Strut brace or sway bars?

Racing Rice · 08-31-2001, 10:00 AM

Ok.. Ive been thinking about getting a rear sway bar for the civic.. I dont really do any autox(yet). Im wandering if I put a 19mm rear swaybar on it may create to much oversteer with still having the stock front sway bar. would I be ahead just getting upper and lower rear strut bars instead.. would I be able to tell much difference? I drive twisty roads everyday and the rear of the car just doesnt feel as stable as the front, and like its kinda leaning out behind me.. I have a nuespeed front upper strut bar also.. so between that and the sway bar the front feels pretty good..

I know the best thing to do would be upgrade the front and put a rear sway bar on also..But I dont want to spend the $$$ right now to do both..
Thanks for the help.

Dezoris · 09-01-2001, 02:17 AM

Ok if you plan on riding on stock shocks and springs then the best way to tighten up the rear would be to add at 19-21mm rear sway bar and a nuespeed shock tower brace. If you feel like your rear end is mushy which it should be, you can swap out your soft rubber bushings for some poly-urethane based pieces. I would consider upgrading thefront swaybar to 20mm and over.
Keep in mind these recommendations are only if you want to keep your stock shocks and springs.

Stick with Neupeed, comptech sport, progress suspension, and Suspension techniques when going with sway bars, tie bars, strut bars etc. These are the best you can get and they won't break the bank.

If you plan on upgrading shocks and springs do not upgrade the front sway bar. The rear sway bar at 19mm is race proven to provide a neutral balance between the front and rear.

Shock tower bars etc, are all a part of stiffening up the chassis to refuce flex, which does not really translate into better handling, but is a small piece in the suspension setup puzzle.

Racing Rice · 09-03-2001, 11:16 AM

Sorry I forgot to mention.. I have Skunk coilovers with Koni (yellows) Shocks.. It doesnt really feel mushy.. Its just that when Im in a good tight corner the rearend doesnt feel as stable as the front (Im not really sure how to explain it) .. I know you dont want the back to be to stiff you will break traction from your tires and the road.. So do you think with my shocks and springs that I currently have, a 19mm rear swaybar and a stock front swaybar It should be pretty balanced and I wont have to much oversteer?

Dezoris · 09-06-2001, 06:17 PM

Sorry it took so Long to reply.
Sounds to me what you are feeling is that typical delayed reaction fron the front suspension compression to the back kind of catching up with the front.
I would try two things first before adding the sway bar.
I assume your ride height is equal on all 4 wheels?

If so soften up your rear shocks and set the front stiffer.
Take it out drive it hard
Then reverse it.
Take it out frive it hard.
What is better? Report back.

Generally if you stiffen the rear loosen the front slightly increase ride height in the front, you will give the front end more bound, more travel. Longer to compress the front may give you a more neutral feel. also may create more oversteer. Let me know.

Racing Rice · 09-07-2001, 07:58 AM

Thanks Ill try that when I get a chance..

LIL_lude · 11-29-2001, 05:12 AM

Dezoris' good........ real good.
must of taken many yrs of experience to know that much.

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