Edit: ** Sigh… Front Sway Bar **

I'm currently in the process of starting a full EM1 EBP rebuild and turbo project. I purchased a set of front and rear S&T sway bars brand new for super cheap ($175 for both). I originally just needed a new rear to pass inspection (long story).

The main issue is the front is for a non SI model and is slightly smaller than the stock EM1 bar (which I believe is 1.25" and this is 15/16"). What I'm wondering is if this bar will be a good match or not.

I've read conflicting threads about it being better or worse to decrease the size of the front sway bar. So my question is should I use this? Should I sell it and purchase the larger version?

Car will be a Street/Strip setup. Hoping to have the option to daily drive when I feel like it and the weather is nice. The rest of the suspension setup is Koni/GC setup 350/400 springs. ASR subframe brace. New trailing arm bushings. Function7 LCAs.

Thanks!

 

I'm little confused by your post. so you have an EM1, and you bought sway bars for a non EM1?

In either case, install the rear and decide if you like how the car feels.

I have SI sway bars, and honestly I kind of wish I had an EX sway bar... 22mm VS 26mm on the SI.

 

The rear sway bar is the same across all models. The front is the only difference. I needed a new rear bar and was able to get BOTH for the price of what just the rear would cost. Essentially getting the front one for free. The front one is for an EX/DX/CX and is smaller than the factor/S&T front sway bar that is for the EM1/Si.

So what I'm asking is what people's opinions are on running a smaller front sway bar on an EM1. Should I keep the smaller one and run it, or sell it and buy the proper (larger) front sway bar. Will this cause excessive over/under steer? I'm not a suspension expert so I figured someone on HT could chime in

 

The only valid answer you'll receive is "it depends".

Spring rates, intended use of the car, tolerance for oversteer of the driver, preference of the driver, etc...

Too many factors for a generic answer to have any meaning here.

Do what was suggested. Bolt on the rear ARB, and see what you think.

 

I opted to put in the em1 sway bar with lca and forks into my dx. A little under steer but that can be changed with some suspension tuning in the rear to compensate. Again, spring rates and ride height all come in to play when using stabilizer bars of any sort. Worst case you try it for yourself because people have different driving techniques. Are you tracking this car for that matter?

26mm si front sway bar
22mm itr rear sway bar
Trunk braces and subframe

This setup works well for me so far.

 

I plan on visiting the track maybe a couple times a year but mostly going for a 350-400hp street monster.

Sounds like I should just put both of them on and see how it handles. I was just hoping to not have to switch things around once they are on since the S&T bars latch directly into the LCA bolt with the strut.

Thanks for the replies.

 

If all you are doing is straight line racing, it doesn't matter what bar you put where. Sway bars only do anything under cornering, and you won't notice a huge difference until you start cornering hard, like in autocross or road racing.

 

My set up GC/Koni Yellows, 450fr/350rr, 75%fr/ 50%rr
25mm ITR sway bar front w/ Hardrace Endlinks & Bushings
24mm ASR rear sway bar (ASR subframe brace & endlinks)
Daily driver/very quick/angry canyon carver. Convinced my friend who HATES Hondas and only drives Chevys and Harleys to stop hating our cars. My car handles almost 100% neutral, slight front bias, while still being able to snap the *** end around when I want/need. Might help as a point of reference, but individual set ups definitely depend on needs and preference.

Definitely go with the Function7's, the quality is top notch.

 

^ Are you on an DC/EG front subframe? Integra front bars fit terribly on EK subframes.

For a purely street car, I love love love my 26mm/22mm fr/rr setup. Allows me to keep some bump compliance in the front and still have good roll stiffness (which, btw, is the entire point of having sway bars). Car feels much more planted in the front than it did with the stock LX 22mm.

I do need to go up a bit in spring rate all around though, it would actually smooth me out some at my height as I'm on the stops from time to time.

OP, for a car that doesn't see a racetrack very often or at all, you'll be just fine with what you have.

 

hey Guys,

I have already created a thread but with no helpful replies.

I running Koni/GC 430F 300r on my em1 with ARB 26mm front and 22mm which is supposed to be a neutral handling.

The car looses front traction (some where middle and end of corner).

Will a hard bushings help? and what might be causing this traction loss.

 

Tires? Alignment? Driver? Conditions?

 

im running 195/55R15 tires pressure 33 psi all around
Alignemt is fine,the only issue is rear camber is about -2.5
what do u mean by conditions?

 

Not really. It is possible to put an integra front sway bar on an EK subframe, I have had 0 issues, no rubbing, perfect install using EX front lower control arms, ITR sway bar running above shift linkage

 

I know it doesn't rub, but it sticks way below the subframe on either side of the hump. I took mine back off after a day because I felt it was dangerous to have it hanging that low. It's too bad, I liked it best out of the three bars I've tried on the car.

A crappy pic of what I'm talking about:



Hard to tell in the pic, but the bar is ~2" off the ground. It would hit on big dips and speed bumps.

 

Mine is about the same off the ground, I'm only dropped about two inches though but I've never had an issue with hitting my sway bar on bumps lol if I have I haven't been able to tell, there is no visible damage to my bar, but to each his own what bar did you end up using? I was originally going to go with the CTR bar but I found the ITR 25mm on craigslist for like $70 used. I've thought about changing it but haven't bothered lol

 

I used the Si/CTR 26mm with Prelude end links. I was on H&R race at the time so it was pretty freaking low, I'm about 3/4" higher now but I just didn't feel safe with anything hanging below the undercarriage of the car like that.