Front OEM sway bar information.
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Front OEM sway bar information.
I have an '03 EX Sedan with the 15.x mm front bar and an RSX 19mm rear bar. I was looking to replace the front bar with a 22.x/23mm front. After some research I have found that the bend of the 01-02 LX front sway bar is similar to the RSX front bar and neither will work on an EX due to location of the catalytic converter. However, it looks like the RSX front bar will work on the LX. Anyone with an '03 LX could find a complete set of RSX bars and bushings and have a very nice cheap and balanced front and rear sway bar upgrade. I have pictures of all of this if anyone is interested.
BTW: I have an 23mm RSX front bar if anyone is interested. It would work well with the 19mm RSX rear bar on an LX.
BTW: I have an 23mm RSX front bar if anyone is interested. It would work well with the 19mm RSX rear bar on an LX.
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By up-sizing the front bar your going to get more understeer...
Personally I think the trick seup would be the 15.9mm front and a 22mm rear, but most people would not beable to handle that. I've found the combination of the 15.9mm front and a 19mm rear to be pretty well balanced, the car still pushes at its limits (For autocross) but, if you know what you are doing, you can get the rear end to rotate pretty easily.
Personally I think the trick seup would be the 15.9mm front and a 22mm rear, but most people would not beable to handle that. I've found the combination of the 15.9mm front and a 19mm rear to be pretty well balanced, the car still pushes at its limits (For autocross) but, if you know what you are doing, you can get the rear end to rotate pretty easily.
^I really wouldn't recommend this 15.9/22mm combo, but otherwise I completely agree with nearly everything else ZZ says. I also have an 03' EX Sedan that came with the 15.9/12 combo. I ran the 15.9/19 combo for a while, then upgraded the front to an 01 EX coupe 25.4mm(1") bar. So, now I'm running the ever popular 25.4/19 combo. This does make too much understeer, but for STREET with everything else STOCK its trade off is way less body roll and tracks much much better on the freeway (zero steering input compared to constant nerve racking wandering all over freeway lanes with stock setup). Maybe the Sedan's weight and rear springs makes this difference compared to what ZZ is noticing with the coupe? I dunno. You could get the 02 EX sedan 22mm front bar and that should fit. I'm going to stick with the 25.4mm front and eventually get a 22mm rear bar. But, first I have to get a real alignment and some real tires. Good luck!
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Rep Power: 0 I've been running the 15.9mm front 19mm rear for some time and I still have more body roll than I prefer. I want to try the 22.xmm front bar from an '02 EX sedan instead of going up to the 25.4 mm front bar from the coupe (unless I find a cheap 22mm for the rear).
I only posted the info, because when I searched I found a lot of incorrect information about what would fit what. Many people say the RSX bar will not fit a coup or sedan and that all the coup and sedan bars are interchangeable. I found that only the EX bars will fit another EX.
I only posted the info, because when I searched I found a lot of incorrect information about what would fit what. Many people say the RSX bar will not fit a coup or sedan and that all the coup and sedan bars are interchangeable. I found that only the EX bars will fit another EX.
Last edited by shane; Jun 16, 2004 at 12:31 PM.
The EX fitment issue is because of the catalytic converter's location, you'll see when you pull your front bar. I went 25.4 because I could go with the neuspeed poly bushings and I know eventually I'll even it back out with a rear 22 bar.
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Rep Power: 412 well I have been completely satisfied with my 25.4mm front and 19mm rear, however I can dial in over/understeer with my coilovers.
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Rep Power: 0 I know about the EX fitment issue with the catalytic converter first hand, I bought an 02 LX sedan front bar that was "supposed to fit" (the seller and I both had the same misinformation from the same internet sources that it would work on my EX). I took one look at the bar and knew right away that it wouldn't clear the cat, but for fun I checked it by removing my old bar and placing this one and the RSX bar to see how close they would be to fitting. They both lacked about 2'' of the clearance that they needed.
