How is the quality and fit of the Suspension Tech 25mm front sway for the DC Integra? Does it mount to the stock chassis points without modification and does the bar fit well?

I have a 1998 RS Integra with a stock 22mm front bar, H&R OE Sport Springs, KYB AGX shocks and the Comptech 22mm rear sway bar kit. I just got a set of Hankook Ventus RS-2 Z212 tires. I drive the car at time trials--I just ran at Willow Springs (big track) and in the high speed turn 8-9, the car is too loose. It's not comfortable at all and I want a stiffer front bar. I'm running the rear bar on the softest setting.

On the rest of the track the car handles great and on the street the balance is perfect and grip is tremendous. I wanted something close to a Type R suspension with a decent ride--I drive this car on the street regularly.

Comments from anyone with the ST bar would be appreciated.

 

I would recommend sticking with the 22mm front bar if you still have an open diff.

With your setup, going to a larger front bar will be a bit of a band-aid and may cause you problems in other areas. If you're just having problems in one particular turn complex, perhaps try to re-evaluate your technique. Try a different line, or get some advice from an instructor. Also, make sure you're not upsetting the car with your inputs (lifting, braking, steering) at an improper time.

I'd give it some more seat time before buying or changing any bars. Try a bit firmer front damper settings for now.

 

Turn 8 at Willow Springs is a very fast right hand corner that is also flat--you go into the corner flat out from the back straight. In my car that is over 100 MPH. Turn 9 is a difficult decreasing radius corner (right) that immediately follows, and is also very fast.

I have run this track many times and in the past my car was virtually stock (I put a 14mm rear bar on). With the stock rear bar the car was just about neutral in the fast 8-9, but it pushed (understeered) on the slower corners of Willow Springs. The setup I have now is faster and easier to drive in the slower sections of the track.

Going into 8 and 9 I stay on the gas since any lifting would bring the tail around. You have to be very smooth on these turns.

The ITR runs a 24mm front bar. It's one thing to have oversteer while running a slalom in a parking lot or driving on a curving mountain road at 50 MPH. It's entirely different when your car is loose at 100+ MPH.

One reason why I'm looking at the 25 mm ST front bar is that it is a bit cheaper than the 24 mm Acura factory part. I may just end up getting the stock 24mm bar.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bruinacura &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Turn 8 at Willow Springs is a very fast right hand corner that is also flat--you go into the corner flat out from the back straight. In my car that is over 100 MPH. Turn 9 is a difficult decreasing radius corner (right) that immediately follows, and is also very fast.

I have run this track many times and in the past my car was virtually stock (I put a 14mm rear bar on). With the stock rear bar the car was just about neutral in the fast 8-9, but it pushed (understeered) on the slower corners of Willow Springs. The setup I have now is faster and easier to drive in the slower sections of the track.

Going into 8 and 9 I stay on the gas since any lifting would bring the tail around. You have to be very smooth on these turns.

The ITR runs a 24mm front bar. It's one thing to have oversteer while running a slalom in a parking lot or driving on a curving mountain road at 50 MPH. It's entirely different when your car is loose at 100+ MPH.

One reason why I'm looking at the 25 mm ST front bar is that it is a bit cheaper than the 24 mm Acura factory part. I may just end up getting the stock 24mm bar. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I had no issues lapping the big track at Willow in my DC2 on 400/400 rates, the stock GSR front bar, and a Comptech rear set to the stiffest. RT-615 Azenis. Actually, only item I've been off there, was turn 6, and that was from coming into 5 too hot, and failing to plant the fun pedal in time to save it.

Then again, I only have stock power and no aero, so turn 2 is flat out, and turn 5 is when I plant the gas for the run through to the braking zone of 9.

Personally, I want a smaller front bar. And an even larger rear one. Of course, my car is a daily driver / autocross / HPDE car, in that order, and the suspension was chosen accordingly. Now, I regret keeping daily driver in that list (or at least at the top) as my spring rates are way way too soft.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TunerN00b &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I had no issues lapping the big track at Willow in my DC2 on 400/400 rates, the stock GSR front bar, and a Comptech rear set to the stiffest. RT-615 Azenis. Actually, only item I've been off there, was turn 6, and that was from coming into 5 too hot, and failing to plant the fun pedal in time to save it.

Then again, I only have stock power and no aero, so turn 2 is flat out, and turn 5 is when I plant the gas for the run through to the braking zone of 9.

Personally, I want a smaller front bar. And an even larger rear one. Of course, my car is a daily driver / autocross / HPDE car, in that order, and the suspension was chosen accordingly. Now, I regret keeping daily driver in that list (or at least at the top) as my spring rates are way way too soft.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're running much stiffer springs than I have--the H&R springs I'm running are only slightly stiffer than stock. You also already have the 24mm front bar. You should try setting your rear Comptech bar to the middle hole and see how that feels.

The best time I've manage with street tires is a 1:47.8. Virtually everyone I run with runs on "R" track tires (most run Goodrich or Kumhos) and are also running stiffer springs and shocks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bruinacura &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You're running much stiffer springs than I have--the H&R springs I'm running are only slightly stiffer than stock. You also already have the 24mm front bar. You should try setting your rear Comptech bar to the middle hole and see how that feels.

The best time I've manage with street tires is a 1:47.8. Virtually everyone I run with runs on "R" track tires (most run Goodrich or Kumhos) and are also running stiffer springs and shocks.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

It would ride smoother, and leave me absurdly frustrated.

I doubt that turning down the stiffness of the rear swaybar will help a car that is already suffering from both mid corner push and corner exit inside wheel spin.

I've also tracked the car with the only mods being the Comptech rear swaybar, set stiffest, and RT-615 Azenis. The understeer was absolutely awful. If I hadn't already decided the day was dedicated to learning to drive an understeering pig, I would have been very frustrated. Without both a monster rear bar and stiff rear springs, our cars just do not rotate well.

If you're using springs close to stock rates (or rather, close to the stock spring bias) and a Comptech bar, and have oversteer issues, I'd start looking for something wrong with the car.

Do you have polyurethane in the rear trailing arms? I imagine softer rates, trying to allow bump travel, on a binding suspension, could cause some nasty snap oversteer. I'd also look for any damaged bushings, or issues with the rear toe.

Additionally, as much as it bothers me to even discuss this with someone with "bruin" in his name, if you want to swap front bars let me know. I'd love a smaller one (would prefer a 19mm, but eh, smaller is smaller), and it sounds like you want a larger one. Send a PM if interested. This isn't something that needs to be in the thread.

 

I'm running stock bushings and they are all in good condition. I've run my car at Laguna Seca, Buttonwillow and Willow Springs. Even with the stock RS suspension and street tires I would not characterize the handling as horrible understeer. The stock suspension does have its limits and it really chews up the left front tire.

With my current setup the car is great and neutral through any corner that you take at less than 80 MPH. The turn-in is instantaneous and there is absolutely no understeer. At the turn 3-6 complex at Willow the car is quite good and quick. In turn 4 if you lift right at the top the back of the car will come right around and finish the turn for you. However, I've found that it's faster to keep my foot on the power and just drive through the corner.

After running one weekend on the full tread Hankooks, the tires survived much better with my modified suspension.

What kinds of lap times are you running at Willow Springs? I don't really care if I don't run as fast as the other guy--I'm out just to have fun.