[font='Times New Roman']I have a question about the Alta (22mm) sway bar. There are two setting on this rear sway bar and I wanted to know which setting would increase the performance. Because I have it set on the first setting and I can’t really tell the different. Please help[/font]

 

The hole closer to the tip of the bar is the softer setting.

the hole closer to the bend is firmer.

soft and firm setting difference is night and day. I use firm.

 

Thank you for your help kenchan, you the man

 

Now let me get this right. For firmer setting should look like this right???

 

AC- no, the other hole is firmer. You're on the soft setting.

hey, how come your's is blue? Mine's black Not that it
matters to me. that blue looks like a Whiteline product.

 

They changed it to black so it's not as easily noticeable.

 

Hey Kenchan
That was just a sample pic I got from Alta site but my setting was not like the pic and you said if the hole is set like the way you stated I should feel the difference but I don't

 

I just purchased and installed an Alta Sway bar last week and mine is red

 

This might sound stupid....but are you sure you got the 22mm sway bar? I wouldnt imagine the 19mm would help you much, if you bought that one by accident, since you have an MCS.

You really should be able to feel a big difference in handling once you put it on...especially in the firm setting.

 

Look at the ends of the bar. One hole is closest to the center of the bar and the other hole is farthest (soft setting). The firm setting is closest to the bend in the bar.

To check if the bar is 19 vs 22mm just get a open ended wrench that is 19 or 20mm and see it if fits around the bar diameter or not.

To feel the difference the stiffer setting provides you have to corner at higher speeds and have the MINI set up to do that. Having proper tire pressure, good non worn out performance tires (not the stock 15" Contis), and driving on a good clean smooth surface would all help.

Under normal driving conditions you will not feel much difference between the two settings.

 

Is the Alta 19mm adjustable too? If so, I think you did get the 19mm
instead of the 22mm. You're not going to feel much difference from stock
on the 19mm Alta, I guess.

The 22mm was a significant difference from stock even in the soft
setting...and the firm setting is very significant from soft.

 

Great conversation. I will probably be buying this very bar from Randy in the next couple of weeks.

I can't wait. I think I will pick it up in person so I don't have to suffer the torment of waiting for the bar to show up at my door. I can't stand the agony of waiting for toys to show up in the mail.

Hey kechan did you notice my recently edited mod line above my sig pic.

 

Yah, the 19mm is meant for the lighter MC. I have a 19mm and it made a huge difference on my MC but i doubt it would really help with an MCS. So in the case that you got a 19mm bar, it would explain your lack of handling change. I cant think of any other reason that you wuoldnt feel a difference, i noticed right when i turned out of my driveway. Check out the diameter and see what it measures out at. Maybe alta sent you the wrong one

 

hahahahahaha!!! Mine's the Limited Edition.

Im with you on that waiting thing....when I want parts I want it like
today! btw, I suggest you open the box and make sure it includes
the brackets before you start. Mine didn't the first time and I had to
put my car back together thinking that the bar used factory brackets....
it was a pita by the second time I did it though, it went very
fast...until I ran into another problem... the chassis silicon was rubbing
against the bar. took a while to trim it all off.

 

me too, when I go down the curb on the driveway. definitely felt the swaybar working when I first backed out.

 

Hey Kenchan,

Is the rear sway bar something you can install yourself or do you need a mechanic to do it? Just wondering if you can put it on jack stands and get the job done or not. I've heard something about the suspension needing to be compressed? I dunno.

Thanks

 

DIY. Floor jack, jack stands, hand tools, time.

 

It's super easy octane guy especially for us cooper owners who dont have the wiring to obstruct our path. It might help to have a buddy lend a hand, but its not neccessary by any means. Took me about an hour and a half the first time, but now that i have done it im sure i could do it in about 45 minutes

 

Very tempting. Thanks so much guys!!

Richard

 

Hi Richard,

I just installed an ALTA 22mm rear sway bar on my MINI and it wasn't bad at all. If you're up for a drive down to Orange County, I'd be more than happy to help you install it.

-- MIKE

 

Thanks Mike,

I might just take you up on that! I haven't purchased the sway bar yet, but from what I gather from RallyMINI, the 19mm is for the MC while the 22mm is for the MCS.

Is the 22mm just too much for the MC?

Richard

 

Richard sorry for the late reply. been on business last week and
didn't have much time to check in.

I don't know about the MC, but on the MCS, you need to drop the
subframe a little bit to get the bar out/in. So it's a little involved,
but not really hard to do. I recommend you use threadlock on the
subframe bolts when you put the car back together.

The struts need to be compressed when you torque up the strut
top mount bolts onto the car. I just used my floor jack and raise
the arm up and torque the bolts down. no biggie.

:smile:

 

Anyway after finish talking to the Alta Tech and the way IA had my setting is correct. Anyway here are some of the pic before and after Atla spring installation. Sorry I had to used my cell phone camera.

Before


After

 

No delay at all!! I asked it this morning, you were quick!!

Thanks for the info, it's very helpful!

Richard

 

No problem... Just send me a PM if you decide you need/want some help. As for the size of the bar you want... I'm not really sure. I also recall folks saying that the 19mm is better suited to the lighter MC and the 22mm is better suited to the heavier MCS. However, I supose that if you have a loaded up MC with better springs/stuts installed, then you'd want to use the 22mm. Otherwise, I'm sure that the 19mm would be just fine for your MC.

BTW, I installed the 22mm on my loaded MCS (with the JCW suspension kit) and I was worried that it would induce too much over steer. However, it turned out to be just perfect and I even have it set on the stiffest setting as well. I really like the way that the car handles now.