stiff-rate for these bars. I hope they help:
I run 25mm bar with Bilstein PSS10 coilover at road course tracks and you are able to throttle steer the car easily... Not sure if that is what you are looking for
By the way wise readers, I am crowd-sourcing the best G Street suspension I can find over here on the Gollum thread. All contributions and thrown fruit cheerfully welcomed.
I run 25mm bar with Bilstein PSS10 coilover at road course tracks and you are able to throttle steer the car easily... Not sure if that is what you are looking for
Thanks,
Jerry T
NM Eng.
OMG actual data!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Just FYI, that OEM part number is for the normal suspension on the One and Cooper, not the Cooper S or the OEM sport suspension.
