Rotary Rocket

Are there any stiffer sway bars available for the RDX?

I could not find any, not even for the Honda CRV.

Joe Las Vegas

The ride is plenty stiff as it is, that's why nobody makes them.

windowlickingood

no, its because there is no good market for it. just like the suspension that we are barley getting.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^how stiff are the OEM bars?

windowlickingood

for the turns ive taken in the rdx, not stiff enough.

Joe Las Vegas

Hence, no handheld tuners.

windowlickingood

no shit really? sheeple will be sheeple, but in the real world, you really don't have a clue on what you are even trying to prove.

H22A_CD5

iTrader: (3)

Sway bars do not make the ride stiffer. They counter body roll by equalizing lateral load between either side of the suspension. In a "going over bumps" situation they do not affect the suspension much at all. It really seems like you nay-say just for the sake of doing so.

Kaze66218

^agreed. Sway bar are rigid enough in the front but if I were to follow Sean Church's suggestion a 21-24mm tubuler cro moly would be perfect. Problem with more rigid sway bars would be weak endlinks or where the end links terminate. Seeing that under OEM stress that a few endlinks have actually failed(knocking noise at any of the corners) I have a buddy at Energy Suspension that might be able to help in that dept; should someone bend a few bars for us. But this is not a very good platform for racing to begin with.

@ wlg-- I agree. Only a few, 1% of RDX owners will ever race the RDX and by that push the envelope with just the stock suspension. Same note never would I imagine seeing a thread about: last track day my ____ broke ..... I have ______ rear sway bars. That's the reason why it broke. did you upgrade everything the sway bar touched. Busta....lol :sheep:

The better ride will result from the shocks and coils, or coilovers. Btw they are engineering stage.

Rotary Rocket

Sticky tires and stiffer swaybars are a very cheap and fast way to make your car (SUV) handle better.

I have my race car for racing...not trying to make the RDX into a track car! Just want to be able to have fun in the twisties when going up to Napa for wine tasting, or down HWY 1 by the coast, etc. You get the picture....

There was a comment about a 21-24 mm tubular bar, is that 21 front and 24 rear? TIA.

If none are available I'll just have some made, including some end links. It is just a LOT simpler to buy off the shelf.

Cheers.

Kaze66218

These are some seriously long endlinks bro.. First off we need to have the bar. Secondly I can get the endlinks made, just need to produce a rigid sway bar. Let me finish getting the coilovers going, and I'll see about a sway bar; I might have a way I can get them developed.

The comment was that would be the size I would go with. Within that range. 21 spirited, 24 minimal roll I believe the front OEMs @ 21/19 rear the only one I'd replace is the rear with a 21-24mm(idealy 22mm) CroMoly.

Patience is a virtue.

Rotary Rocket

Even though the RDX is simply a fun SUV, we will have to take it upon ourselves (the Acurazine community) to continue to improve its performance. Honda has simply abandoned us with the bland 2013 RDX, but I digress.

Now that the BC coilovers are done it is time to turn our attention to the sway bars (maybe just the rear) again.

I think a good place to start is a "speedway" style swaybar. It will allow us customize the rear sway bar to our individual driving style, some could go more aggresive, and others just a bit stiffer than stock.

My first proper look under the car it looks like we could have a straight tube going through. I will try to make some measurments for arm lenght.

The biggest hurddle is going to be what size tube will be the right one! I will need you help.

Please take a look at this website and lets try to figure it out collectively.

http://www.1speedway.com/Swaybars.htm

What do you think?

Rotary Rocket

Does anyone know what the rate is on the stock RDX rear sway bar?

It is 3/4 inch solid bar, it is 48 inches in width, and has an 8 inch "arm" lenght.

Swaybar companies measure the rate of a bar via a 5 degree in twist in lbs.

I can get a custom swaybar made to spec, but will need to know what the stock rate is first.

For those who might be interested, I will provide you with all the details (all part numbers needed) so you can make one for yourself as well.

Estimated cost on the bar is around $400-$450...ouch!

Thank you in advance for your help with the rate.

pickler

i wouldn't mess with suspension, specially on the rdx it's good enough. Just get sticky tires and superlight wheels plus good tested camber and toe angles. Thats the best way to improve the handling. coilovers might improve ride but i doubt it will actually improve time on the track if that's what you are looking for.

DRR98

Sticky tires and light weight wheels=better performance!

Pickler, for once I agree with you.

We can make it perform a little better here and there but overall it will still be a beefy cuv and not a tiny sports car.

When thinking up mods keep that in mind.

BigHatch

cuv...suv... ewwww... i just hate reading that.

DRR98

^Does big boned sedan sound more appealing?


We're not fat, we got big ace bones!

Can we call BigAceHatch?


What are our actual wts with all fluids full bone stock?


Claimed Curb wt - lbs
'10 -'12 SH-AWD - 3931- Length: 182.5 in.
-Cargo cap, seats up: 27.8 cu.ft.*
'10 -'12 FWD - 3743


'09 - - 3924 -Length: 180.7 in.
-Cargo cap, seats up: 28.8 cu.ft*


*Noticed this slight difference when looking up weights.


Has anyone had an '07-'09 and an '10-'12 side by side and compared length? Is this info correct?


If so where is the 1.8" in length? (body overhang?)


Where did they remove the 1 cu.ft. cargo space?


My Diet -purged

Spare (~37lbs) +AAA card, fix-a-flat, 12v comp (~+3lbs)


There are some galv. steel heat shields that could be swapped for alum if the weight loss vs $ cost was good?


ZO6 ti muffler?, light wt resonator, wheels, low profile tires?


What else have others removed or swapped for wt loss?

Rotary Rocket

Your heart is in the right place...taking weight off will always help. It is easier to make a car handle better if it is ligther.

But...back on topic...does anyone know (honda mechanics?) what the rear swaybar's rate is?

I already have lighter wheels and low profile sticky tires on, AND it does handle like a euro sports sedan.

I just want to make it even better, I guess each to his own.

JCRDX11

There is no other Honda/Acura sway bars that are interchangeable like the accord with the TL?

The Sway Bar idea is good - just not the 400-450 part. (Almost half of the coilover price)

Rotary Rocket

I agree with you, I simply don't see any other choices out there.

It would be great if we could use another car's swaybar for our RDX, but no one knows if that is possible so far.

I listed the measurments from the stock RDX sway bar, for those who own other Acuras can you please measure the rear sway bar width, thickness, and "arm" lenght?

TIA.

Type-RDX

I checked with Curry Acura and all RDX's (2WD included) with a K23 sport the same rear sway bar. Nothing cross reference wise proved fruitful from Acura or Honda.

Type-RDX

So I guess no luck on someone making a rear sway bar huh? It would be nice to even have adjustable rear end links for corner balancing.

dcmodels

Would a strut-bar, that is, a bar bolted between the tops of the front McPherson struts, improve the front-end stability, and hence, front-end control and handling?

I realize this is the opposite end (front-not-rear), and not a sway-bar question, but the overall goal is the same - improved handling.

I can see the difficulty because of the turbo intake cooler, but still wonder if it would be possible?

Type-RDX

Not enough clearance from the looks of it.