After a spirited drive over the weekend, I came to the realization that the RDX needs some stiff anti sway bars.

Are the endlinks serious!! These things are a priority..

Anyone using any aftermarket sways?

What platform of other vehicles do we share, that will allow us to share? OEM upgrade?

What are our options here?

 

I don't think anti sway bars will ever be made for the RDXturbo even after they make it for the TSXturbo (whenever that is)...

 

Not exactly sure why you want bigger sway bars. But I have a BMW Z3 that I thought needed some help when cornering. It seems to have a lot of body roll in corners. I put bigger sway bars and that seemed to help about 10%.

I then added Koni single adjustable shocks and THAT changed the handling 100%. So far I haven't found a speed that the car has any body roll. (You can adjust the amount of stiffness the shocks have. So in a matter of seconds you can changed the ride from soft to harsh) A month after I installed the shocks, I went to Colorado and was taking corners at double the posted speed limit with zero body roll. If the curve sign listed 50MPH, I was able to do 100MPH. Yeah, I know it sounds like I am pulling your leg but I am not.


I should check to see if they have something for the RDX. It could use some help in the handling department. Can't wait for the OEM tires to wear out. I will probably put some Pirelli Scorpions on it. My wife has them on her X3 and they are great.

 

Give the rdx aftermarket manufacturers some time to grow, since the rdx came out without much support from these companies. Although I have not researched deeply into modifications on the rdx, I assume companies that specialize in Honda/Acura, such as Comptech USA, will develope suspension/engine modicfications in the near future. There is already the Hondata flash program that achieves impressive results. I hope that a large supply of aftermarket parts (functional/performance/quality) to become available for the year of 2008.

I would bug Comptech USA with emails and attempt to gather information from them.

However, a few years ago, I heard that Comptech USA was in the mist of calling it quits, so I would research and see if they are still around.

 

my eibach springs made a significant improvement in handling/response.

 

I agree with most posters- you should not be sold that sway bars will completely solve your problem. You have to consider how the rdx is "top heavy" and will always have a little roll. I drove a MDX than a RDX 2 months later- the rdx has no body roll compared to the mdx. Different tires, possibly after market rims that allow for smaller sidewalls and larger widths, will help your handling, even though the rdx supposedly has special "michelins" with stuffer sidewalls. Michelins stink and are made for long threadlife, comfort and low rolling resistance. However, new tires wont help your body roll issue. New springs/ struts will definately help- thats the best piece of advice. Oh, and forget about body roll and learn to trust your AWD (once you get tires that dont squeal under harch conditions )

 

Swaybars may overtighten the body and yield oversteer from the chassis - just a thought.

 

I feel like even though, tires are prolly the most important thing when it comes to handling, the Pilots aren't the weakest link in the RDX suspention.

I have upgraded bars a few different times to my Subaru, and have been more than impressed with the outcome. I also have upgraded rims/tires, springs, bushings, and endlinks, so my view may be biased.

I would be really interested to see what larger bars would do to the RDX and its horrible body roll. Strut tower bars might tighten things up as well. I fully understand the benefits of coilovers, but not really an option on a 08 baby haulin DD.

Maybe before the stock tires wear out, we will have some aftermarket support.

 

+1

 

Any vehicle that is lowered will also lower your center of gravity, hence the gains of handling/response. Only thing I'm wondering is how fast will your shock wear will occur from incorrect rebound effects.

 

Better handling now, maybe new shocks later. Everything has consequences...oh well. Incorrect rebound effects??? I love the way it rides/handles now until we get coil-overs.

 

The shock goes up/down (we all know that) and has been specifically matched to the factory OEM spring rates.

When the suspension comes back down, that's the strut's rebound stroke. By adding/replacing/modifying your "spring rate" you're bound to place excessive stress onto your OEM struts/shocks...

 

Would be nice if Koni made their FSDs with matched Eibachs.

 

Thx.

 

Id say for a quicker and cheaper resolution for better handling, change out the rims/tires. That can do alot. AFter that, a lowered shock/spring

i dont think the sway bars would be the way to go with this truck.....itll always carry its weight up top so to counter u want to bring it closer to the ground

 

LOL..im catching some sarcasm... ....i think that in order to ruin a shock/strut, you are gonna need to be "slammed". 1.5" is not going to affect anything as far as shock/strut life. period. you if really think you need to get a shorter shock/strut to match this spring go ahead and waste your $ .

 

glad to hear that i have a set coming monday.

If you are looking for ride quality i would also consider double adjustable shocks, to help control over steer and under steer

 

the only thing that is keeping me from going faster around corners is the fact that the tires cant keep tread. 4-wheel slides are not uncommon on my 20"s.. i want to invest in some real good gooey tires - but cant cope with the $$ - and the fact i really shouldnt be driving like that in the first place...

 

Chassis roll adversely affects handling when it is sufficient to generate positive camber in the outboard wheel, and negative camber in the inboard wheel. Acura has done a pretty nice job of limiting roll (for a CUV) except in very rapid transitions or steady high lateral acceleration.

While higher spring rates and/or stiffer anti-roll bars will reduce chassis roll -- it's worth considering that both springs and bars do this by lateral load transfer -- the force required to oppose chassis roll is applied to the outboard wheels as increased downforce or load.

A tire contact patch under cornering force operates at a "slip angle" -- the carcass twists as much as 12 degrees -- and higher slip angles result in less adhesion. Increased downforce from lateral load transfer also increases slip angle, which decreases adhesion. (This is somewhat counter-intuitive for anyone who's ever added weight over the drive-wheels for better snow traction.)

So the stiffer suspension increases downforce and slip angle on the outboard tires, reducing adhesion. It reduces downforce and slip angle on the inboard tires increasing adhesion, but the increase never offsets the outboard decrease. The result is greater average slip angle and less overall traction.

Reduced chassis roll comes at the expense of tire grip. Replace those slippery OEM MXM4s with UHP tires. I believe BleuM&M had good results with Pilot Sports.

The benefit of suspension tuning is best realized as a package of springs, dampers, anti-roll bars, bushings, wheels and tires -- a witch doctor and some sacrificial cats are often recommended.

If the Humane League won't let you in anymore, try this book:"How to Make Your Car Handle"

 

737, you always do well in trivial pursuit dont you :wink: i like your very informative posts.

 

Ditto. I'm glad we have him as a resource here.

 

so in short...lower it and buy some sticky tires..

 

+1

Thx!

 

Unfortunately...

Larger rim/tire = harsher ride
Shorter tire sidewall = harsher ride
Lowering springs/coilovers = harsher ride

Sure..the above increases handling, but some sway's would help dramatically, and do so w/o compromising the comfortable ride.
I know that it is a top heavy vehicle, but sway's would limit body roll dramatically.

Maybe I am doing some hopefull thinking, but I have a feeling that there will be some aftermarket support by 09 .

 

Sways would help in the package deal. I've added them to some of mine with great results. As time goes after-market stuff will increase.

 

i miss the stiffness of the 2007 more and more each day. the 08, i know they retuned it a tad, just not sure how exactly....but its just not the same as the 07...this is going to make me definately change the tires and rims. I miss my 07

 

The only thing I would add is that sometimes some of the right kind of slip can improve handling is some situations. For example, a car that is setup to understeer can benefit from more slip in the rear on a tight course. The overall grip may be less, but the car goes where you want it to. (This is from direct experience. My old WRX wagon had a better feel after I added a stiffer rear sway. Less overall grip, but much more tossable.)