I'm looking at both and was curious on everyones thoughts. Advantages or disadvantages of either? Or is there not a difference? Also, do you have to get your car re-aligned after installing a sway bar?

Thanks

 

In theory you do not need alignment after swapping sway bars. Ideally when doing an alignment you disconnect the sway bar so it doesn't affect the suspension.
________
*** Cams

 

ok....makes sense if you think about it hard enough....


Thanks

 

Nothing wrong with getting Mazdaspeed.

 

Rosenthal wants 258 for a 27mm front sway vs. 30mm Tanabe for 169. MS parts are marked up way to much imho.

 

yeah, I am thinking of the Tanabe or the RB sway bars. btw, you may want to check w/ your dealer and or trussville/rosenthal if you want the RB sway bars. My dealer's parts guy says he can get RB products if I want them.

 

I have the Tanabe Sway bar. The Tanabe front sway bar is smaller than Racing Beats, but the Tanabe rear is larger.

I bought the Tanabe over the RB because it was there (I like instant gratification ).

I only bought the front bar because I race in SCCA Stock class and the rear is not allowed to be changed.

In theory a larger front bar will cause Under steer. the larger and stiffer the more under steer.

As an after thought... I am very happy with the Tanabe over the RB as it really plants the front (which is very prone to rolling) and with the proper alignment the effects of under steer can be "tweaked".

now if you think bigger is better then the RB front with the Tanabe rear would be the way to go...

FYI the Speedsource RX8's use a custom front sway and factory rear...
...though it may also be a class rule.

IMHO: with a decent alignment and a good front sway bar (both are good), the difference in handling is night and day

 

Yeah I decided to go with both the front and rear tanabe sway bars. In doing both I hope to keep the car neutral.

 

Actually you may get some over steer. Drive the car carefully (unless you plan to drift) and see how it feels. You may need to adjust the alignment.

The Tanabe Front with the RB rear may have been a more "neutral" set up... but then that's just IMHO.

 

??? Well I'll let ya know....

 

i installed front and rear tanabes this week. no track time yet but big difference in front end handling...less roll, "tighter" feel all around and little deterioration in ride quality. very happy so far.

btw...what alignment changes are recomended to minimize oversteer...negative camber...toe in?
comments would be helpful.
rudy 8

 

This site may help:
http://www.ozebiz.com.au/racetech/theory/align.html

If you are really scared of letting the tail get loose leave your front camber between 0° and -1°, make your rear camber between -1.25° and -1.75° with a toe in at the rear between .08 and.1

If you go too far toe in at the rear you will still understeer but the life of the tires will greatly suffer, same if you go too negative in camber.

It all depends on how you like to drive. I have been driving AWD cars for some time and I am used to an understeer condition. I only have the Front Sway bar though (induces understeer) so my set up is -1° in the front with 0 toe and -1.25° in the back with .08 toe in.

Your best bet is to ask people like Typor (sp?) purnrg (sp?) and some others who auto x and see what they run and why. try out a set up and see how you like it.

 

Thanks for the update rudy8. If you woud not mind could you answer few questioins
1- Who installed them for you, and how much did they charge?
2- While the ride has not suffered much. Does the car seem to tramline over grooves or bad roads. Does pull to one side a result of the new bars
3- My experience with after market bars that they will squeek because of the harder urethane bushings. You lube them then they are quite for few weeks, then they start again, and it is very annoying. Some manufactrers have developed better bushings that retain lubricants thus keeping things quite. What is your experience so far with this issue? Perhaps it is still to early to tell.

Again thanks in advance for your help, or anyone lese who would like to comment on these matters . Enjoy your moded baby.

Mark

 

Can I get anyone's feedback on this?

 

my, but you are a bit demanding...

1- Who installed them for you, and how much did they charge?

It's easier to have a shop install it, how much depends on who you know and where you go

2- While the ride has not suffered much. Does the car seem to tramline over grooves or bad roads. Does pull to one side a result of the new bars

Not at all. if you have this problem it may be your alignment or tires.

3- My experience with after market bars that they will squeek because of the harder urethane bushings. You lube them then they are quite for few weeks, then they start again, and it is very annoying. Some manufactrers have developed better bushings that retain lubricants thus keeping things quite. What is your experience so far with this issue? Perhaps it is still to early to tell.


I have had the front for a couple of months and no noise. I expect they will eventually begin to squeek, It's a small price to pay for the huge improvement the bar makes.

 

Alex
Sorry I really did not mean to appear demanding. Please accept my appologies, and thank you so much for the info. Much appreciated...Thanks

Mark