Rear Sway Bars

Discussion in 'Mazdaspeed 3 Suspension & Brakes' started by Finch204, Jan 31, 2017.

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  1. Finch204

    Finch204 Greenie Member

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    Just doing my research on them. To keep it simple, I just have 3 questions... for now.
    • What rear sway bar do you have?
    • What setting do you run it on?
    • How has it improved your driving experience?
     
  2. Raider

    Raider Administraider Administrator Platinum Member

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    Hotchkis
    Tightest because I'm not a pussy
    Fuck yes.
     
    Raider, via an iPhone, Jan 31, 2017
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  3. HockeyGuy

    HockeyGuy Greenie N00B Member

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    Corksport
    There's two settings, 114% stiffer than stock and 180% stiffer than stock, I'm at 180
    10/10 I remember saying "Damn that's nice" during the first corner after install lol
     
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  4. Redline

    Redline I done fucked up for the last time. BANNED Greenie Member

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    JBR 125 in middle setting. I have 430 lbs/in rear springs on my GC coilovers, though. Understeer is all but gone and I can bring the tail out with throttle/braking skills in a safe/reliable way. Love the setup.
     
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  5. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    -CS
    -Stiffest setting because duh
    -Only been installed for a few days and roads have been too shitty to properly test, but first impressions are that steering feels more neutral, and cornering more stable, when taking turns at the same speeds which previously brought out a bit of understeer.
     
    SharksInSpace, via a mobile device, Jan 31, 2017
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  6. Redline

    Redline I done fucked up for the last time. BANNED Greenie Member

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    Pretty sure CS in stiffest setting is ~893lbs because it's 180% as stiff as stock, and stock is 496, IIRC. My JBR in the middle setting is 718lbs. Stiffest JBR setting is 901lbs, so almost identical to CS in stiffest setting. The JBR 250, however goes all the way up to 2011lbs o.0
     
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  7. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    That depends on where the figure for stock RSB stiffness is coming from. JBR and Hotchkis, for example, either report different stock figures or measure the stiffness ratings of their bars differently; I think it ends up making for a slightly difficult apples to apples comparison.

    I ultimately went with CS because no welds, and it's a solid bar whereas JBR's is described as tubular. I'm sure both work just fine, so it really came down to preference.
     
    SharksInSpace, via a mobile device, Jan 31, 2017
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  8. Redline

    Redline I done fucked up for the last time. BANNED Greenie Member

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    JBR went tubular to have the combination of stiffness with thicker stock, yet lightness, b/c hollow. And their competition bars are welded and go to over 2000lbs, so I'm feeling pretty confident in the welds on the middle setting on my 125 at only ~700lbs. FWIH, when done correctly, the welds can be actually stronger than the base metal itself. It is definitely a non-issue on the CS, though. I hear ya, for sure.
    [doublepost=1485904366][/doublepost]If you want super-stiff but no welds:

    I don't think that'd be too street-friendly, though. LOL
     
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  9. nekret

    nekret Platinum Member

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    JBR 125 on its stiffest setting. Note I also have the JBR front sway bar but i have that on its soft setting. pretty much neutral handling!
     
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  10. Redline

    Redline I done fucked up for the last time. BANNED Greenie Member

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    That's how you do it! Many people who don't know better buy both and crank them up all the way, which totally defeats the purpose in changing the handling balance, and literally lowers the G's you can pull in the corners.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2017
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  11. VoodooJef

    VoodooJef My friends call me Captain Zen Greenie Member

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    JBR 125, stiffest setting. Not harsh at all.

    The difference in driving? It`s no longer an exercise in vector dynamics predicting where the car wants to go and accommodating. It simply goes where it`s told.
     
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  12. SavSpeedMS3

    SavSpeedMS3 JRico32 Greenie Member

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    -JBR
    -Stiffest
    -Absolutely

    I am probably going to replace the brackets soon.
     
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  13. Castillo817

    Castillo817 Greenie Member

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    ^Same here.
    Already have the upgraded beefy rear brackets though.
     
    Castillo817, via a mobile device, Jan 31, 2017
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  14. Mauro_Penguin

    Mauro_Penguin Punk in Drublic. #BlackLivesMatter Motorhead Platinum Member

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    Old school JBR, probably what the 125 is now.

    Middle setting along with billet brackets, and endlinks shimmed for preload.

    Full retard suspension.

    Neutral steering. Much approved.
     
    Mauro_Penguin, via a mobile device, Jan 31, 2017
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  15. Redline

    Redline I done fucked up for the last time. BANNED Greenie Member

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    I know lots of people run full stiff setting on the JBR 125, but personally I've found that since my spring rate is about 2x normal amount (430lbs/in), it's like I have a much stiffer anti-roll bar anyways. Anti-roll bars essentially distribute the load from one side seen by one spring/shock to both sides and both springs/shocks, effectively increasing the spring rate and roll-axis resistance. So my springs make the middle setting feel a lot more influential in how the car handles than if I was on, for instance, my old Swift springs (252 lbs/in).

    Do you have stiffer springs too, @Mauro_Penguin?
     
  16. m00secakez

    m00secakez Greenie Member

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    - CorkSport
    - Stiffest setting
    - Cornering has definitely improved. This is one of those mods that you just have to get.
     
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  17. Quigs

    Quigs Greenie Member

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    I have the JBR .125 on the middle setting. I have the regular brackets that come with it because I'm cheap. Definitely a great "bang for the buck" mod. I like the middle setting over the stiffest, it feels more neutral to me. Combined with sticky 245 tires, the rear definitely stays planted and follows the front nicely.

    I like that the car goes where it's told and that there's never any guessing or major corrections needed on the wheel due to instability in the suspension or major under/oversteer. A buddy of mine has the .250 competition bar on full stiff and he could almost compete in drifting competitions with how the rear end wants to hang out. I'd rather use braking and throttle to get the rear to rotate more if needed.
     
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  18. Mauro_Penguin

    Mauro_Penguin Punk in Drublic. #BlackLivesMatter Motorhead Platinum Member

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    Indeed, along with a whiteline FSB.

    I'll post up more details about the senseless burning of money that is my car soon.
     
    Mauro_Penguin, via a mobile device, Feb 1, 2017
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  19. nekret

    nekret Platinum Member

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    When I was on the stock front bar, the middle was also my favorite. Full stiff was a bit too tail happy for my taste.
     
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  20. rusty

    rusty Greenie Member

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    I have a JBR 125 on stiffest. Been like that for 5 years no issues. I also use a Tri Point Race rear sway for autocross and road racing. That beast only gets middle setting. Can't remember off the top of my head but it's stiff as fuck. Lowest setting is stiffer than the highest setting on my JBR. I call it the end link destroyer.
     
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