Just installed the Comptech RSB tonight... man the car handles/feels so much better now, I am truly amazed.


I know there is a lot going on regarding RSB right now.... so I will wait a while and see how everything unfolds and if I should take it off, but for now.... IT is awesome!!!


From what I've gathered though.... both people who have had issues with there comptech RSB both used the poly bushings....not the ones that come with the RSB? Could that of been the factor that caused the problem?

I used the bushings that came with the bar. Here is my other question though... everyone says the comptech rsb has rubber bushings, but I thought I saw someone post that later releases of the Comptech RSB for the TSX had poly bushings, not rubber, is this true?


Anyways, the car handles amazing, I noticed it right away.... People had said it can cause bumpy roads to be slightly harsher, but I haven't noticed anything bad, I actually feel like it handles uneven/ not perfeft roads a little better, as crazy as that might sound... And turning into a corner.... it feels like a totally different car.


I guess if it comes out in the next few months that the Comptech RSB can absolutley not be used, and it's a design flaw, then I'll have to remove it, but for now, I'm very happy with it.

 

Yes it is a great mod, too bad there are potential issues with it. GSClifton's bar had the Comptech rubber bushings, not the poly bushings. But you can take comfort in the fact that it appears to take several 10's of thousands of miles before it fails. So enjoy it while you can. I may swap back to stock when I get the chance. I'll wait to see if there is some easier answer, but I suspect there may not be.

 

I have the comptech RSB and swapped to poly bushings and it clunked, but after some advice from mod_away I took the brackets off and found out that the sway bar was slid to the driver side endlink to much, realigned it and what not, not a problem since...

 

I completely agree....just installed mine last thursday. The car corners flat.

Although the issues have me worried, there are enough people over tons of miles that have had it that have not had any problems. I'll take my chances, and pay the price if I'm wrong.

 

Correction ... I put on the ES poly bushings. They were on when the mount failed.

Regardless, it is a good mod. Like moda_way has already shown, the mount failure is rare anyway.

Enjoy the RSB

 

More importantly, I'm willing to bet that frequently and liberally applying grease (every 6 months) will help the side-to-side issue. I figure if the bar can slip with less friction in the bushing, then it should mitigate some of that force.

 

That has been my thoughts EXACTLY! You keep it lubed up properly and enough, the dynamics should almost come out in the wash and allow the physics to operate properly without causing a larger stress on the mounts. I have been thinking about this alot as i have it sitting in my room waiting to put it on my new TSX and i will doing so shortly and just making sure it is properly lubricated and such every so often.

 

Great minds think alike. Next question is service interval which I'd like to hear JTso's opinion on every 6 months.

 

But that's exactly the issue that Progress flagged as being a possible candidate for causing the failure.
If you think about it, why would they got to the additional cost and hassle of welding plates either side of the mounting clamp?
As explained to me, the bar moving laterally puts a different stress level on the point and over time, this constant stressing (too high or in the wrong direction) has caused the part to experience material fatigue.
I'm not saying Progress have all the answers, but it does impress when they say they've been there before at much higher thicknesses of bar, and discussed it with Honda.

Equally, a company with Swift's reputation changed the bars on the Euro R (CL7) to their own material, but not in thickness and yielded a 130% increase.

Similarly, H&R only went to 20mm and at SEMA '05 had various pro drivers driving the TSX with F&R bars done (as well as their suspension) and none of them could get the car to break loose.

 

I would agree that they tested it enough to see having those welded pieces on there may be necessary. Either way, Progress no longer has CT as their competition.

 

I would agree with that as well however, they are also pushing the car much farther than i think most of us will be.....well maybe...lol. There is obviously going to be more stress there no matter how lubricated anything is due to the size increase and nature of the motion, that def can't be stopped or prevented however, the lubrication will help alleviate some of that addional stress in decreasing the rigitity of the system. (that was a run-on....sorry..lol)

 

If we don't drive like maniacs I can't see a problem with CT's RSB. However; prolonged abuse aka constact autocrossing could deffinately lead to potential issues with ANY RSB, Progress, Comptech, Neuspeed, or whoever else is making them for the TSX. Any time you upgrade a component to a car you are taking the risk of something going wrong. But, without that mystery it wouldn't be fun lol.

Advice:
Make sure bar is installed properly and equally on both sides
Lube bushings accordingly
Torque to PROPER spec, not more, not less
Torque end links THEN brackets
Drive like a sane person, RSB is not the same as a nice new suspension, it's really meant to enhance daily driving not racing.
Don't go rallying over speed bumps and curbs
ENJOY THE RIDE!!!!!!!!!

 

since this is the latest/active RSB thread, I have a question about teflon tape on the RSB where bushing contacts bar.

I discussed it with a couple friends who wrench and they said it could get chewed up (debris, friction, etc.).I saw that a few on azine recommend it. But is it more trouble than it is worth?
I ask because I was thinking that the Teflon tape route would be one time deal and replace the need to apply grease every 6mo. I could go either way at this point.

Anyone see their teflon tape get shredded? other comments. might do the install this weekend. but the weather is so nice I'll probably go out riding instead.


(and clee I won't drive like a maniac after the install)