i have the skunk2 sway bar w/beaks kit, but i haven't gotten around to installing it.. & now that i procrastinated it's cold and dark by the time i get home from work/classes. so i don't really have time to install it myself & a local shop wants $150 to do it. so i'm considering selling the skunk2 bar & just buying a lower tie bar which is a lot cheaper and easier to install. what should i do?? how much of a handling difference is their with the sway bar vs the tie bar? should i just wait till the spring time & install both together?

 

Why not do both. But I would keep the anti-sway bar. Essentially the anti-sway is connecting the control arms on your rear suspension to the sub frame to stabilize and reduce roll. A tie bar is pretty much just bracing the sub frame at the LCA mounts.

I know my technical explanation is fairly lacking, but the anti-sway bar is going to do more for tightening your suspension and reducing roll.

 

yeah.. i guess i can just wait a little longer. just seems like i've had this thing laying around for so long. i like the advanced chassis lower tie bar because it clears the beaks kit, so i'll prob get that and install both later on.

 

Well first off what suspension mods do you have currently? The bar that will probably change the way the car handles is the sway bar (depending on its thickness and also assuming it's a rear sway bar).

The sway bar will keep you straight in the corners and lessen understeer. Sometimes this can effect how soon your tires will break out depending on your tires.

The tie bar would also be a good modification but be warned that SOME tie bars will NOT fit when paired with an aftermarket sway bar... once again depending on it's thickness.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GrayT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well first off what suspension mods do you have currently? The bar that will probably change the way the car handles is the sway bar (depending on its thickness and also assuming it's a rear sway bar).

The sway bar will keep you straight in the corners and lessen understeer. Sometimes this can effect how soon your tires will break out depending on your tires.

The tie bar would also be a good modification but be warned that SOME tie bars will NOT fit when paired with an aftermarket sway bar... once again depending on it's thickness.</TD></TR></TABLE> Beaks kit is for the REAR, so im assuming its a rear sway bar he has, and if it is, it will definitely be the determining factor in handling characteristics , pushing our cars which understeer heavily in stock form to more neutral/oversteer type handling bias, like you said. Tie bar is pretty much just bling, very doubtful that it will affect handling characteristics.

 

um.. sus. mods so far are front upper strut bar, full race traction bars, & tein ss coilovers. but like i said, i will keep the rear sway bar for whenever i find time to do the install & maybe down the line get the lower tie bar to go with it.

 

just stay up till midnight some night and install it yourself!

 

keep the sway bar. i know what you mean by time/light constraints, but you could easily install it on a weekend morning or afternoon. It should take you under 2 hours (must less if you know what you're doing). you'll be glad you kept it, it's such an effective mod.

 

it is ****in easy to install a sway bar and subframe kit. Please DIY!

I've put a gsr bar on my buddys coupe with the car on the ground.
It shouldn't take more than an hour and 5 brews to get the job done right.

You'll love the increase in feel and reduction in body roll.

 

I'd do the sway bar first. They have a more active role in the handling of the car than the tie bar, which just reinforces the chassis.

Pretty easy too, just get a light and an old sweatshirt and do it some night -or- just do it on a weekend.

 

how big is the sway bar? i hear alot of people using the ITR which is 24mm on a LS/gsr and they had their subframe teat out. i got a ASR sub frame brace on my car with a ITR bar and a beaks tiebar for ***** and giggles.

you should really keep that sway bar, it's essential. but does the beaks kit reinforce the sub frame?

 

Definitely make sure that you reinforce the sub frame properly. I installed a 23mm JDM ITR rear sway bar in my 99 GS-R with some custom brackets, shortly after, it tore the blind nuts right through the subframe. After welding her back together I bought a ASR subframe brace and did it right. She over steers like nothing else.

 

man i feel your pain, i get off at 5pm and get home, got about an hour or less and its dark and cold - mississippi cold is 30 degrees, but still... you just need to find someone with a well lit shop you can borrow or use one evening. I been out in the cold in the back yard working on cars every night the last few weeks, it sucks