Can somebody explain to me the purpose of a rear lower tie bar and how it effects performance?

 

It holds a notorious weak spot in the frame/ suspension together and braces it for better suspension control. Bending anywhere in the body affects the suspension, so when you have a stiff frame the suspension can work exactly like it should.

EDIT: A front lower tie bar is an excellent idea also. I noticed quite a difference with my cusco one installed, best 100 bucks spent.


[Modified by Rguy, 8:40 AM 8/9/2002]

 

So it allows better, more complete and accurate tuning of the suspension because it won't always be changing due to flex? Makes sense...

 

in a nut shell- exactly

All anything that is going to stiffen the chassis is a benefit to the vehicles overall handeling performance.

later

matt

 

it transfers the load away from the chassis, to the springs... where it should be. instead of the chassis flexing and acting as a spring, the chassis doesnt flex as much and so the spring will actually get to do its job better.
also note. a stiffer rear end, will allow the car to rotate easier... cheanging the cars understeer characteristics to a more neutral one or an oversteering one. if you want to maintain and improve upon the ITR's handling characteristics... stiffen the front and the rear at the same time, as the ITR already has a good tail-out characteristic. Inversely, stiffening the front more will cause more understeer.

 

Do these lower bars (front and rear) have a tendency to bottom-out when driven on the street on a ITR at stock height?

 

some do on lowered applications. but the ITR's do come equipped with many tie bars... at least a rear low tie bar. i dont know if there is a front one, stock... but if you add one without adding a substantially stiffer rear one (replacing the stock one) then the handling will be thrown off. as long as the rear one doesnt hang lower than stock, then i see no reason of it bottoming out. as for the front... i have heard of some bottoming out.

this is basically a question for the manufacturers and people who have used the products.

I have the Skunk2 Rear Tie Bar and have no problems bottoming out since it just goes straight across and the improvement in handling is great, but note that I have an LS. Also, from what I hear, the Spoon ones dont make a difference, even on our lowly non-Type R integras. (and they hang lower than stock, i believe)

 

Another question....If you add a rear lower bar, and keep the stock bar on, is it actually helping or should you remove the stock one? I have the Skunk2 bar as well, and I didnt notice a damn thing after putting it on. Im pretty sure I installed it right, but I kept the stock bar on. Should I remove the stock bar? BTW the Skunk bar is lower than the stock one as well but I dont see any bottom out problems.

 

well i would think that you would notice a difference, since it would seem that two bars = more stiffness. however, it might be that since the bars are mounted in the same position, the addition of the other bar doesnt do anything but add weight and look good, since the stock bar is still essentially doing all the work. i dont know for sure... just a possibility maybe?

I would take the stock one off if i were you, since you felt no difference since you added the skunk2 bar on... it wouldnt hurt to remove that extra weight from the stock one... and maybe you will notice a difference... if not you are that much lighter.

 

I think the stock rear bar is probably adaquate, It's a pretty strong design... Adding an aftermarket rear lower that mounts to the same points probably won't help much at all, I say just get a front tie.

 

i noticed a good difference with my benen bar:

 

Where did you get that and how much?

 

But then again, your GSR didn't come with a factory piece like the ITR. The improvement of an additional rear tie bar for the ITR will be less than that on a non-ITR.

 

does it stregthen the subframe as well? i have the R 22mm rear bar on my gsr...

anyone selling their stock ITR lower tie bar? IM me if u do

 

It doesnt hang lower. I have also seen a cusco front tie bar on a gsr that was broken in two. You have to be careful, especially on the freeway. I have been a victom of lots of freeway debris as I am sure many of you have too.

 

It only fits cars with an ITR rear subframe.

 

anyone know where to get the benen or spoon lower tie bar? whats the price..roughly?


TIA

 

http://www.benen.com/

$130

they make QUALITY bars, their QC is so strict that the bars that didnt make the cut, you wouldnt even be able to tell they were defective

 

Just buy an aftermarket one. They perform the same function perhaps even better, looks nicer and is cheaper.

 

is the ITR and RS the same subframe?

 

no

 

How's the ground clearance on that?

 

ok, but i should stay away from DC ones, rite?

 

personally i think the comptech one that I have has the most rigid design. the only problem is that it is a pain to install.

 

It looks like all the bars in the photos (Benen, Spoon, Comptech) have different mounting locations - is that just because I may be looking at different chassis?

For those with the Benen or Spoon bars... Do they attach at the stock bar position (rear)?