Bearcat94

For your adjustable Rear Sway Bar, what do you prefer and/or how did you set it, Soft or Firm?

Happy with your choice?

XxAfG786xX

i got mine on a firm setting and enjoy it

HONgDA

iTrader: (1)

I installed the progress bar last night and set it to soft. My car is lowered on tein ss so there is no need to set it to firm. I also got some great tires so setting it to firm would be an overkill.

I hate cars

Take it out in the middle of nowhere and try it out. Steady state and slalom and adjust it to what you prefer. What might feel like a good balance steady state could be tail happy when you jerk the wheel left and right. There's really no way to adjust by "feel" just by driving on the street. Firm will always "feel" better but that doesn't mean anything for true cornering at the limit.

Bearcat94

Good advice. I'll see if I can find somewhere to do that. Hopefully it will really be as easy to adjust as I hope - seems like nothing ever is.

It'll be a couple weeks and I am leaning toward firm.

I hate cars

Good luck with it. It can be fun doing the "research" lol. I like to test it thoroughly when I make a change so I know how it's going to behave in real life in an emergency situation. I've seen too many people get extra confidence with a suspension upgrade and end up in a bad situation because it oversteers more than they thought.

Bearcat94

Another poster commented on Oversteer after getting (IIRC) an RSB. I PM'd him, but didn't hear back.

I don't mind getting some reduction in understeer, i.e. more neutral, but my instincts tell me that "built in" oversteer and FWD is not a good combination.

I hate cars

One thing to keep in mind when you're setting it up is lifting throttle in a hard turn will make the rear swing out. It took me a little while to get used to this since the TL is my first FWD car. With the TL's stock suspension I was able to swing the rear out on purpose. With RWD like the GN I have is set up very neutral in most situations with it leaning toward understeer and I can make corrections with the throttle. With the FWD setup I haven't decided what I like.

S PAW 1

Bearcat & I hate cars
I would appreciate your input now that you guys have had the RSB for awhile.
I have gone to the Acura high performance school at MidOhio, and I drive pretty aggressively in the curves.
I have the Progress 24mm bar on the way.
My question mainly pertains to whether you guys think which setting might be best. I am able to balance a 4 wheel drift pretty well with my stock '07 TL-S, and I am cautious about making it too tail happy. You both sound like savvy and aggressive drivers, and would appreciate your input.
Thanks in advance.
Anybody else would like to chime in...please do

Bearcat94

Before getting the RSB, I'd only push the car to the point that it will start to get into an understeer slide on the front. And I don't do that *too* often - select turns where I know what room I have, etc. I've never got to the point where I've wiggled the rear end.

That said, I've got my RSB on the "Firm" setting an couldn't be happier. I am still finding the limits. Although I haven't yet "discovered" the edge, it almost feels like the car is equally likely to OverSteer as it is to Understeer - not quite, but close. I think it is about a close to neutral as you can get with a FWD - that is, I *think* it will understeer or oversteer at the limit depending more on specific circumstances and less on "built in" understeer.

I am fairly certain that if I set the RSB on the softer setting the car would have a clearer understeer bias.

I hate cars

Next time you're looking for the limit, let off the gas quickly in the middle of a hard turn.

S PAW 1

^
That's not looking for the limit, that's going over the edge

Do you feel that having the RSB makes the TL less forgiving in that unfortunate circumstance?

I hate cars

Adding more stiffness to the rear will make the steering feel more precise and it will be more precise. It will feel lighter and sharper in the front.

Some of it comes down to personal preference. I like oversteer because I feel like it allows me more options. The TL rides on a 108" wheelbase and it's very easy to control when the rear steps out. The only thing that would stop me from setting up my daily driver that way would be accident avoidance. If you have to do a series of left right turns real fast, it's kind of hard with the rear sliding.

ABP_04TL

iTrader: (2)

Firm Ftw!!

XxAfG786xX

firm ftmfw

I hate cars

For the "firm" guys, how many of you have taken your cars to a track or done any actual testing other than jerking the wheel side to side to see how much bodyroll it has? I suspect it "feels" better at 7/10ths driving with it set firm.

VegasRPh

Go SOFT if you are running stock/factory tires.
Go FIRM if you have some extreme rubber on your wheels.
I will adjust mine to FIRM/TRACK once I get some SUMMER HPT's.......in a few months.
GREAT mod, I love mine! I have it in the SOFT/STREET setting and it is very noticable once it's on the car........it took about 1 hour........getting the new RSB snaked in thru to where it needs to sit is the tricky part!!

Bearcat94

I am not a dumb as I look.



I agree and the land of "7/10ths" is where I live.

I hate cars

Nothing wrong with that, especially on the street. I have to keep in mind everyone doesn't drive like I do. I tend to drive like an old man 90% of the time but when I go fast I like to really over do it. For "spirited" driving I'm sure any setting would do.

S PAW 1

Interesting advice. I have discovered through experience that the old adage of "if it ain't broke, don't f--k with it" relates strongly to these cars. I have alot of faith in Honda R&D, so I don't want to carry this thing too far, ie: defeating the purpose of having an independent rear suspension.
Hopefully, Honda felt that the rear suspension setup was the best compromise by building a certain amount of understeer into the TL for safety's sake, for the majority of buyers.
For now, since I'm running 235/45/17 Michelin Pilot A/S's, I'll try the soft setting first. From what I am reading, it will still make one heck of a difference. If it doesn't, I can change to firm easily.