I have seen the Saner bar advertised under $200 while the Gendron bar goes for over $500. Has anyone compared the two? Is the Gendron worth the difference. For purposes of context, this is for autocross. I am currently on stock tires, but would like to go to Hoosiers next season and use the same bar.

Thanks.

Bill

 

Saner makes more sense to me. I think you'll have to make a trip to Home Depot to get the endlinks for the Gendron. The Saner bar is also priced reasonably. Get yours from the S2Ki Store.

http://marketplace.s2ki.com/s2ki/customer/...cf09a286b0105ca

 

It depends on what you're after. The Saner bar likely will be fine for most regional events (unless you happen to be in a region with national competitors). You're probably going to find it limiting in adjustment range as well as absolute stiffness by comparison but if you don't care, you saved a few $$$. If you're headed for Nationals, having to buy yet another bar will cost you $$$.

 

Given that both bars are 1.25" solid bars, how come you feel the Saner will be softer?

On an unrelated note, keep in mind that the Gendron bar's arms need to be machined down to clear aftermarket shocks with larger-than-stock bodies (e.g. Penske, Moton, JRZ). The new Saner bar allegedly clears aftermarket shock bodies, but I haven't seen anyone confirm that yet.

Steve

 

If I'm not mistaken, the adjustments on the Gendron bar allow more stiffness. I don't have one so I can't give absolutes. Maybe someone who has one will jump in?

 

I am reluctant to even comment, but I think someone posted somewhere that the Saner bar is not as durable as the Gendron bar, or something. I recall it having something to do with the type of spring steel (or manufacturing process), and how it would weaken over time (torsion rates).

Now is that a rumor starter, or what?

 

This is what John has told me too. Seeing that I have JRZ's and plan to use the bar, I will be the first to confirm it fits, but John Saner said it's tested and fits correctly.

 

BTW~ the stiffest position on the Saner bar was too stiff for Thunderhill and Laguna Seca as it induced a little more understeer than I wanted. I'm going to back it off to the intermediate setting hoping to regain a little of the rear end play.

Bill~ I contacted both Saner and Gendron before I bought and came to the conclusion that though the bars aren't identical, I saw no advantage of the Gendron bar that was worth $300+. Gendron likes to say that his bar has been used by champion autocrossers, but big deal... ask for the actual specs on #/in. of deflection (if that's the correct unit) of each setting of each bar and compare apples to apples. I'd give you that info now but I can't seem to find what I did with it.

 

Saners bar has been used by Auto-X champions too. Just not s2ks, but he has been making bars for all sorts of nationally competive auto-xers.

BTW Monkey: What size tires were you running? You mentioned after thill you found too much push for the track on full still, how come you didn't change it before laguna?

I should point out that full stiff is almost definately too stiff for the track. You need a lot less front sway bar for the track than you do for auto-x.

 

225/245 RA-1's and because I procrastinated and ran out of time.