Looking to improve the handling even more. What size is the stock rear sway bar?
I'm assuming I shouldn't go any bigger than 24mm? Is it hard to install? I plan on using the stock sway bar for winter and the thicker sway bar for the summer.
What brands and sizes are you guys running?
Anyone want to provide any reviews on their setup?
Thanks!
I'm running the Eibach sway bar kit. the front is upgraded to 22mm and the rear is 25mm. At first I put on the rear by itself and found the back end becoming stiffer. It drove more like a rear wheel drive car. I then added the front on and it felt less like the RWD car. Overall it feels better (stiffer, tighter) than stock.
Steeda has a 28.6 mm rear but you should use a larger front over 22 mm or you will get oversteer. Eibach front with the Steeda race rear.
I do autocross with my Focus and I have the Steeda sport springs and eibach sway bar kit. Car feels real balanced.
took a quick look at your mod list
Yokohoma All Season
changing that is going to do a lot more for your handling (IMHO) than anything else really..
not a tech guru myself, but i'd imagine its pretty difficult to say 'what's the best size bar' because as far as i understand the suspension should be though of as a system, not as a set of parts to be changed around independently of each other
IMHO, get a matched set of something.. full SVT setup, apex-i kit.. something like that.. unless you really know what you are doing
I installed a SVT rear bar with urethane bushings just recently.
Definitely a cheap upgrade.
The car is stiffened up a bit now, and corners flatter now, without excessive oversteer - just what I was looking for.
Naz,
a suspension is only the sum of it's parts if those parts do not work well together in complimenting your driving style.
going with a matched set of springs shocks and sway bars ia a good choice for the noobie to modding cars as it takes the guess work out.
the best suspension setups on the fastest cars at the track are almost always cobbled together bits and pieces from varrious bands and styles tried and tested over years. of course this takes more than a little bit of money and time.
for the average person i suggest looking at it like this...
Do you want looks, performance or real performance?
if you want looks...
It doesn't really matter what you get as long as it is fits your looks needs.
if you want perfomance...
then starting with a match set of springs and shocks or coilovers and piecing together the rest of the suspension based on the type of driving you plan on doing.
if you want real performance....
look for adjustability, look at top of the line parts, bigger is usually better. expect to spend some time dialing in your car at the track or autoX to get the setup right... most important, tires tires tires!! you can sink thousands of dollars into your suspension, if you are still running all season or high perf summer tires then you will never get your money out of that suspension.
people who are not skilled drivers should probably stay away from upgrading the rear sway bar to something bigger than 22mm unless they do a couple of AutoX or driver training courses first to find the limits of the car.
I want a "sport" setup I guess. Touring is not enough, and Racing is too agressive. That's why I asked what the size of the stock sway bars are so that way I can sort of gauge on what rear sway bar to get. Are there any companies that sell just the rear?
I guess I'm looking for that overall balance....but would rather have oversteer than understeer. BUt I guess I won;t really "see" any under/oversteer cause I don't track the car. But I may do some autox's this summer.
But when I do upgrade the rear sway bar..I want to be able to "feel" what I paid for, without being to dangerous. And keep the car to the ground. If my car isn;t fast, then it might as well handle like a b!tch.
I will be getting some summer tires for sure, and getting rid of the all seasons.
For comparison....
Stock ZX3 Rear Sway Thickness - 20mm
Stock SVT Reer Sway Thickness - 21mm
I wouldn't upgrade to the STEEDA rear sway, putting that on alone would create a TON of oversteer and would actually be dangerous.
01-yellow-ZX3,Mar 21 2005 Wrote:I installed a SVT rear bar with urethane bushings just recently.
Definitely a cheap upgrade.
The car is stiffened up a bit now, and corners flatter now, without excessive oversteer - just what I was looking for.
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Did you have any problems with the install? I got a SVT rear sway for sale right now and couldn't get a confirmed answer if it'll fit a NON-SVT. Get back to me.
Okay...so where can I buy a rear sway bar LOCALLY?
I havent been in a car that has upgraded swaybars so I cant really comment on anything, but from what I've read they seem to be touchy, especially in winter conditions. But, like I said, in no way I speak from experience.