Yes, it's an Acura EL
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Rep Power: 368 I'm not as much a suspension expert as everyone here, but I do have the 02 EX stock front sway in my EL (same as EX sedan) with the 22mm DC5-R rear sway, and it feels absolutely fantastic, even with just my lowering springs (STUPID HAYAMES!!!). I had a 19mm RSX rear sway before this, and the 22mm does allow for significantly increased oversteer in hard turns. Since I'm not exactly a friggin drift king it takes a lot for me to step out that rear end, but it's easier to do with my 22mm than with the 19mm. I don't think I'm gonna be grabbing an upgraded front sway because I don't want any understeer back, but what about adding a Tanabe or Neuspeed front underbrace? Will that affect oversteer/understeer any? BTW I also have front and rear upper braces, rear lower, and a floor bar, which I think MAY have some effect besides being fun to look at.
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Rep Power: 380 Shane, if you are trying to make the car handle better, then Body roll isnt really your primary concern. See, body roll is an effect of weight transfer, it doesnt cause weight transfer. at most, it annoys the driver and causes a bit of camber loss.
a common Misconseption is that Body roll or the lack there of, is a sign of a well/poorly handling car. Fact is, you could build a car with 0 Body roll that handled like crap, and a car with excessive body roll that handled pretty good.
Sickboy, I agree. Most people would have a hard time with the 15.9mm and 22mm set up. But for what I do with the car (Autocross) I strongly believe thats the way do go to get the most out of the car. I co-drive an 89 Si thats got a stock 16mm Front bar and a 24mm rear bar, and that thing handles Great, a bit much for the street, but then who drives at their cars limits on the street?
a common Misconseption is that Body roll or the lack there of, is a sign of a well/poorly handling car. Fact is, you could build a car with 0 Body roll that handled like crap, and a car with excessive body roll that handled pretty good.
Sickboy, I agree. Most people would have a hard time with the 15.9mm and 22mm set up. But for what I do with the car (Autocross) I strongly believe thats the way do go to get the most out of the car. I co-drive an 89 Si thats got a stock 16mm Front bar and a 24mm rear bar, and that thing handles Great, a bit much for the street, but then who drives at their cars limits on the street?
1. We hijacked shane's thread- sorry and thanks for trying to help with the front sway info. I felt the same way about stock 03 suspension, it needed help badly.
2. Telly- those braces will help with flexing issues but not with balancing the car.
3. Zzyzx- someday I'll get into autocross, but for now I'm trying to do the best with this fwd on the street with very very limited funds. I agree about not being able to push the car to its limits on the streets, which is why I think it is actually more important to worry about balance and cost effectiveness (at least for those of us who don't race). A lot of these young guys think you can gain without giving up something (i.e. tires, brake pads, sway bars, etc.), so I try to remind people every now and then. As far as that 15.9 bar, it's not just the body roll, or the wandering, I could actually feel the car twist and flex. I also used to get a lot more shoulder wear with this setup, probably due to the this new suspension design.
2. Telly- those braces will help with flexing issues but not with balancing the car.
3. Zzyzx- someday I'll get into autocross, but for now I'm trying to do the best with this fwd on the street with very very limited funds. I agree about not being able to push the car to its limits on the streets, which is why I think it is actually more important to worry about balance and cost effectiveness (at least for those of us who don't race). A lot of these young guys think you can gain without giving up something (i.e. tires, brake pads, sway bars, etc.), so I try to remind people every now and then. As far as that 15.9 bar, it's not just the body roll, or the wandering, I could actually feel the car twist and flex. I also used to get a lot more shoulder wear with this setup, probably due to the this new suspension design.
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Rep Power: 0 Man.. lots of good info.. but confusing ... I hear ya on the fact that every sitch is different depending on how you want your car to handle.. but riddle me this.. an 02 lx coupe, on konis, pro kit, spc camber, x-brace, upper front/rear lower tie bars, on 16"wheels/tires---which sway bar config would be best for mostly street driving with the ocassional autocross.. IMO i was thinking 22mm rear and stock front with bushing upgrades...
