Hi,

I just installed a J´s Racing front tower strut bar and now I have a lot more oversteer.

I am at bit confused about this, since pretty much all threads about tower bars here on S2KI, says that there is no difference in handling and the only thing they are good for are looks and leaning on when working on the engine.

Front end feels like before, perhaps steering is a little heavier. The rear feels okay on initial turn in, but the “slip point” is a LOT earlier now. The rear also slips on rapid load transfer from on side to the other when going through a chicane, even at low speed.

Only reason I bought the tower bar was because of the integrated engine torque damper mount and for the looks of it.

Car has Bilstein B16 coilovers that are set to middle hardness in all corners, AD08R tyres on AP2 V1 wheels and factory alignment. Oversteer before was possible but I always felt in control and knew when I was close to the limit – I don’t now, and it sucks.

Any suggestions on what to do, or should I just throw the POS in the garbage.

 

If you take the bar off (easier just than removing the bracket from shock tower) and take the car down the same path again...does it make any difference? Try to do it back to back for comparison. When I do these kinds of mods, the difference mostly "in my head".
You're in Demark otherwise I'll grab it from you. I need some blink in my life. LOL

 

+1.
A stiffer front anti roll bar will induce more understeer/less oversteer. A front strut bar is going to do virtually nothing to the balance on a street driven s2000- maybe tire pressures are the reason for your sensation.
Have a trusted friend either remove or connect the front strut bar, but not tell you what they've done. Then you go drive - try to tell a difference- really a blind test will give perspective.
Good luck.
darcy

 

Shock tower bar provides a useful item to lean on when checking the oil and looks good even though no one can see them. All the cool kids have them despite no other functions other than making money for whoever makes and sells them. This is not a 1960s Mustang.

-- Chuck

 

Having "a lot more oversteer" shouldn't be an option on the list of things a strut/shock tower bar does for any car. My honest guess is that you were driving harder or aggressively to induce the oversteer in the hopes of feeling any changes to the car.

 

Even if it did have any noticeable effect (which it does not), it would not induce more oversteer.

 

How are your engine mounts?

 

there is no way this was caused by the tower bar. although taking the bar off and evaluating again is scientific in a sense, it is still unnecessary due to established laws of physics.

maybe you're comparing to a memory in the past when you had better tires or something?