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ok, a few of you know that recently I "accedently" dissconnected my front anti-roll bar . Well now that I've been driving around on it for a few weeks I thought I would write an update.


I love this set up! Seering with the rear end is awsome! and I love Throttle lift oversteer!!!!! The only thing I need now is shocks....... But I'm waiting on KW to come out with the V3, but I sware I'd probably be happy with a set of Konis.....

Its so much fun freaking out my friends

Any way, heres what you do to instigate a bit-o-oversteer. (as long as your car isnt set up to understeer like crazy).

1. Late brake in to corner (Hard) and Down shift if nessisary
2. Trailbrake (carry the brakes in to the turn a bit)
3. ease off brakes, as you do this the *** end should start to rotate (Very weird feeling/ scary if you dont know whats going on)
4. as the rear end rotates there will be a point Just before the car is pointed down the next straigtaway where you will add throttle, ease in on the gas.
4. as you add power, the rear end will settle down and regain traction, and if you time it right it will settle down with you pointed straight down the road, with minimal steering imputs. (He who keeps the steering wheel straighest, longest wins.....)
5. car is settled and pointed in the right direction, accleerating away......

If you are new to driving the car at the limit, learn this slowly. If you do it wrong, like come in to the turn with too much speed, you may end up fasing the wrong way down the road.


Man I Love my car...
(I cant wait to put my race tires on for the nationals!!!)



Keep the shiny side up!

 
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this weekend ima try this out see how i like it maybe ill keep it that way

 
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Only you Zzyzx ... only you...LMAO!

 
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Interesting. I think I found something new to try.

 
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When my car was set up with the stock 03 bar and the progress rear bar, the car was so *** happy that I had to accelerate into turns to keep the rear somewhat planted. When I didn't, the car exited turns side ways. Horrible for long sweeping turns, but excellent for 90 degree turns.

 
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is this part #5 the front anti-roll bar? where is it located in the engine bay and how hard is it to remove?

 
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yes it is number 5. No, it is under the car right behind the engine. All you have to do is disconnect the endlinks. And NO this should not be done if you don't know how it will drive. By doing this, you will increase oversteer which can be very dangerous.

 
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^^word^^

The car will be much more prone to oversteer and if youve never dealt with a car that does, I say Take it VERY easy for a while.

 
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it is this bar right here, with two bushings and 2 mounts in the control arms, correct?

gotta love that damn salt

 
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Ya thats the bar, ITs a pain in the *** to remove with out disconnecting the cat, if you want to see how it would be with out it, just disconnect the endlinks.


Incedently, I went and got the 03 front bar (16mm) still as fun as ever to drive, but now with a more Mild *** happieness.

 
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well, i got an lx, so there is no cat down there. shouldnt be too hard to remove. im gonna wait till the weather gets better and give it a try.

 
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do you have to remove the wheels to get at the endlinks?

 
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Nah, you should be access them easily from under the car. Just jack up or drive up on ramps, you'll have plenty of room to work on it.

 
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Its a bit easier if you take the wheels off, but its not totally nessisary.

Just remember if you lift the car up lift both sides, otherwise you will pre-load the bar and it will really be a pain in the *** to work with.

 
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ok. do you happen to know what size the bolt on the control arm is and what the torque specs are on it?

 
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I dont know the Torque specs, but its a 14mm and you'll need a 5mm allen key to keep the thing from spinning with the bolt.

 
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Hey Zzyzx, have you actually run an AutoX with this set up?

I don't mean to sound ignorant, but it sounds to me like you're just having fun, as I do in a snow coated parking lot in the winter. If this actually makes your car better in a race, then I might try this. If not, I'll stick to the snow to do cool turns, lol.

I've seen cars do the maneuver you're describing (i.e. WRC drivers), and I've tried this, but it's nigh on impossible to complete w/o removing/disconnecting the front sway bar to eliminate the "Push"...hence the question...would you recommend this for AutoX?

I am a VERY good driver, per the female National Champion (KATHY WOLFSKILL) and she said if I was running a RWD car, I'd have done SOOOO much better, and "you have natural talent, the likes I've rarely seen in a young man." And "You should be driving a Corvette, you'd run MUCH better times than in a Civic!" My answer to her coment was that I grew up on driving trucks, hence the expierence on RWD vehicles. And I could not afford a different car. She suggested that I learn the "ropes" driving whatever I could, and then eventually drive a RWD car..."to win a national event."

If this really adds "Rear Kick" I might think about this. Any input is welcomed. If you haven't run a race with this set up...please tell me, I just might.

 
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Yes he has

I will let him answer the rest of your questions.

 
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I never actually got to run an autocross with the bar dissconected, what happend is after I talked with my Co drivers (Autocrosser for 10+ years) we decided that for the national event it would be best to have a front bar, although he agreed 25mm is way to much roll resistance on the nose for a FWD car. So we comprimised, and got the 03s 16mm front bar. The car Ran great, when it was wet. So I never got to try it whenit was dry out, but the car was VEry stable in the rain with this set up. All in all my impression is that if you dont have the cash for a larger rear bar (22mm) then loweirng the front roll resistance is a good and cheep alternative. However, for autocross I also Believe that the 16mm front bar tied in with a 22mm rear bar may be the way to go. THe only time I would be tempted to put my 25mm front bar back in is if I decied to do track days.

Regarding the National champs comments, well... Most every body would be faster in a Corvette. and Its been my experiance (From what I saw at the national Tour) that most RWD drivers (Corvette drivers in particular) ar very distansfull of FWD cars. Now you may never be able to set up a FWD car to match an SS Z06 corvette, but you can make your FWD car handle just as well as any thing in its class. Look at the CSP Crxs, Very fast and compeditive cars and they go toe to toe with Miatas (RWD). as far as you.. well It appears that you have a lot more experiance with RWD the FWD and the two need completely different driving styles (What you can do with one, may have the exact opposit effect in the other) so If you are more comfortable with RWD then you may have issues with how a FWD car reacts. In STS, a little FWD civc is the top dog, and there are AWD and RWD cars legal for the class, they just cant match the little 89 Si for menuverability.

To answer your last question, Yes this will let you steer with the rear end. will it make you faster?? I dont know, but it costs $0.00 so I say try it a fue times.

 
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ooh i thought you raced with the front bar off..my bad!

 
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I see...and I thank you for your opinion!! I think I'll go check out how much an 03 front bar costs! lol

While I DO have more expierence with RWD cars/trucks...I like the challenge of my FWD! So, I'll stick with my civic and learn something new! Thanks again guys!!