TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

until you actually try different rate bars and compare them directly you won't know any different

for all you know FI-RX8 could have been even better with different bars; softer or stiffer

I would hope you'd feel it out and dial in the the overall setup before going ***** to the walls into Turn 1 at Sebring ...

the dynamics are much greater at autox than at the track, while the speeds and risks at the track are much higher the vehicle dynamics are relatively in slow motion compared to autox

SouthFL

There's not much testing one can do on the street to simulate T1- a turn with 90mph exit speed (for my skillset/car) which must be taken at WOT to avoid TTO. There's only one way to take that turn- with full committment. Not a good place to find out my sway bar set is too stiff.

There's much more emphasis in my case on making small incremental adjustments to the car. The car needs to be as neutral a base as possible as my driving skill progresses. Tinkering and testing to go quicker isn't as important.

SouthFL

Another option would be to get the system displayed at minute 4:50 of this video :

http://link.brightcove.com/services/...ctid1395583303

SouthFL

Spoke with Progress today.

Their guesstimates are 60% stiffer @ full soft up front, 99% stiffer @ full soft rear. If this is the case, I can use these (though a little too rear biased).
Then again, they were simply extrapolating from the diameter chart (which is moot for hollow bars) and could not give me hard numbers from testing.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

oh please, brake more before the turn to WOT at a lower exit speed, then build up to where you want to be

I recall the front bar being stiffer than that, I posted a comparison to the RB front bar on the forum somewhere

SouthFL

Any ill balance would rear its head at 8 to 9 tenths- not while pussyfooting through a turn. What I fear the most is snap oversteer during throttle modulation through a high speed turn or carousel from too much rear bar. It seems like many of these sway bar sets are biased to the rear, which could be offset by running stiffer up front- but this takes front bar rate to upper levels of stiffness, where I don't want the bars to be the controlling factor in the suspension- I'd rather the springs and dampers do their job as transparently as possible.

LionZoo

I think SouthFL is concerned with issues like this: https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...8&postcount=65

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

Well I'm not telling you to buy them, just providing info

SouthFL

^

Hey, I appreciate all the info you do provide. It's always informed information.

LionZoo shed light on to what I'm concerned with.
Sebring, being one of the tracks I frequent, is very rough at Turns 1 and 17- both are high speed turn with lots of concrete barriers on both sides. Sometimes people lose it there because their suspension is set too stiff. Although my suspension isn't stiff in comparison to a race prepared car, I'm just being extra cautious within my own limits.

Nevertheless, this has been a hugely educational process.

SouthFL

Estimated figures emailed to me from Progress:

Front (32mm hollow): 128%/148%/168%
Rear (19mm solid): 168%/188%

Measured as % stiffer than stock.

Compared to Hotchkis figures:

Front (33mm hollow): 110%/150%/195%
Rear (21mm hollow): 390%/470%/580% (% extrapolation must not apples to apples for the rear)