So I have an ej8 with blown shocks all around. Ive been saving up and im purchasing koni/gc 400f 350r. The car comes with a stock 22mm front sway bar and no rear sway bar. Ive been reading different things. "Stiffer springs=smaller sway bar" and "stiffer spring= larger sway bar". I know that sway bars are used for tuning your suspension (overseer understeer neutral handling).

My question is what would be good for me? This is my daily driver im not slamming this thing (1.5-1.75 inch drop). Just want it to handle good and ride nice enough (which is why I didn't go higher on the rear spring rates). Well anything will probably ride better then blown shocks but besides that. What would be a good choice on the rear sway bar? Ive been going back and forth between 13mm civic si with asr brace (I heard 96-98 subframes aren't as strong as 99-00), 22mm whiteline with included subframe brace, or 17mm eibach with asr brace.

 

On my 98 I'm planning to go with Blox 21 mm with ASR brace. I've looked at that whiteline brace myself and don't trust it and it look tacky in my eyes.

I too have Koni yellows with teins. If it's a daily I don't think the size should really matter much. Auto X is a different thing all together.

 

Start with the 13mm and go from there... If you want a little more oversteer, up the rear bar size.

Those rates are prefect for a DD!

With me, I started with 26/13mm and it under-steered like a pig! I ended up find a deal on an Eibach 17mm. Car is much more neutral with that.

The subframes are the same in all 96-00 civics, for exception of the 99-00 SI which has threaded holes for the D brackets. To my knowledge the 99-00 SI subframe is not reinforced in any way. Just threaded holes.
I run the 17mm on mine without issue, and drive it very aggressively.

The down side is you can't use factory hardware to secure the D brackets, bracket to the subframe.... I used 10mm bolts and some locknuts. ( you will need to enlarge the holes a bit on the bracket, not a big deal)

 

I heard that they were ripping out subframes back in the day when the sway bar/brace combo first came out but they fixed it. But I haven't read much about it so I still don't know. But it'd good that im not the only one thinking that about it.

 

The civic si sway bars (26/13mm) is what I was thinking at first but yeah I don't want understeer that much. I wish I had the funds to just keep upgrading to different sway bars but im in college. I did like the sound of the 22/17 set up. How long have you had the 17mm on for so far?

 

yes,leave the 22mm alone.
To be honest if I could go back I would have gone smaller in the front. I got everything for super cheap. lol

I've had the 17mm on it for about a year without any issues!

*IF* you do end up going with the 26mm in the front, you will need the SI lower control arms, shock forks, and endlinks. They are also pretty hard to find.

 

You have me sold on the 17mm. Was it a big difference from the 13mm? And do you have any pics of the 17mm installed?

 

Yes, I noticed quite a bit of a difference, although you may see more a difference due to your lower spring rates/smaller front bar.

I don't right now, but I will try to get to the car tonight and get some pictures for you.

 

Hey were you able to snap a pic of the sway bar on your car? Was this D bracket you were talking about (number 30 in the picture)

 

You'll need the following:

number 28 = 2
number 30 = 2
number 31 = 1
number 32 = 1
number 34 = 2
number 33 = 2

If you go junkyard hopping you can pick up an integra swaybar which works perfectly.

 

I didn't, but I will get one today.

#30 is the bracket that bolts to the subframe, and the D bracket #28 bolts to it.

You will need to slightly overside the holes on #30 that go to the subframe and use 4 10mm bolts and locknuts. You "could" use smaller bolts and not oversize the holes however I tried that wasn't liking how much the bracket moved around on the subframe. 10mm is the closest to the same of the subframe holes that I could find.

OR order the ASR pieces that slip inside the subframe, and use their hardware. In the grand scheme that is a better option because it will spread the load out a little better.

 

What car came with 17mm? I need a refresher.

edit: tripping hard this morning. disregard.

 

We are referring to the 17mm rear sway bar made by eibach.

 

Can you take a pic and post it when completed please

 

Hell. I'll go buy a camera and find a few minutes to get to the car and get it in the air.

The 17mm bar will bolt exactly as a factory bar does.