When I go to autocross I seem to have this problem keeping the front end of the car ahead of the back end of the car. I'm assuming the best way to tame the oversteer is a sway bar. I realize a comptech bar is the best option, but I'm not looking to throw that kind of money at it. I'm hoping to keep it somewhere in the $200 range. I can't seem to find stiffness figures on most of the sway bars that are available. I'd at least like to make sure what I'm buying is at least stiffer than what I'm taking off. What about the option of swapping out the rear sway bar for a AP2 bar (I'm pretty sure they're softer, I'd assume that would serve to tame the car a little as well). Any negatives to that option?

Is there anything out there that will help me out? Or should I just swap on some 185's for the front tires and hope for the best? Thanks for the advise and sorry for the noob question. I searched, I promise!

 

For around $200, you probably wont find an "autocross" sway bar, but could probably get a 30mm or 32mm non-adjustable bar. Would be stiffer than stock, but not as stiff as a Comptech or Gendron. I believe the 2000-2001 cars had a 28mm bar on them, could be wrong about that though. Also, if you plan on running in stock class, you cant change the rear bar. If you dont care about stock, you could try disconnecting the rear and see if that helps out.

 

There is also the Saner bar, I believe he still makes them.
But... he is harder to reach the the president

 

[QUOTE=scottrunsxc,Feb 22 2008, 05:21 PM]When I go to autocross I seem to have this problem keeping the front end of the car ahead of the back end of the car.

 

FYI form the Faq: https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=351694

THere are a few stiffness #'s there, but the Swift is actually 87% OF the MY00-01's front bar - so 13% less stiffness than a OEM front bar from 00-01's according to Swifts website.

I am in the market for one too, for track days though. Since the he Saner is out of production, I am leaning twords the Cusco as this is the only one I could track down any data for - 72% increase over OEM 00-01 bar.

Not to jack but anyone have input on the Cusco fornt bar or any stiffness numbers on non-adj fornt bars???

 

 

why the retard?

 

Look at your driving style first. Have some experienced RWD (preferably S2000) drivers ride along and point out any obvious driving mistakes (e.g. lifting mid-corner, not being smooth, twitchy steering).

If you're confident it's not your driving, there are various things to consider before going for a larger front swaybar (which is totally unnecessary with stock tire sizes). You can try adjusting your tire pressures to find the optimal numbers for your tires (you may be running too high/low and not utilizing all of your rubber). You should also have your alignment checked out; too little toe-in in the rear will make the car oversteer a lot.

I ran a Saner FSB a few times on my street tires (too lazy to change over to R-comps those weekends) and it induced an unmanageable amount of understeer; I was like Mr. Plow ;-)

 

I run wider front tires on the street because of the stiff FSB (comptech on full stiff).

F 225/50/16
R 245/45/16

The car handles great, well balanced.

 

A couple of seasons ago I ran the RE01Rs in 205/225 sizes with the Comptech on full stiff. Learned some car control because understeer was available only if I forced it...