(This was also posted in the civic forum - but you guys might have some other ideas and not check the rice board as often...)


The car - 00cx (civic hatchback)
motor - b18
current suspension - apex'i n1 - 99 spec.
tires - will be falken azenis
desired driving - small puts around as daily driver - weekend track car (vir, summit point, etc..)
rear bar - comptech 22mm

My choices for front bar are the Suspension Techniques 15/16ths, Progress 25mm, or perhaps find a SI front setup including the arms and shock forks (26mm).. Does anyone have experience with any of these setups, or could perhaps give me some advice on running one of them?? As most of my local tracks are of the higher speed varity - I would hate to have a car that gets a little too squirly.. Thanks

ceas..

 

If it were me, I'd go with the Big Fat Si bar with it's damper forks and LCAs. This combined with the adjustable Comptech rear bar oughta be a decent track setup and won't be too apt to spinning. I can tell you it works very well on my car, but I'm not sure how similar your spring rates are to mine, as well as your weight dist.

 

I agree. Go with factory stuff. If the '00 Si (or EX DX) front bar fits your CX, go with that.

 

I am going to disagree with Mr. Poole. The Si bar is too large. Most of the WC and Grand Am cars are using 18mm-22mm front and 25-30mm rear. I would use a stock EX bar (22mm) or the ST if you have soft springs.

 

yo, mang! So what. They also run wildly higher spring rates.

 

Suck it, Trebec!

I still think the Si is too big.

 

yeah, you know, I thought I did, too... A while back, I thought I wanted a smaller one. Now, I'm either too lazy to find a suitable replacement, or am finding that alignment settings, tire pressure, shock damping, spring rates can all be adjusted enough to forking make the car drive right. I like the high roll stiffness up front. It makes things feel pretty nice.

 

A guy is selling a stock front SI swaybar here.... That or an EX is also what I would recomend..

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=106157


[Modified by Honda318dx, 3:13 PM 12/28/2001]

 

I run fairly high spring rates for a street setup/fairly soft rates for a race setup -- 500F/400R.

My car is a 95 Civic DX hatch with B18B swap. It is a daily driver and EMRA racecar (PS-4, ST-1, and soon to be H1). I run a GSR rear bar and no front bar whatsoever.

The car is very neutral, and is not prone to understeer, unless you overpower the front wheels. It is extremely "pointable" with the throttle; this baby will really rotate on demand. I believe that it is a "fast" setup, but requires alot of attention when driving (a super lot when it is raining and you are racing). I have driven it in the snow a number of times (I really try to use another car when it snows, if possible) and it is white knuckle city. I mean, I am doing my impression of Michelle Mouton through every corner, trying not to end up on my roof in a ditch!

For instance, when driving down the street to work, you do not want to enter a corner, see a busload of kids, and lift off the throttle. You will then be giving a textbook demonstration of lift throttle oversteer to a bunch of kiddies on a bus.....

So, the long and short of it is this: I believe the faster track setup for you would be no front bar and a large rear bar. The safer setup (and perhaps more drivable at your level) would be to have some sort of front bar. You just gotta understand the dynamics of the car and setup and then think about what you want to do with it....

Oh, one last thing; a lot of guys have asked why I don't run a Type R rear bar or some such larger aftermarket bar rather than the GSR bar. Well, the answer is simple -- at this time, with this suspension setup/alignment/tire setup, I don't need more rear roll stiffness. I don't want more oversteer; I feel that for my driving style and skill the setup works. Now you just have to find what works for you....

Later,
Todd

 

Interesting Todd.......The last part of 2001 I was running the same exact spring rates as you. At first, I was using a GSR rear bar (along with the factory 21mm front bar) and I couldn't even tell it was there. Next, I got a Neuspeed 19mm rear bar with the lower tie bar piece and at least felt something. Now I'm using the 22mm adjustable (full hard setting) Comptech bar with the lower brace section and really like the way it rotates.

Granted, you aren't using any front bar, but I can't help but wonder how your car with a heavier front end wouldn't want to plow all over the place and be slow on the track. Perhaps it's like you mentioned, driving style, but the GSR bar (to me) is just too small on the hatchback, even with no front bar.

I'll be going with 600lb rear springs with shortened/valved Koni's for 2002 and am hoping this (or a similar) setup will be faster.

$.02