My car is basically stock. I am getting into autocrossing and wondering if I should add a better beefier front strut bar (mugen or 3 point password) or leave the factory front strut bar alone and add a rear bar instead. Does it make a big difference if I added a bar in the rear? Thanks.

 

Don't bother, it's not really worth it as the effects are minimal. You'll notice a lot more difference with bigger sway bars.. Concentrate on improving you're driving technique as this is where your times will drop significantly.

 

Thanks. I have 205/50/15 es100's on Si wheels. They are decent and I was wondering if there are any cheap suspension fixes to make my car handle better. In any case, the driver is the best mod!

 

A quality strut bar set will stiffen the car some what, so In my eyes it's not a waste. But if your new to AutoX then leave the car alone and start learning how to drive better.

 

Put the money towards a better set of tires for when you wear these out.

 

If you want to get the car to rotate more controlably the first thing that will help is sway bars and if you want to box in the suspension to stiffen the chasis in the rear to cut down on frame flex then add a strut bar. None of these modifications are overkill and will only help unless your car is prone to oversteer or you don't like the rear to rotate that much.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C5 EH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">None of these modifications are overkill</TD></TR></TABLE>

Unless you're an autocrosser, like the original poster, and care about staying within the rules.

 

hmm, upgrade the moving parts of a suspension, or try to cut down on a 10^-3 mm deflection in the chassis during midcorner.

the difference between a sway bar and a strut bar is great. i wouldn't be lying when i say that a sway bar has a 1000x greater effect.

 

Check the most recent rules for '05 but IIRC the rulese used to say that a strut bar is allowed in STS so long as it mounts "transversely" across the suspension mounting points. The PasswordJDM (or Benen or Carbing) 3pt front strut tower bars may pose a problem here w/ the third mounting point on the firewall.

Not worth getting bumped from stock up to STS for just a rear strut bar.
The effects on handling are minimal at best.

IMO: leave the car stock, not worth getting bumped up to STS for either a front or rear strut bar.

 

Do you get cash prizes or something from winning auto x's and thats why you would have a problem getting bumped up to sts?

color me green

 

If you're running STS you've got a few options. I've never driven the Del, but on my EF on stock springs the integra rear sway made all the difference in the world.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 137 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you get cash prizes or something from winning auto x's and thats why you would have a problem getting bumped up to sts?

color me green </TD></TR></TABLE>

I heard rumors that there was an autocrosser out there who liked getting being outclassed and didn't care about finishing well. I didn't believe them, but here you are...

It's all about having fun right? -- and size doesn't matter either

 

Timeline of auto xing.

1. Improve driving skills
2. Continue improving driving skills
3. Aggressivly improve the car and adapted to the changes
4. Attend a couple of HPDE/HPDS Events.
5. Start dumping an insane amount of money into your car.
6. Hone your skills
7. Enjoy the nationals!!