Guys -

Ok, here's a stupid question. What's the difference between a Strut Tower bar and a Sway bar? I installed a front Strut tower bar on my MX-5 Miata in the past, and it really made a world of difference on body solidarity and handling. I will be buying an 8 here in the next couple of weeks, and I was wondering a couple of things:

1) Does the Front Strut Tower bar make that much difference with the 8?

2) What are sway bars?

3) Has anyone had any experience with a rear strut tower bar on the 8?

Not that I necessarily need to start thinking about adding toys...hehe....but the mind's always a-racin.

Thanks!

 

Try doing a forum search. You'll learn a lot that way.
________
Plymouth laser

 

1) The RX8 comes stock with a Front Shock Tower bar, and apparently Mazda Engineers thought it made enough difference to include it. Shock Tower bars increase the body's stiffness which reduces the amount the wheel alignment changes due to body flex and improves the weight transfer during cornering (it keeps more weight on the inside wheel).

2) Sway bars are torsonal springs that allow the wheels to move up and down together to accomidate road irregularites but resist the wheels moving up and down seperately. Stiffer sway bars reduce the body roll in hard corners which improves weight transfer and handling at some cost to ride quality.

3) The RX-8 is pretty stiff to start with and and has diagonal rear bracing built in. I personally have not tried a rear shock tower bar. However I do have the spare tire and the mounting bar would function as a shock tower bar