euroStyle

I was just looking through some bars and had few questions.
whats the size of the stock front sway bar?
I was also looking into strut bars, they do tighten the chassis but wouldnt they also increase understeer? since they're stiffening up the front part of the chassis?

05_TSX_GP

Straight from www.acura.ca
Stabilizer Bars Front: 25.4mm
Stabilizer Bars Rear: 15mm (skinny!!!)

I think strut bars (those mounted at the top of suspension points under the hood?) would increase understeer, but don't quote me on it... experts, please chime in

Dan Martin

No, the strut bars don't increase understeer. They simply provide a more rigid base for your suspension to work from. An increased diameter front swaybar will cause more understeer though.

05_TSX_GP

Thanks for correcting my wrong assumption

So what changes in handling can be expected/felt by having a more rigid base for the suspension to work from? That is, if one just change the strut bar (TSX has a stock one, right?) up front and not changing the sway/stabilizer bar.

GIBSON6594

Dan has been on a ownage spree lately

Dan Martin

A rigid shock tower will give a more "crisp" feeling to the steering and help initial turn-in. Basically your shocks won't squirm around as much when you're in a corner so handling will be more predictable. The effect will be much more noticeable when adding a strut bar to a car that didn't have one before, but it seems that it's still noticeable on our car.

The towers move around a fair amount as some people have found out when they go to install the strut bar. If you have the car jacked up, the towers will lean outwards because they are unloaded. If you have the car on the ground, they'll lean inwards because of the pressure exerted on them. If the bar doesn't fit well when the car is on the ground, simply jacking the car up will likely bring the bolts back into alignment.

jlukja

Don't recall where I read this but I think the front stabilizer bar is tubular (hollow inside) whereas the rear bar is solid. The dimension of the front bar would, in that case, be misleading as to its rigidity when comparing it to the rear bar.

05_TSX_GP

A like myself is too easy to be