ROTRYPWR

Which sway bar is best according to the more knowledgable rx-8 drivers?

The Mazdaspeed : [front] 27.3 mm
[rear] 17.3 mm

Racing Beat : [front] 32.0 mm
[rear] 19.0 mm

Tanabe : [front] 30.4 mm
[rear] 20.0 mm


So which one would you guys go with?
Also does thicker sway bars mean better?

Thx

ROTRYPWR

Doesnt anybody know which one is the best sway bar???
WHat would ppl go with if u had a choice???

Fanman

I went with Racing Beat & I love them. Handling is much more benign now.

blksf8

^^^what he said. RB front and rear sway bars here.

sohcpunk

I think majority of the people here got the Racing Beat sway bars. I went with the Tanabe's because #1 They are a reputable japanese tuning company, # Their bars are hallow which greatly reduce the weight of the car ( Racing Beat's are solid steel) #3 With a bigger rear sway bar and smaller front sway bar, that will give the car a slight oversteer which is great if you are an experienced driver. I personally think the Racing beat bars are too overweight and have understeer which I dont like. Its all up to your preference in driving styles. I have the Tanabes and it got rid of the car's body lean almost completely.

Kurt Bob

I went with Racing Beat bars along with their springs. I love the handling, but can't compare them to any others out there. From experience though, the minute differences between different companies' bars don't mean much. It's the step up in size from the OEM bars that you really feel.

ROTRYPWR

Do the racing beat sway bars get rid of the leaning when cornering in the rx-8????????

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

What a knuckleheaded post - "...I went with Tanabe because they are lighter, Racing Beats' bars are solid..." A 32mm solid bar wouldn't flex at all!

Have you even looked at the RB site? It clearly states the wall thickness is 0.1875" front and 0.125" rear.

Hollow, right?

Or "hallow" as you say the Tanabes' are.

How do YOU spell hollow?

S

sohcpunk

There are differences. Like i said, the Tanabe bars are hallow and lighter. The size of the bars is difference giving the car a more neutral/bit oversteer characteristics. All bars will reduce body roll as long as it in larger than the stock diameter bars. The springs from Racing Beat are a bit too soft for my liking. A higher spring rate would be better for cornering. I went with the Tein S-tech springs

sohcpunk

Thanks for being an *** just cuz I can't spell. I didn't say anything about flexing. You should read my statement carefully before you do any bashing. I can assure you that I probably know more about suspension and go to a better school than you do. So back off

Fanman

So what are you saying ? That the RB sway bars are not hollow (by your definition) ? How exactly are you sure that the Tanabes are lighter ? Have you weighed both of them ? As far as I know when I put them on they were very light as the RB units are hollow as well (not solid).

The wall thickness makes a sturdy bar. If you have felt the stock bar it felt flimsy in comparison and easily flexible/bent.

RotorManiac

MS sways here. Its the most 'stock like' setup, with a little bit less body roll. Sways are light and stiff and almost same diameter as stock.
Depens on what you want: if you keep stock shocks go with thick sways, if you plan on getting adjustable coilovers, then I think the MS is the way...

brillo

Asking whats best depends on several factors.

The MS and racing beat sways were designed to compliment the rest of their respective suspension kits, for example, the MS bars are not as thick as the RB but thats b/c Racing Beat only replaces the springs and sways, therefore, they have to work in the confines of the stock shocks, while my MS replaces everything so the bars are not as thick as the new spring/shocks assist in controling the roll.

If your just going to get stand alone sways, that is, your not getting springs, I would get the RB setup. But if you are going to lower the car, I would try to get a matched set (springs, sways and shocks), who ever you go with.

sohcpunk

Thats exactly what I am saying. The Racing Beat sway bars are solid steel. Contact Jim Langer if you don't believe me. Regarding the weight differences, it is a no brainer, a hollow bar will be lighter than a solid bar. They are both made of steel. Yes I have felt the stock bars. They are thinner so they are more flimsy. Its all common sense.

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

I give up, he's right, they are made from old ships anchors, for extra weight.

S

Kurt Bob

In answer to the last "serious" question, the RB sway bars take away almost all of the leaning. And, I'd like to add one general comment about Racing Beat: They have been in business for a long time. I have personally dealt with them for 22 years. Most of their equipment is meant for the enthusiast who doesn't want to make his or her car "unstreetable." The modifications are meant to enhance the car and not change the character (unless they tell you it's a racing part). I find that their exhausts and suspension kits do just that - add to the enjoyment without much sacrifice in road manners.

I hope this helps!

typerr

Uh, the racing Beat bars are definately hollow (I own the front bar) and very light but to be honest, comparing the weight of sway bars as a basis for purchase is a little silly. Do you really think a couple pounds makes a difference you can feel on a 3000 pound car?

staticlag

As soon as I get enough money, I'm going to buy these:

http://www.specr.com.sg/rx8autoexe.html

The front/rear sway bars, sports stabilizer bar, and chassis braces coupled with the MS spring and shock kit look likes a serious suspension upgrade to me :D :D :D :D

Kurt Bob

Well said. The Racing Beat bars are hollow (tubular), as stated clearly on their website. However, hollow bars are not used just to save weight. They are much stronger (stiffer) than a solid bar.

staticlag

Then why aren't crow bars hollow?

typerr

Because the hollow crow bar would need to have a larger outside diameter to acheive the same stiffness.

Light weight is usually not a concern for crowbar designers. :D

LiL BenNy

whats under and over steer lol..

Spin9k

Would anyone care for a little science in this bizarre discussion?

Try this on solid vs. tubular sways: http://www.whiteline.com.au/docs/bul...%20Swaybar.pdf

Rx7Roadster

Hollow bars are not stiffer then solid bars. But, removing the center section of a bar does not reduce its stiffness greatly and removes much of its mass. This is the reason they are hollow. The benifit of weight savings greatly out weighs the loss of stiffness.