bwoody Rear Strut Bar + Progress Sway Bar?

[kevinmmccormick]

Hey,

I just got in the mail today my shiny new traction bars and rear strut bar from bwoody , and I'm going to get the installed next week when I get my header flex pipe fixed next week (cracked - loud - sucks).

So here's my question:

I'm prepping the car for autocross, would I see any advantage by combining the rear strut bar with a Progress rear sway bar, which is backordered everywhere by 4 weeks? And if so, what advantages would I see over the strut bar alone?

I would imagine some additional work would need to be done since they both mount in the same place.

Thanks!

[Shabodah]

Eco-Mod is the guy to talk to. We just discussed this exact question. Seems like it is somewhat worthwhile, but no hard data on how much so.

[kevinmmccormick]

lol - interestingly I just PM'd him since I noticed that in his sig

Thanks :-)

[socalsilverRL]

the strut bar, is exactly that, a strut brace. it does not provide any anti-roll, like the progress bar. But, it does provide lateral stiffness, that the anti-roll bar does not provide.

So bassically, the strut bar will help the trailing arms track straight. While the progress bar, helps stop the "body roll."

Im not exactly sure, but this will definately put you into a different Auto-x class...you might want to look into that before installing.

[TheWastedYears]

I'm pretty sure his Stage 2 already did that for him, if he chooses to be honest about it. Most likely, that would fly under the radar at most tech inspections.

[socalsilverRL]

^true that...stage 2 puts you in stock modified class...right? anything that changes boost, bumps your class. iirc, there is another class that you can do alot of mods (body, suspension, tires, brakes, swaybars, ecu tuning), so long as you dont up the boost.

[kevinmmccormick]

thanks for the info, silver. i've been looking for a short, clear explanation for some time on the functional difference between the two.

so i guess, essentially, both would help to varying degrees. i think i might run once with just the front/rear strut bars + traction bar, and install the sway bar if it doesn't require too much hacking and then report back on the overall combined improvement.

i went through the scca rulebook and already determined that i would probably have to run in the STX class, which I'm ok with. i'm sure that all of these mods would be ignored at tech, but i'd like to compete fairly, lol. my roommate just S/C'd his IS300 so we'll both be out of stock, and he's the only one i want to compete against (though i thiiiink he might have the advantage now).

thanks :-)

[Eco-Mod]

He is bumped up several classes above you w/ the added forced induction. STX is what I ran in last year with similar mods to you, so I would suspect that will be yours as well.

[kevinmmccormick]

Right, he'll definitely have to run in the Street Modified class, his car has loads of other mods.

THOUGH: I should "technically" be in SM as well. A change in the SC pulley is basically only allowed in the SM class. Additionally, ST technically doesn't allow the bigger injectors, or the traction bar. The last event I was at had 4 evos, an M3, and a few civics in SM, all heavily modified obviously. Their times ranged from 2-6 seconds faster than when I was in fully stock in "D" Stock. I think I have a decent chance of remaining competitive, since my driving skills have improved a bit too.

While I'm in this class maybe I'll look at getting a wide throttle body...

[Eco-Mod]

Originally Posted by kevinmmccormick

While I'm in this class maybe I'll look at getting a wide throttle body...

Unless you have done most of the other breathing mods, don't bother. The money can be better spent elsewhere.