When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I went out on the track at Carolina Motorsports Park this weekend for the first time in my 98 GSR. It did fine, but it had a lot of body lean in the corners and understeered (expected). Had a blast though. This thing is my DD so I want to keep it comfortable. I have KYB AGX shocks all around on stock springs. Car is otherwise all stock other than poly swaybar bushings.
Will the 24mm ASR rear bar be "too much" for my setup? I see that the 22mm Type R rear bar is also an option but is actually pretty similar in price when all of the bits and pieces are added in. The ASR bar is nice because it comes as a kit with the subframe brace - presumably no guesswork. I've done some research and it seems that a stiffer rear bar will have more effect with soft springs (which I have).
I don't think a type r sway bar without the subframe brace would be a good idea, if thats what you were thinking of. I would probably upgrade the springs first if i were you. A type r sway bar with gsr springs will be putting a huge strain on your rear subframe and may tear it, so ASR subframe brace plus type r springs/sway bars may be more what you're after.
There really is no single right answer here though, as there are a million different combinations that different people seem to like.
I have stock sway bars (LS) and BC coilovers (10k front/ 6k rear) on my integra and though I have not pushed it to its limits, I think it handles great and corners very flat. Sometimes on rough roads I wish that I went 8k front/ 5k rear, but most of the time I am pretty happy with it, especially when taking an on ramp at double the limit.
People that are autocrossing seem to agree on higher spring rates, especially in the back, with set ups like 8k front and back or 8k front/10k back and so on even into the 12ks in the back, but I feel as though that would be a miserable commute, so it all depends on your tolerance and actual use / goals for your car.
Thanks, yes I'm definitely getting the ASR brace regardless. I'm toeing the fine line between making a good track car and miserable DD (or vise versa), I know making the car better on the track almost always makes the ride harsher and less pleasant on the street.
I went ahead and got the ASR brace and 22mm ITR rear bar. I may end up getting ITR springs or Ground Control coil sleeves if the car is still too soft. The GC sleeves are nice because the height is adjustable.
If you go with a higher than stock ITR spring rate (250 linear front/250 progressive rear (or 4.5kg/mm)) you are going to want to upgrade the shocks as well.
I had a 10k front/ 8k rear skunk sleeves and kyb shocks and it still handled okay on smooth roads, but a mid corner bump would throw the car all over the place and it took pot holes/bumps/etc very bad.
Sometimes I wonder about dropping spring rates on my BC coilovers down to 8k/5k and upping the sway bar rates, but then again its pretty good how it is now, so I am probably not going to bother.
With spring rates that soft (stock) a bigger rear sway will help but only to an extent. You really need stiffer spring rates to keep the car from all that body roll. The two most cost effective, not junk setups are progress coilovers ( on my track only integra ) or the GC/koni setup. My last integra I had koni yellows with h&r race springs. It really was a good street/track compromise. A larger sway bar would have made it even better. Progress coilovers have taken a beating on my track car and are working great. So You have a few options while keeping cost down. Progress can do diff spring rates for your needs. I feel like a 450/450lb setup with a sway bar would be a great dual purpose setup.
Ok thanks everyone for taking the time to comment. I just finished installing the ASR brace with an ITR 22mm swaybar but I'm now convinced that I should go ahead with new springs. I will probably go with the Ground Control sleeves 1021.04 (315/250 lbs/in) since it allows full height adjustment from stock to -2.5 inches.
I wish I had gone with the Koni yellows now but I already have a full set of new KYB AGX dampers, so I'm going to use them. I know the AGX's aren't as good as the Konis but it's really nice that they are adjustable, with the GC sleeves the setup is fully adjustable.
Usually sway bars are matched to suspension... With the stock spring rates, I think you're best with the stock sway. 24mm seems a bit much. Personally, I will upgrade to Progress 22mm sway with brace ($309) then get the Progress coils to match too. The idea is to have the suspension parts compliment one another. If one of the parts is too aggressive, the car will handle off.
I was curious to try the stock springs with a 22mm ITR rear bar but track days are so expensive...if i'm going to spend a weekend and hundreds of $$, I might as well set up the car properly right?
Ok thanks everyone for taking the time to comment. I just finished installing the ASR brace with an ITR 22mm swaybar but I'm now convinced that I should go ahead with new springs. I will probably go with the Ground Control sleeves 1021.04 (315/250 lbs/in) since it allows full height adjustment from stock to -2.5 inches.
I wish I had gone with the Koni yellows now but I already have a full set of new KYB AGX dampers, so I'm going to use them. I know the AGX's aren't as good as the Konis but it's really nice that they are adjustable, with the GC sleeves the setup is fully adjustable.
You might want to get some extended top hats, if you want to go -2.5 inches with KYB shocks.
98 GSR track car - sway bars - Type R or ASR
