demolition_x

im looking to see if its a worth while investment. is a night and day differece or is it just a little bit better. and which would you prefer?

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Night and day.

I would give up my Tein SS before I give up the sway bars.

Bobbydoedoe

imo sways was the best mod in terms of handling

fsttyms1

yup, controll teh lean and the car will perform, but also if the car is lowered it will lean less there by improving what teh sways can effectively do!

TLsu

I thought you had to have a drop to REALLY take advantage of them otherwise their gains were minimal?. In other words, they wouldn't be worth the investment unless you had previously purchased coilovers or drop springs? Am I right or wrong here?


Also, what are tie bars?
Aren't struts mostly for show?

Sorry I'm a real dolt and a noobie...

Mark

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Tie bars --
Commonly used term to refer to the underbody chassis brances that connect the bottom of the strut towers, whereas a strut tower brace (STB) is mounted on top of the strut towers. When you pop the hood, you will see a black bar going across the engine bay toward the windwhield. The points to which the STB mounts are the strut towers. Tie bars stiffen up the strut towers and reduce chassis flexing during cornering.

Struts --
Part of the strut assembly, also known as shock absorbers. On our cars, it's the part where the springs are mounted (some cars have struts and springs separately). These absorb the road irregularities -- definitely not for show. Without these, your car wouldn't handle or ride too well.

As for the sway bars, yeah, basically the lower you go, the more you will get out of the sway bars. All they do is transfer the load from the outer side wheels to the inner side wheels to keep the chassis leveled during cornering. The way they are designed, the lower you go, the more tension you're gong to put on them, thus working harder when you are cornering. The downside is that too much tension could snap the end link plates; mine's already bent on one side in the rear.

dj5

I have the Comptech Springs and Sway bars along with a Neuspeed strut bar.

To tell you the truth, I didn't really see that much of an improvemnt in handling over stock. The Comptech sway bars are kind of a rip since the front is exactly the same as OEM. However, the lower springs really make the car look better.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

The wall is thicker, even though the outer diameter is the same.

You don't drive your car that hard, do you?? 30 seconds after I installed my CT sway bars, I was out taking turns at 70 mph. A BIG improvement.

I thought about switching to Eibach, because it's 1mm thicker in the rear which favors more oversteer, but I love the way my car rotates on the track. I'm going to experiment with the stock front sway bar and see if I can induce slightly more oversteer because it's always more fun that way.

But yeah, I guess I should add that if you don't take turns hard, then you probably won't notice the improvement. The REAL improvement is only evident when you're going deep into a corner at a fast pace and try to get a feel for the body roll, or lack thereof.

dchondasport

I have the Eibach anti-roll kit (larger front and rear sways). Huge handling difference.

That corner lean is damn near eliminated.

The car is by far more confidence-inspiring to drive than previously.

TLsu

So Pure...would you then reccommend strut bars without a drop but not sways?

Mark

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Nope. In my opinion, an aftermarket strut tower brace is a waste of money. We already have a 4-point brace from the factory, which is sturdy enough. Since there is no STB available for the back for our cars, you can only do the front STB, which doesn't help the situation because stiffening only the front would induce more understeer.

If you want to see an improvement that's worth the money, get stabilizer bars (sway bars), springs and struts. I would only recommend the STB if you still think that the chassis is not rigid enough (doubt it) and want to eek out that last bit of handling improvement via chassis reinforcement.... and have money to burn.

TLsu

Even my TL-P has the feature you describe above(4 point brace)? ???

Thanks for the knowledge... Maybe one day I can intelligently answer other members questions in return...

Mark

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Any time. That's what this place is for.

Your Premium should have the 4-point brace, too. I'm fairly certain that the '02-'03 Premium came with that, but I don't know about the '99-'01. I don't know what year model you have.

EDIT -- I just saw your signature. I'm very certain that the '03 Premium has it, too.

TLsu

Is there anyway I can check and see if it has the 4 point brace?

Mark

TLsu

Also, wouldn't the Type S's slightly larger rear stabilizer bar be somewhat of a waste without a drop?

Mark

alleyesonmeee

Sways greatly improve handling. They are definately worth the investment.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Easy.

Pop the hood and find a black bar going across the engine bay from one shock tower to the other. Trace the bar and see if there are two bars extendng toward the back of the car, mounted just at the base of the windshield.

The Type-S sway bar will still help even without a drop. But it'll be more noticeable with a drop.

mtxbass1

I just upgraded to Comptech Sways, Eibach Springs, and Tokico Illumina adjustable shocks/struts. VERY much improved over stock. Like everyone else has said, it's a night and day difference.

fsttyms1

yes the 00 has the 4 point brace. upgrading to some of them is actually a down grade since some arent actually a 4 point like the factory

TLsu

You mean the 00-03 models???? Very interesting. Still at work so I haven't looked at my car yet to check it out...

Mark

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

What about the '00-'03 models??

patrick

So is Eibach sways the best brand to get? I know for a fact that Comptech sways will be more expensive than Eibach (my speed shop told me so), and advised I get the Eibach. Comments?

Mr Hyde

Night and Day difference between the stock sways, and the Comptech's. If you want better handling without sacrificing ride, it doesnt get better than the ways.

