GIBSON6594

I put in the bar last night, the install went pretty smoothly. Was a bit annoying getting the sway bar in, had to twist and bend to get it in the right position. Took about an hour over all, going slowly to make sure everything was right.

The car feels a lot more stable now, especially at higher speeds. You really can feel the tires giving out easier now though because the car can take faster turns than the tires can handle. This was a nice addition to the TSX already great handeling.

05_TSX_GP

How much did the sway cost you? Can you tell me why you didn't go with the CompTech one?

GIBSON6594

i got it for $150 including shipping from ptuning.

I picked the Progress mainly on Jtso's recomendation. The progress bar comes with adjustable endlinks and poly bushings, the comptech doesn't. They are both 22mm, so i figured they would be the same thing, so i might as well get the stiffer bushings and ability to adjust it if i want to.

GrOD

I got the same sway put in last weekend. It is such a great mod, I can easily take a twisty without worrying about the back end. What setting did you put it under?

05_TSX_GP

Thanks! Learn something new again

I hear that Dan (Martin) is the bushing guru around here... I wonder what he has to say/add to this poly bushings

How much adjustment can you make? I assume it's to adjust it from "tight" to "loose"? Which setting are you running on now? Would be interested to see a review on the various settings

GIBSON6594

There are two settings, I have it on the tightest one. Apparently even the looser setting is tighter than stock, but I have not tested this to verify.

vwong

I think the term "adjustable endlinks" is misleading in here. My definition of "endlink" is the part (#6 and #7 in the following pic) that connects the end of the swaybar to a suspension component (in TSX, it's the knuckle). An adjustable endlink is one that the length of the endlink can be adjusted. The function of the adjustable endlink is to eliminate pre-load on the bar.

In the Progress bar, these endlinks don't come with the bar. It is both ends of the bar that come with more than 1 hole, therefore allowing the adjustability of the bar "stiffness".

Anyway, I thought that this should be cleared up so no one is expecting to receive endlinks with this bar.

GIBSON6594

your right, my bad. The bar has adjustable ENDS, not endlinks

05_TSX_GP

So is this bar used with the stock endlinks then?

How about the Comptech one? Also used with stock endlinks?

vwong

^^^

leftride

iTrader: (1)

yes, both use the stock endlinks, the progress bar just has another set of wholes at the end of the bar.

05_TSX_GP

Cool... thanks (to vwong too!) !!!

Now what about that poly brushings business? Enlighten me please. What part# would they be in the diagram vwong posted by the way?

GIBSON6594

They would be part # 4

Some say that polyurethane is stiff than the rubber that comes with the comptech. In sway bar world...stiffer is better

TSX Hokie

Actually, the Progress bar has THREE stiffness settings, but two holes per side. You can mount to the outer hole on one side and the inner hole on the other for the 'medium' setting. I don't know why anyone would buy an aftermarket stabilizer bar and select anything other than the stiffest setting though.

GIBSON6594

Really? i didn't know that, the instructions that came with it suck, thet tell you nothing. I'm not gonna take it off the stiffest though

CCColtsicehockey

damn sound like another mod, I really need to win the lottery or get a second job. someone please make a JDM sway or I may have to get the progress and not tell anyone.

GIBSON6594

I'm alerting all the JDM whores

CCColtsicehockey

HAHA thanks man

NightShredder

True, but the comptech sway is 22mm and progress is 19mm. So there is very little difference in stiffness between the two when everything is taken into account. Comptech sway with poly bushings would be stiffer, but I think greasing them is to much maintenance for someone like me. So I have Comptech with rubber bushings.

GIBSON6594

Sorry to disappoint you, but

Acura TSX (2003-2004 All) - Progress Technology Rear Anti-Roll Bar (22mm) - Adjustable Rate

Ptuning

NightShredder

my mistake, Neuspeed is 19mm

NightShredder

I am curious though. Is the Progress sway solid like Comtech or is it hollowed?

GIBSON6594

I figured you meant the Nuespeed, you had me worried there for a second. I went ahead and double checked the specs.

GIBSON6594

Seems like it was solid, was pretty heavy

NightShredder

Sorry. on me

I think the Neuspeed has poly bushings too and that is why I mixed it up.

05_TSX_GP

So you are saying the rubber bushings that come with the Comptech bar doesn't need greasing?

And the poly ones come with Progress does need greasing?

Then I'd go with the Comptech one because I just like to have it installed and not have to keep greasing it

GrOD

I actually put the sway on the softest setting for two days and tried it on neutral. Put one end on the stiffest and one on the softest. The softest is definately better than the stock, car still rolls/leans a bit on the twists/turns. On medium, it really planted on the concrete. Much much better than stock. I think later tonight I am going to adjust it to stiffest and really see how it really handles.

Its a great compliment with the A-Spec suspension

rmpage

I have the Progress here waiting to be put on and it's hollow steel tubing. A solid bar would weigh a ton more, and it wouldn't be as strong as a hollow tube.

Also, I haven't read the instructions for it yet. How often do they specify greasing the bushings?

GIBSON6594

It does'nt say, Only says to do it once and it comes with the grease. Greasing them prevents squeeking, so i'll just wait to see if they squeek.

Why is a hollow bar stronger than solid?

vwong

It's a solid bar, dude! The reason it's not as heavy is because this bar is only 22mm. 22mm bar isn't big at all. IMO, a 28mm bar would be much better in the TSX, however that's because I prefer a car to be "loose" to fit my driving style.

I have the 27mm solid bar set at full stiff (also from Progress) in my Prelude now, and I still feel that it's not big enough. Hmm...maybe I should talk to Progress again to make me a custom 32mm solid bar.

NightShredder

You don't have to, but you should probably grease them once a month or squeeking noise will persist from your rear.

Alot of people will probably have fun with that one.

NightShredder

Better question would be; how is a hollow bar stronger than a solid one? That doesn't make any sense.

vwong

Once a month? I've only grease them (in my Prelude) once so far (other than the initial install), and I've had the bar since mid-2002.

vwong

The only time when a hollow bar is stronger than a solid bar is if the solid bar is 19mm, and the hollow one is 32mm OD with a very thick wall. But then this won't be an "apples-to-apples" comparison.

GIBSON6594

Are you correcting my grammer? Or are you just really confused?

I asked why a hollow bar would be stronger than a solid

TSX Hokie

The difference in torsional stiffness between a solid bar and a hollow bar is nearly insignificant, since the stiffness is related to radius by the FOURTH power. A solid bar would be a waste of weight and money.

GIBSON6594

oh man, that was a thread killer

TSX Cman

whats this poly business. why is maintenance required. for squeeks or will it break?

I have a bar coming on its way now.

TechSX

The only differance between polyurethane and rubber sway bushings or bushings in general, is that rubber will deteriorate faster. Meaning later down the line, the rubber bushing would no longer hold the sway bar in the optimum postion allowing the sway bar to flex/move around.

A BRAND NEW rubber bushing and polyurethane bushing will work exactly the same.

Alin10123

Actually, the polyurethane bushings do last longer; But they also have very little flex compared with the rubber bushings.
I upgraded to poly bushings once on my 4runner. After i replace the rubber with poly. It felt like i had a slightly bigger sway bar on there.
But i didn't have a grease gun when i went out to test drive it, so it squeeked when i went over bumps. Once i greased them with the zerk fitting that was on there, all was good.

i bought the energy suspension ones at summitracing.com
Get the greaseable ones that are black.
The black ones are graphite impregnated and will help to reduce squeeking.