need some help!!

[jaedreamah]

hey guys/girls...i'm running a 95 integra ls sedan. i just purchased a comptech sway bar...similar to the one used for the ITR. i read something about problems after installing such a thick sway bar. it stated something about sway bar tear outs...? if anyone can give me some advice and pointers or any information about any problems dealing w/sway bars...any information will be gladly appreciated. thnx

[Dezoris]

Here are my thoughts


We must have different opinions on sub frame tear out and the different kinds. The more severe is that of which the whole sub-frame breaks the welds and separates itself from the body. This was a big issue with the older Neuspeed bars, and the main cause was the bracket design.

The other tear out is that in which the brackets pull through the metal where the bolts attach, which can simply prevented by reinforcing the subframe with brackets or washers. here is a pic of the most common form of non-subframe tear out, caused by poor braket design
Most bar makers have greatly improved the bracket design to prevent this now, for obvious reasons.

The reason I said that a tie bar will help subframe tear out from the welds is all the cases I have seen of this have been always one sided. There is always a side that pulls out you don’t see the whole subframe tearing out at once. So with that said, you obviously have one side of the frame that is weaker than the other or the mounting is not perfect.

The sub frame flexes and twists with larger bars, with the way the bar is mounted most of this flexing pulls the subframe down and towards the center.
Here is a picture to highlight he example.


You can ask, the major players or at least the good ones, such as Comptech or Neuspeed about why the package the swaybar/tie bar combos.
To re-inforce the subframe, which also pretects from possible pulldown tear out. Its about prevention, I did not say that if you don’t get a tie bar you'll have a problem, but for the Honda's for the cost of a tiebar why would you have a suspension upgrade consisting of high rate springs progressively valved shocks, thick sway bars and not include a tie bar which would be about 5% of the cost of the rest of the upgrades?

That’s my take on it.

[jaedreamah]

in the process of installing the comptech sway bar, i will also be installing a DC lower tie bar. will that be good enough to help?
your opinion is greatly appreciated. thnx

[Dezoris]

Don't bother installing the DC bar. It has proven to be a purely asthetic bar. I have seen them taken off bent. They bend and twist very easily. Neuspeed, Comptech and skunk are your best options.