I am getting a tiny bit of "creaking noise" even with the rubber bushings and may try to address that with some lube.

This is one reason I looking at an H&R sway bar. I have not heard of any noise coming from there bushings and they don't need any lube. I called H&R to ask if they would sell just the bushings so I could use them on a another auto I had with noisey bushings. They said they do not sale just bushings and to wipe off the lube and to use "Anti-seize".
1. How many owners of H&R sway bars out there have had any noise from the bushings?
2. Owners of H&R sway bars what size do you have and what setting are you using?

Thanks for your time!

 

I have the 18mm H&R bar for about a year, no squeaks even in subzero weather (-30C, like, -20F?)

I believe there is a 19mm H&R bar out there as well, with 2 settings. On my Cooper with SS suspension, I set it to stiff for the summer, and soft for winter/snow. I can get the tail out mid corner by lifting off. The cooper has 200lbs less in the front than a S, so the dynamics is a little different, 18 mm is enough to get me in trouble. In winter when its really slipper out, I got the rear to come out a couple of times without lifting off the throttle, thats why I switched it back to soft for those colder months to keep myself off the curb and walls.

 

I am using a 19mm H&R bar on the soft setting for an 06 MCC with sports suspension. It has made the car significantly flatter on sharp turns. I had done a lot of reading about sway bars before choosing H&R. Some bars are designed to hold the grease better or easy to regrease, but that wasn't good enough for me. I wanted absolutely zero maintenance, and the H&R seems to be the only one with this feature.

 

My H&R 19mm bar looks great sitting in my living room. My apartment never understeers anymore!

Seriously, I did lots of research before chosing this bar for my MC, and hope to have it installed this weekend so I can actually add a useful comment to this thread.

 

19 mm Alta bar, + H & R springs.

Started on the soft setting, then switched to the stiffer setting.

Works lovely for occasional track days and motoring on the rural oregon twisties.

 

Couldn't be happier with the 19mm H&R so far . Install was very easy (helped by various NAM postings), and the difference, even on the soft setting, is very noticable...corners as if it were a slot car (I'm really tempted to launch into a Jackie Stewart accent and go on about AFX Enduro racing having said that ).

I highly recommend the upgrade. Easy to do, and lots of bang for the buck!

 

Thanks to all for the replies! I ordered an H&R 19mm rear sway bar from SMA in CA for a smokin' deal from Scott. Thay have some H&R coil overs they are selling on Blow out! Their # is 916-438-6600 give them a ring.

Installed the H&R bar and it's SOOO SWEEEET! This mod gives the Mini the best bang for the buck!! I started out with the soft setting, I will try the stiff one later on. I don't know why any one would need an 22mm bar.