RexNuts Subaru Forums

Are they really worth the money?

I notice a lot of ppl using them in the WRX scene, but never really thought about them till now.

Few questions about them.

1) What difference/s will i feel by installing front/rear swaybars.
2) Which brand
3) Do they come in a kit with everything thats needed to fit

If anyone could assist with this, would be great

I'm not the most technical person but i may aswell share info that i know?

Most common brand used is Whiteline http://www.whiteline.com.au/
Upgrading sway bars usually consist of going bigger in size (mm) or getting Solid sway bars instead of hollow. The main differences they create is a stiffer front/rear end. Too stiff can be a problem and not suit your style of driving or track you may be at.

Whiteline supply everything needed when buying so sway bar and all bushes required.

Edit : It also helps in over/under steer. They also resist body roll,

The Subaru WRX is an extremely impressive car even in stock form. But the suspension and chassis setup is somewhat compromised for street use. The car is set up to understeer slightly--which is where the nose pushes to the outside of the turn--during aggressive cornering rather than oversteer, which is where the rear end comes around. While this is safer for the average driver, those who prefer their cars to oversteer a bit can install a larger, adjustable rear bar to encourage the back end of the WRX to rotate around during cornering.

Instructions on installing a sway bar to your wrx.
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
Socket set and ratchet
Step 1
Park the vehicle on a flat area and engage the parking brake. The installation of a rear swaybar on a WRX does not require that the car be raised. In fact, this modification is preferably done with the wheels on the ground.

Step 2
Remove the 14-mm nut and bolt that fasten the ends of the stock swaybar to the plastic swaybar links. Allow the swaybar to hang freely.

Step 3
Remove the two D-shaped swaybar brackets that are located on the center section of the swaybar. Each brackets is held on with one 12-mm bolt and a tongue fitting. Remove the bolt with a socket and remove the brackets from the car.

Step 4
Withdraw the swaybar from the car. If your car is fitted with a larger-diameter aftermarket exhaust, you may need to unbolt the hanger for the rear portion of the exhaust with a socket and drop the exhaust out of the way.

Step 5
Place the new swaybar in place. Place the end of the bar with the U-shaped bend on the driver's side of the vehicle.

Step 6
Apply some grease (usually supplied with a new swaybar) to the inner and outer portions of the new swaybar brackets.

Step 7
Clean the OEM D-brackets thoroughly on the inside and outside and apply some grease to the inside surface of the brackets.

Step 8
Push the new bushings onto the swaybar at the appropriate position, using the wearmarks left by the factory swaybar as a reference. Make sure the flat part of the bushing sits flat against the body.

Step 9
Push the D-brackets over the bushings and install the single bolts that hold each bracket on. Finger tighten these bolts. Hand tighten the end of the swaybar to the factory end links.

Step 10
Inspect the length of the swaybar to make sure it is not touching any parts on the car and that the bushings are not distorted. Tighten the 12-mm D-bracket bolts and the 14-mm end link attachments.


Buy a 22mm adjustable, HD links & set it on medium. Job done

One of the best mods you can do to a wrx, actually I cant think of a better one for the money!

Lots of good advice above. I'd throw a rear one on first, a 22mm WL adjustable (easy fitment job), and you'll notice a nice difference. After having a play with the adjustments and new driving style you can then look into the front one which will sharpen things up but not as evident as the rear one.

I have just recently fitted a 24mm adj rear and a 22mmadj front sway bars.
A massive difference in handling totally transformed my car.
If you do the sway bars it is also a good idea to do the rear sway bar mounts and rear end links.
From what I have been told that I did not need to replace the front end links as mine are strong enough for street driving (2006) wrx.

Hmm thanks for the feedback fellas.
Will have a look on the whiteline site tomorrow and see what costs are etc.

Didn't realize they made that much of a difference.

So basically for the rear sway bar something like this?

http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_det ... ber=BSR36Z

With these links?

http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_det ... mber=KLC26

Car is an 05 WRX aswell.

Yeah there the ones it would be a good idea to get the mounts as well espcially if your going the 24mm

http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_det ... r=KBR21-24

Scott

Cheers for that mate will look into it.

I'd stick with 22mm if you have stock springs & struts in your car, what you have linked here is perfect and what i run in my 05 wrx.

Hey JD,

Currently i have lovells springs in the car. Its fairly slammed atm but i intend on changing to Tein S-Techs in the near future. Struts are stock though.

Also, what size swaybar you got in the front?

S-Tech are fairly slammed too.

I run a 24mm bar up front, previously i had it on full stiff when i had H&R springs and it worked well but now I have stiffer springs I have it on the softer setting as the car does not dive as much during turn in.

Yeh they sit nice i reckon. Mine are ghetto lol
Ah fair enough.

So you reckon best set up would be what i mentioned for the rears and 24mm for the fronts?

I found it worked well with softer springs as it stops you losing negative camber up front as your suspension compresses on turn in but can also give some unwanted understeer on corner exit during tighter corners so as with most things there is a tradeoff.

Better explained here http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gd-suspensi ... clint.html

I think if you just get 22mm adjustable bars front and rear you will have enough adjustment to be able to tune them to a setting you like.

Hmmm so not just as simple as picking a brand and size. Springs must also be taken into consideration. But then again i think, my car will never see the track so its all street driving and a lot of that info isnt really all that relevant to me as someone who will only be doing street driving with only the occasional (once or twice a year if that) twisties.

Thanks for the link it was a good read

Yep good stuff Joel.

You could just do the rear 22mm adjustable bar and HD endlinks and call it a day. Install yourself in less than 30 minutes.