I have notice that most people that post on this Forum site have already changed there sawybars to the Comptech bars. Now, i recently asked a question regarding some specs on the size of the bar and no one could give specifics on the size. Now, what's up with that?

I know for a fact that the stock swaybars that are on the CL-S are measured at 27 mm and 19 mm front and rear respectively. This Acura set up inherently is made for pushing or understeer.

Now, I called today Comptech USA for some technical info and I was informed that the swaybars that they are selling is similar to stock with exception of the rear bar,which measures 22 mm instead of the 19mm and the front stays at the original size of 27 mm.

Now my question is why does Comptech USA just don't sell the rear bar by itself instead of as a pair since the front one is the same size?

I have a feeling that most people are getting screwed and belief that the bars are doing something for the car and in reality it may be the springs that they purchased and the effects of lowering the car Center of gravity an inch all around that gives the car that extra stability.

The set up that CompTech UsA is selling for our cars is an oversteer setup and I dont see any realistic gains with the setup.

We are better off getting good tires and improving shocks and springs?




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enjoy the flight

 

Dunno.....the material being used might be stiffer therefore giving less flex. THat is true for strut bars...so why not sways?

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Tw1112

 

The bars even though they are the same size, they are stiffer. Don't remember the percentages... but I am sure that the front is a good bit stiffer than stock, but the rear is where the big difference is made.

The rear sway bar is made thinker in order to reduce understeer. This does not necessarily mean that it is now a car that oversteers... but rather a car that is closer to neutral handling. Which allows the car to transition alot better and feel more responsive.

 

the front bar is the same diameter as the factory bar, though the metal is thicker

if you put just the rear bar on, you will get noticable oversteer. some people like it, but its not recommended



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99 TL

 

1. The front bar has the same O.D. (outer diameter) as the "stock" CL-S bar. The wall thickness is 0.177 (Comptech thickness) vs. 0.107 CLS stock. (I may be off with the figures, since it has been a while, but I called the Comptech's engineering staff to get the "raw" data. The back bar is 22mm vs the CLS' 19mm.

If you would like to do some calc'ing, you can calc the rear increase as follows:

22^4 / 19^4 = rate increase of solid bar = 1.797530713 = 80% greater stiffness in back than in front.

You will find that this figure does NOT match the 130% increase they quote. They didn't update the numbers for the CLS. Perhaps they will -- someday.

The front calc is more difficult. I could not find the equation to calc a hollow bar. However, I did find a "public domain" calculator on ZDNet. I had to alter some parameters to the program, since I didn't have the exact torsion length and some other figures. I used their figures which are correct for an upgrade from a TL or CL and once I got numbers that worked correctly, I input the increased wall thickness relative to the CLS.

I got a number that was close to about a 20% increase in torsion rate in the front, when compared to the stock CLS bar.

Front increase -- approx 20%
Rear increase -- approx 80%

The Comptech people quote numbers that are only valid for the TL or CL, NOT the CLS.

You DO want to replace the front AND rear bars together. If you only replace the back bar, you will increase the oversteer of the car.

I brought this same issue up a month or two ago, and I was very concerned about altering the steady-state handling characteristics of the car.

I tried as best as possible to research the issue, and now find the car to be slightly neutral in steady state handling vs 20% understear (pre-sway bar install). The dynamic handling in S-curves and tight transitions is about the same, but the sway is reduced and their is much better transient response.

The day I had the sways put on, I had two idiots pull left turns in front of me, and scare the sh*t out of me. I put the car into a controlled slide both times and managed to save my car from some insane morons. (It was rush hour and people can be very foolish with their lives and the lives of others when frustrated with bad traffic).

You have done your homework -- and I think you will still be happy with the replacement of the front AND rear together. I did have Toyo T1S Proxies and the SSR wheels on at the time of the sway install. They tires helped the handling the most.




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Silver 2001 CL-S with NAVI

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