The strut bars are 99.99% show, and 0.01% actually performance improvement whne used in addition to the stock strut brace. I had the Neuspeed one; it was about $100, and it sure did look nice.

TLsu

Pure, I was just making sure fsttyms1 ment 00-03 models thats is all. because all he said was the 00 has the 4 point brace...not the 00-03 but I'm sure the 01,02,03 has it...I'm about to go check it out because I'm almost off work

Mark

TLsu

Yep I just checked and the 4 point brace is on my 2003 Premium!!!! Thanks guys!!

Knowledge is power hahaha

whatwasthat

what does the eibach anti-roll kit come with?? just f/r sways??


what is better, the eibach kit or comptech f/r sways?? i'm in the market, and do'nt know which to purchase..

aaronnn

i have neuspeed sways on mine.. i definitly felt alot more confident taking those curves after i got them in. i love the handling improvement, plus its alot cheaper than eibachs and comptech.
cant wait to get my coilovers in.

Michael03TLS

Did someone say sway bars? Hehe the sound of those words "sway bars" brings great memories and significant improvement to the TL. "It should have came with the factory "as Mr. Hyde had already said before in previous post and I concur 110% percent on that statement.

Anyways, Read my previous article/review on Sway bars here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ight=cornering




As far as where to buy them and get the best prices
Read here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ight=sway+bars

The same link above will also show you some DIY guides if you guys have the some tools/equipment and are mechanically inclined or want to do the work to install the sway bars yourself; alternatively, it shouldn't cost that much to take it to a shop to do it since it is easier because they have a hoist to put it in. Taking off the tires will help put the sway bars in easier, especially for the front part of the car.

If there are any questions after reading my previous post and reviews in the above links, post it here. Also as one person mentioned, you will get the most out of your sway bars if you have lowered your car; it will then corner very well but don't forget to get good tires! The car does not need to be lowered to feel the "night and day" difference and significant improvement with the sway bar installation. Good luck and you won't regret it.

power-fade

Progressive improvements....(this is subjective, but these are my thoughts)

1) Equipped with 19x8 wheels; 225/35/19 Nitto Extreme

Stock Springs & Bars

Ride Comfort 7.40/10
Noise Comfort 7.25/10
Handling 7.50/10
Road Rating 7.40/10

Heavy understeer. Steering response was sluggish.

2) Equipped with 19x8 wheels; 225/35/19 Nitto Extreme

Tein High.Tech Springs & Stock Sway Bars

Ride Comfort 7.20/10
Noise Comfort 7.15/10
Handling 8.00/10
Road Rating 7.50/10

Moderate understeer. Steering response was better, but still slow.

3) Equipped with 19x8 wheels; 225/35/19 Nitto Extreme

Tein High.Tech Springs & Eibach Anti-Roll-Kit Sway Bars

Ride Comfort 7.10/10
Noise Comfort 7.00/10
Handling 8.50/10
Road Rating 7.60/10

Neutral understeer. Steering response is quick. It does not feel like a front wheel drive car, unless under hard acceleration.

power-fade

Wrong wording "Neutral understeer", rather minimal understeer.

kuni808

Night and day difference. my set up consist of Neuspeed front i think it 27mm?? i forget and the rear is 19mm. little larger than stock. also i got the upper neuspeed strut tower bar. i was rolling with these on the stock type s suspension. you can feel the difference with the upgraded sways. the turns are a little more responsive but still have the lean on the stock type s suspension. i just bought Omni Power coilovers. the handling became almost instant. night and day. but it also helps i have high spring rates too. i have 12k front and 10 k rear. so the handling is awsome. i can take turns about 10 to 15 mph more than usual on the street i normally drive. but i dont push it since there is a wall. thats all i need is to hit a wall doing something stupid. but the car does plant on the ground though. so its a hugh difference!!!!.. i definalty recomend any suspension upgrade over engine mods.

TL

Is there a way to beef up the endlinks on our TLs? From reading some other posts, it seems like the factory endlinks aren't really strong enough for an aftermarket sway.

kuni808

I dont think there is any aftermarket upgrade for the endlinks. i had to buy brand new Acura links the rear and front is like 30 ish or so. i was lucky acura had them cause i needed the one side due to the allen stripping. but if there is an upgraded one man i would be all over it. i hate allen crap. always strip!!! make sure when you upgrade the sways put some lube and get a wire brush and scrub the threads to get rid of rust to prevent the nut from stipping!! i found out that trick!!!

yunginTL

so the strut bars are all show? anyone want to post pictures of the different kinds of strut bars?

and also whats the price range lookin like for the sways?
eibach or comptech?

InspireUA5

For strut bar (front), I definitely recommend Cusco type OS Front strut tower bar....(MADE IN JAPAN)

Mike_McCready

Is there anything bad about this mod. for example, driving in snow/ice? I want to get eibach pro-kit and some sways for xmas, but I live in New England. hit me with some advice

bmoreTLS

Endlinks importance... any input? Kuni, did your's break?
What does it sound like or feel like when you ride with broken end links?

sxlova07

bumping this thread cus I am also curious about this since I live in mass

whatwasthat

nope, no disadvantages with the sways. it could only help.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

It's set up to reduce understeer (read more oversteer), so the car would be more prone to spinning out in the snow. But as long as you're careful, you'll be okay.