Ok, so Its weird how accidents lead the way to new discoveries......
So I was changing out my front lower control arm bushings (at my dads shop in San Diego), over the long Thanksgiving weekend. During the install, we broke one of the endlinks for the front anti-roll bar. So any way, now my front anti-roll bar is disconnected and I’ve noticed one big difference… Less Understeer, and the car just feels more balanced in the corners. Plus it’s easier to get the rear end to rotate. Now I’m not saying for every body to go and disconnect their front anti-roll bar, but its something you may want to experiment with. Me, I’m going to run with the bar disconnected at the Nationals, I’ll give a full report after.
Suspension set up as of 12/15/03
Eibach Sportline springs
RSX 19mm Rear Anti-Roll bar.
Neuspeed Front Strut tower bar.
Stock 25.4 mm Front Anti-roll bar (01 EX) Now disconnected
Energy Suspension Front Lower Control arm bushings.
Bah I was just working on my review of the 19mm RSX rear sway with the tiny 16mm front stock bar on my 03'. Looks like I don't need to because you beat me to it. The last two days I played around with my car at my work's parking lot and I noticed how much easier it was to whip it around corners. I'm thinking the 16mm front bar is pretty worthless.
i was thinking about getting a smaller front stock bar from an 03+ civic to see how that worked. but I might see how the bushings and the coilovers make the car feel first.
Sickboy, remember if your car starts to slip out in the rear, HIT the gas, don't brake or let off the gas. Just a reminder. Want you being safe.
Thanks for the warning Rob but I've already had to learn most of this front wheel drive stuff already. Talk about a change from my old rear wheel drive that I had for 6 years (1971 Datsun pickup, 94 horsepower, ~2000lbs.). The things we sacrifice for family...
Progress rear sway w/ tie
Cusco rear upper strut
neuspeed x-brace
neuspeed front upper brace
KW V2 full hard rear, half hard(or half soft) up front
Falken Azenis 205/50/15
and no front sway
I noticed a big difference in understeer. The only reason the front sway off is because I removed it prior to getting my progress front in. I don't think i will install the new bar now. It was amazing the difference i had in corner entry, barely any push. I ran FSP btw.
Last edited by wannabeblown : 12-15-2003 at 05:10 PM.
Originally posted by Boilermaker1 Just take the X bar off and run STS... you'll probably have more fun.
Meanwhile... I've been kicking around the 03 front bar. I guess this confirms my thoughts that it would be better.
it was the last autocross for the season, no points so i wasn't really worried. I also placed 3rd out of all SP. I got whooped up by a miata and a cooper works mini.
neuspeed front upper strut
h&r sport
19mm rsx rear sway
215/45/17 yoko es100
front driver side strut blown
i notice its alot harder to drive when i install the neuspeed front upper strut, it understeer ALOT more, but after 1 event i got used to it, it actually help me take 0.5-1 sec off average, now i got kw v2, ALOT better, havent try out on autox yet cuz installed a few weeks ago, but i think i can take 2 sec off average
i know with my EF i would loosen the front bar and run a larger rear like i have now on this 7thgen but i havent messed with the front bar yet...but yeh stiffer rear loose front is good
Ok, so far I am more then likeing this setup. The car just feels, Light. and as long as I'm smooth with the car it is Very tossable. especially if I trail brake, the ass end just slides over, points the car in the right direction, and then back on the gas, accelerating away.....
The bushings took about 2 hours to put in, You're going to need a Press to get the old ones out and press the new ones in. We used a 20 Ton press...... thats the hardest part really. I only did the fronts, The rears looked to be ok, so I probably wont change them untill next year. The car feels more stable with them in, more responsive even. no more suspension wobbles mid corner....
Oh ya, I went with Energey suspension polyurithane bushings. Much nicer then stock rubber....
