Hey THEITCH, I placed an order with Randy almost three weeks ago, have called three times, and sent four emails with no result. I'd like to cancel the order but I can't get a hold of them so it's not just you. I don't want to bash as I'm new to the MINI scene and have little experience with most of the vendors but I wanted to share my experience. Hope this helps.

 

I too have been trying to order a rear swaybar from him for the last 3 weeks. It shows he has 11 in stock. Left messages and emails. He replied last week to one email saying he will call me that week... but nothing.:impatient
Very frustrating to say the least.

 

ireland engineering sells a swaybar that works in the same way and is much less expensive......and best of all, you are actually able to order the part and have it shipped

www.bmw2002.com <---- their website

It's not all fancy and red......but it's "infinitely" adjustable and their customer service isn't lacking

 

On their website says 80% stiffer then the stock 17mm? I assume that is not when the bar is fully adjusted to it's stiffest setting? The Webb bar goes up to 348% stiffer then stock.

 

yah....i think that's without including any adjustments made....i dont know what it max's out at....i was just pointing people towards a different option since they seem to be frustrated by the lack of service. You could email them and ask

 

I know that Randy is in the process of moving the shop. Maybe give him another chance and shoot him out another e-mail.

 

Another option,

I have the Alta Rear Bar with the adjustable endlinks. Maybe consider that setup. I love mine! I paid around 300 for the whole thing.

 

same old story...some things never change. hopefully you wont get repo'd parts like I did...

 

He's moving? Where's his new shop location?


BTW,I believe he is a full time pilot too...

 

He is moving his shop back to his home iirc. He is a full-time pilot for United as well. You really need to catch him on a good weekend. Otherwise, Alta is open ALL THE TIME!!! I love my setup!

 

The WMS extreem sway bar can be purchased direct from the designer.
Tarett Engineering, 858-674-5573, tarett.com.
He is a very nice guy and very responsive. I have had none of the problems that I have had with Randy.
Steve

 

I have Alta 22mm rear bar, set on softer setting and it is excellent. No service /maintenance issues at all. Unless you are a racer, it does not make sense to me to make suspension too complicated.

 

Ordered it from Tarett.
Answered the phone first ring and had it shipped with a tracking # the same day...

should get it on Wed... can hardly wait to put it on.

daniel

 

Winnar!

 

Dab
I'm sure that you will not be dissapointed. If you do not want to save your original bar (replacements can be had pretty cheap if you ever needed one) you can just cut off one side and just pull it out. That will save you from dropping the rear subframe and a re-alignment in the rear. I used an abrasive cut off wheel in an electric drill (purchased from a hardware store for about $8.00) and had the old bar out in about 10 minutes.
Enjoy, Steve

 

I did the same thing..much easier then dropping the sub-frame...took me about 10 seconds with a angle grinder to cut of the stock bar.

 

I just hope Dab has it in by this sundys track day, thats all i can say. You listening Daniel? hahaha. I guess i dont have to Worry about that, so long as it arrives in the mail.

Beecher

 

I installed it yesterday and it's ready to try for Sundays track day.

 

Where did you set the stiffness? I am 2 large marks from the stiffest setting with stock sport suspension.

 

I am running KW2 coilovers and a cooper front bar so my settings would be different. But what i can tell you from my track day is that the bar felt quite different from the H-Sport Comp i had on before. The track has alot of 60km/h transisions and one higher speed sweeper starting in 2nd gear and shifting to 3rd then 4th on exit. I found with the h-sport when adjusted for good rotation with the lower speed transitions... the car was understeering (plowing) through the high speed sweeper. With this new bar, the high speed sweeper was very planted with no plowing and i was able to keep the gas on much more through the whole turn resulting in a much faster exit speed....And in the lower speed turns i would have to push the car much harder to get oversteer. I'm sure i could have stiffened the bar more since the lower speed transitions could have done with more rotation but had no time.
I am pleased and suprised at its performance. Not sure why it reacts that way but that was my first track day with the bar and that was my experience. Will have to wait for the next lapping day to play with it more.

daniel

 

This is an attribute a lot of people seem to skip over when they look at buying a rear bar. The linear rate of change exhibited in torsion bars is unmatched by tubular bars. Thats why you will see the torsion style on most race cars. You can make a tubular bar as adjustable as you want, but you cannot duplicate the feel and dynamics.

-Brian