BUT
I see you have the FK kit...Me to, and I found that the energy suspension bushing set really matched it well. I did notice a more 'stiff' ride if you could say. Lot more 'feel' in how the car drove. I changed from Stock shocks/eibach spring combo to the current setup and its awsome. :D
H&R, Progress and Addco sells just the rear sways in a reasonable size.
i like the H&R bars for the street as they are fairly light, nice and stiff and don't cost an arm or a leg.
i disagree. if you want 'real performance' leave the car stock, go autoX/solo I/club race whatever you have the money for.. spending money on adjustable this and that.. dial in this and that.. that's retarded. i find that the people who worry about 'oh i need to dial in an extra half degree of camber in the left rear' or something like that are either really really good or tools with more money than seat time
there is plenty of car in a bone stock zx3 to keep one of us busy for at least a season or two
but that's just my opinion.. whatever
on a more serious note.. ask yourself honestly if you jerk the steering wheel around, hit the brakes or lift the throttle in mid corner.. like on off ramps and stuff.. or if someone who is likely to do that is going to drive your car.. i'd seriously think twice about getting a bigger rear bar if 'yes' is answered
S2,Mar 22 2005, 09:22 AM Wrote:01-yellow-ZX3,Mar 21 2005 Wrote:I installed a SVT rear bar with urethane bushings just recently.
Definitely a cheap upgrade.
The car is stiffened up a bit now, and corners flatter now, without excessive oversteer - just what I was looking for.
[right][snapback]95565[/snapback][/right]
Did you have any problems with the install? I got a SVT rear sway for sale right now and couldn't get a confirmed answer if it'll fit a NON-SVT. Get back to me.
[right][snapback]95626[/snapback][/right]
Oh yeah, it bolts right up on to a ZX3.
naz,Mar 23 2005, 09:13 PM Wrote:i disagree. if you want 'real performance' leave the car stock, go autoX/solo I/club race whatever you have the money for.. spending money on adjustable this and that.. dial in this and that.. that's retarded. i find that the people who worry about 'oh i need to dial in an extra half degree of camber in the left rear' or something like that are either really really good or tools with more money than seat time
there is plenty of car in a bone stock zx3 to keep one of us busy for at least a season or two
but that's just my opinion.. whatever
on a more serious note.. ask yourself honestly if you jerk the steering wheel around, hit the brakes or lift the throttle in mid corner.. like on off ramps and stuff.. or if someone who is likely to do that is going to drive your car.. i'd seriously think twice about getting a bigger rear bar if 'yes' is answered
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i agree to a point however we just define it differently.
it's semantics really, your opinion on what real performance is, is what i just consider a normal performance setup. i could have and probbaly should have worded it differently.
you are right, if someone is serious about AutoX, they should focus on taking what they currently have to track and running what they have for the whole season without making any changes to get used to car control, basic setup and the dynamics of the car varrious states of cornering and braking. after the season is over go wild with the mods only to do the same thing the next season, of focusing on driving and improve you skills.
once again, i agree... if you are a jerky driver in high speed corners they a rear swaybar may not be the best idea till after you actually leanr to drive your car. worst thing in the world is to make the car step out hard in the middle of an on- or off-ramp at 70km+ and a big rear sway bar will do that.
however a big rear sway in the hands of a skilled driver will become a very effective tool in adjusting the corninger line mid-corner with throttle input alone. or for the assholes and hero's, a great way of FWD drifting corners to scare the crap out of your passengers! ;)
I see there is an adjustable rear sway bar. I think that would be a good way to go. H&R has a 24mm adjutable rear sway bar. So I'm assuming like others it has 3 setting 24, 22, and 20.
Does CTA carry these?
ZX3Tuning...I see on your website you carry the adjustbale rear sway. Where are you located? Is that $227.50 CDN?
i do not carry an adjustable rear sway bar, just the H&R adjustable front, last i checked there was no adjusable rear "street" sway bars on the market. the H&R rear is a fixed 24mm bar.
and yes that is the price.
You can get an entire SVT suspension for <$400CDN, struts, springs rear bar, I know casue I bought one. It's a spring instal so no report yet but it seems to be the sort of thing you are looking for: everything is "matched" (to keep naz happy :lol: ), it is sportier than what you got, little bit of a drop...........should be good and the price is right.
I think I may just go with the 22mm, it seems these are easier to find tha the H & R ones.
But I have another question....
My car is a 2004 focus. Are the sway bar fittings the same with the 00-03 models?
The Progress Bar on sale here indicates it's for 00-03 models:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...ssPageName=WD1V