They look like they are much stronger! I did a search and nothing came up. What are peoples thoughts? Worth $? I am doing track events, so will they help more then stock front? Does anyone know were to get them at a good price? Thanks for the help. Andy

 

I can't feel a thing after installing them (comparing stock). More for look.

 

I haven't seen any tests to see If they are stronger but, they are at least $10. cheaper than the JDM front and rear strut tower bars.

I think if track stuff is your game, then invest in the Mugen front and rear bars. Those are some serious pieces! I was gonna get the rear Spoon piece but decided I don't really need 'em for this season. But, next season I'll probably have the Mugen's in.

Good luck,

A.

 

I prefer Mugen bar over Spoon as well. Well, I should say I prefer the gen1 Mugen rear bar over the Spoon rear bar to be precise. But in all honesty, I would rather get Mugen 24mm or 26mm sway bar if I were to do some serious tracking (i.e. road course.)

 

If the Spoons aren't your thing, consider the Benens, too. Very nice pieces!

 

If I remember correctly the REALTIME racing Rs have 24 or 26mm bar, I'll have to look it up when I get home. Maybe they have the Mugen, if it's good enought for them, it's good enough for me.

 

Yes Cosworth, I also agree.

If you get the Mugen strut tower bars then you should do the Mugen 26mm rear anti-sway bar. Driving that setup as compared to my stock setup makes a world of difference, especially on the track.

A.

PS The Mugen stuff A'int just for looks and warm fuzzies!

 

Realtime uses a THICK custom rear swaybar.

 

I do feel more tail happy...just a bit. But the thing is, that strut bar is really really light, you won't even feel a thing when you hold it on your hands.

 

doesnt realtime use a 1.5" hollow bar?? thats like 38mm, but hollow inside....can anyone confirm?

 

I can notice a bit difference in the front but much bigger difference at the rear. I drive pretty hard . You can actually feel them during high speed turns.

 

Does it make sense to stiffen up the trunk brace? Just curious, everytime I need to take it out I think it to myself, but have to answer.

 

Same, can't feel them during everyday driving but during hard and fast turns, there is a difference.

 

I just installed a Spoon rear upper strut bar and I have to say I felt little to no difference on the track. HOWEVER, keep in mind I have been to only 4-5 track events spread over 1 1/2 years. So my opinion isn't worth much basically. I do however think the JDM OEM bar would look a lot better. The Spoon is pretty ugly.

 

Why only change the rear sway bar? not the front as well?

 

changing both put the car back to a neutral state again. doing just the rear helps the back rotate a little better.

 

You'd have to measure front end flex I guess to tell if there was a difference. No matter what, you won't get anything huge as far as difference is concerned. Why bother I say. The front is sufficient. If anything, you might want to add to the rear instead. On track, the key for the R is rotation and the back is what you need to work on. I added the OEM rear and I *think* I'm getting better rotation now. Note that's w/me learning to trail brake better as well, so the tower bar might not be doing anything major; it might just be the driver! I have to believe it helps *some*, as there was no bar, and now there is.

 

Yeah, after looking at the mounting place of the front Spoon bar... the Mugen and the Stock look much better.......it mounts on the car and not the Shock tower. Interesting. Thanks for the help.

Real time uses a steal pipe that replaces the rear sway bar and goes through the back of the car, you can see it when the trunk is open. I'm sure someone has a picture of it. They don't use a regular sway bar.

 

Ok so we've kind of strayed from the topic of the Spoon piece being a good deal instead of the JDM piece.

The JDM-R rear strut tower bar is a good choice but, the Spoon rear strut bar is cheaper so I feel that if you were gonna choose between the two, get the Spoon. Especially if you do some track but, mostly drive on the road. Now if it were reversed or you use the R as a second car and track it mostly, then my choice is Mugen all the way!


this is the JDM rear strut tower bar


this is the spoon rear strut tower bar

On the topic of the Mugen strut tower bars, they are of a meatier build. IE not quite as lite as the OEM or Spoon piece but, designed for racing purposes and for stiffening the chassis and providing the maximun rigidity. remember that all the bars mentioned are of very good build quality and I'd think that after you installed one of 'em you'd be satisified.


these are the front and rear Mugen strut tower bar


here is the mugen 26mm rear sway bar

So do we all agree that the strut tower bars stiffen front and rear of the chassis for more rigidity, so the car doesn't twist and sway as much. Giving it better grip, ability to be more neutral and more predictable in serious situations? The bars help to let the Suspension do most of the work and less of the car body actually soaking up the road and the inconsistancies that the car will experience.

"feel free to adjust and comment"

In general the strut tower bar is for the car body, taking place of what a stiff car frame might do. Since we are unibody we don't have all that stiffness and there are alot of forces that bend and twist our cars to make it less controllable or neutral and predictable.

The Sway bars or really Anti-Sway bars are for reducing lateral body sway. Mostly felt in high speed turns and manauvers. Especially needed and felt on a track or course. They are NOT a substitute for a good suspension or an upgraded suspension but, rather as an accompaniment to said suspension.

For the track my plans this season are a 26mm Mugen rear sway bar to reduce sway and induce rotation. I do mostly auto-x and also plan to do a good course or PDA event so after trying those full courses I'll assess IF I need a rear swaybar or upgrade botht he front and rear.

Geez, I never thought that this post would be so active.

I've driven a car with the Mugen strut bars and rear sway and know I feel the difference. It is more planted when making high speed moves but, do I need all that for my daily car that does weekend warrior stuff? I dunno... Probably not. I try to be realistic, Hell, I'm not building a road race car to drive every day. I'm building a well balanced car that will handle how I like it to and do what I want it to.

To each his own.

Good luck all,

A.

 

Personally I think the Mugen one look much better than the Spoon one. Also the Mugen one seem to be much stronger looking too. For front strut bar, I would take the Mugen over the Spoon one any day.

 

ditto. http://www.benen.com

 

FYI, I paid about US$140 for the OEM on a group buy. Not sure what the Spoon runs. Go for the best value.

I'm not immediately convinced that more metal is better. An eggshell is pretty fragile, esp at breakfast! Apply force along it's longest length and it's incredibly strong w/just the smallest amount of material. It's all about the design! Ever punch a fist into a stack of flattened corrugated boxes? Come at em from their flat panels and they'll give way somwehat. Hold em in place and punch em along their sides and you'll break your freakin wrist!
Agreed.

 

Let's not get stress bars and sway bars mixed up here folks.

I have the Spoon front/rear stress bars and the ITR front/rear stress bars as well. The Spoon pieces are just as light and feel a lot stronger/sturdier. Put it this way...I'm ditching my oem ITR bars for the Spoon pieces.

 

True..... I forgot to mention that the Spoon bars are much lighter and stronger over OEM.

 

I have the Mugen one and I think that it is lighter than the stock one.....