Autocross Junky
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Rep Power: 380 Tell ya what, Get the 22mm rear bar, and if it understeers too much still then look to get a smaller front bar, I think the Sedan of the same year has a sightly smaller bar, and then theres the 03s that had the 15.9mm
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Rep Power: 0 Replaced front 15.9mm with 25.4mm
I replaced my front 15.9mm stock sway bar with a 25.4mm (couldn't find a 23mm) to go along with the 19mm rear bar. This is on an '03 sedan that is otherwise stock except for the SI wheels and tires.
First of all the body roll is definately reduced (my main priority) and for street driving I find that much more pleasant, but the steering is not nearly as responsive. I feel like I have to turn the wheel then wait a second for the car to follow, this is only in comparison to driving with the 15.9/19 combo so some of this may be perception vs. reality. I like the steady state cornering characteristics but I think that the shocks\struts may be a little overtaxed in mid corner course correction or on unevenly paved corners. I've considered the 22mm rear bar but I think I would need to look at upgrading the dampers and springs at that point, although I'd like to hear from someone running that combo and their impressions.
Right now I want to focus on getting a little more crisp steering response. My question is what is the next step? I've adjusted the tire pressure a little but I think changing the front and rear toe may be in order. Does anyone have any suggestion on allignment settings with the components that I'm using?
First of all the body roll is definately reduced (my main priority) and for street driving I find that much more pleasant, but the steering is not nearly as responsive. I feel like I have to turn the wheel then wait a second for the car to follow, this is only in comparison to driving with the 15.9/19 combo so some of this may be perception vs. reality. I like the steady state cornering characteristics but I think that the shocks\struts may be a little overtaxed in mid corner course correction or on unevenly paved corners. I've considered the 22mm rear bar but I think I would need to look at upgrading the dampers and springs at that point, although I'd like to hear from someone running that combo and their impressions.
Right now I want to focus on getting a little more crisp steering response. My question is what is the next step? I've adjusted the tire pressure a little but I think changing the front and rear toe may be in order. Does anyone have any suggestion on allignment settings with the components that I'm using?
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Rep Power: 380 Shocks, Pick up a set of Konis.
Your going to get a lot more understeer with that setup which explains your Mid Phase problem. Going with a 22mm rear bar will help get rid of alot of that.
Your going to get a lot more understeer with that setup which explains your Mid Phase problem. Going with a 22mm rear bar will help get rid of alot of that.
I've gone through the same steps as Shane and noticed the same exact things. IMO the 22mm rear is the next step to balance out the car, but then you'll need better endlinks and eventually konis-you might as well add springs, camber kit, and alignment while you're doing that. But, I don't have the money. Keep us updated, I'm really having a hard time deciding if it is really worth it.
i have an 01 EX so what size bars do i have now? if i want to go 15.9/19 where do i get those? if i want to go 15.9/22 where do i get those?? what else will i need?? endlink, bolts, etc.
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Rep Power: 380 The 01 EX came with a 25.4mm front and a 13mm rear.... 
Understeer city.
The 15.9mm front bars comes out of any civic Coupe fromt 2003+
The 19mm Rear bar come out of the RSX (Either the Base or the S, as they have the same anti-roll bars)
for a 22mm bar, you could go several ways.... Progress, OEM CTR, ect ect ect....
Understeer city.The 15.9mm front bars comes out of any civic Coupe fromt 2003+
The 19mm Rear bar come out of the RSX (Either the Base or the S, as they have the same anti-roll bars)
for a 22mm bar, you could go several ways.... Progress, OEM CTR, ect ect ect....
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Originally Posted by Pn0ybOiLiKehOy
i have an 01 EX so what size bars do i have now? if i want to go 15.9/19 where do i get those? if i want to go 15.9/22 where do i get those?? what else will i need?? endlink, bolts, etc.
