17mm Front Swaybar + 22mm Rear Swaybar

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10-18-2003, 01:40 PM

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17mm Front Swaybar + 22mm Rear Swaybar

17mm Front Swaybar + 22mm Rear Swaybar

This is the current setup on my 2004 WRX sedan. (Stock front sway + Cusco rear sway set to 22mm.) I also have rear solid endlinks. In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of not size-matching on this model year sedan?

I think the understeer is much less which I like, but I haven't really "tested the limits" yet so I am wondering if now I am going to be in a too much oversteer situation.

Also, does this make a difference in snow?

Think putting a 20mm front sway will make the car more neutral?

10-18-2003, 04:27 PM

dropkick_muppet

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Car Info: '03 PSM Sedan

you don't really need to size match sway bars, you need to get the car balanced. i have a cusco rear adjustable bar, and a cusco front. with the rear on it's lowest setting, the car feels pretty well balanced, but will understeer at the limit. with the stock springs and struts, it's a good combo. i ran that setup for several months, and was pretty happy with it. there is a lot of body roll with the stock springs, and i found tha the car was better balanced when i had both the front and rear sway bars installed, than when i was only running the rear.

however, this setup doesn't work as well with the STi struts and springs i've got on now, largely because there isn't anywhere near as much bodyroll to contend with. i'm going to play with the rear a bit to see if i can get it to my liking without going to a smaller front bar.

yes, your sway bars will make a differance in the way the car behaves on snow, just as it does on dry pavement. depending on your tastes though, you can always adjust the rear to 'soften' up the car's handling for inclement weather.

10-19-2003, 06:08 AM

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Thanks for the great input. The car seems to be neutral or slight oversteer (on very spirited driving.) I like the setup now.

Hopefully there won't be too much snow this winter. (I am an avid golfer and play in winter if no snow cover.)

10-19-2003, 09:43 AM

Akiata

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Just be carefull not to brake hard in the middle of a corner. Your rear end will come around. With a bigger front bar on your car will turn in quicker but eventually there will be more understeer at the limit. But anti-roll bars are not the cure for understeer/oversteer.

p@

10-19-2003, 11:19 AM

dropkick_muppet

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you're welcome, i hope it helps.

sway bars aren't the end-all, be-all cure for a car's handling problems, but they're a great way to make adjustments, and fine tune a car. depending on how they are adjusted, they will have a large impact on whether or not a car over/understeers.

10-20-2003, 02:02 PM

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THE DEBATE IS OVER!

2004 WRX Sedan Sway Bar (or swaybar) Actual Measurements:

Front: 20mm
Rear: 17mm

There seemed to be some debate over on the NASIOC forum so I measured.