When you installed the sway bars, did it come with a instruction book on how to set the handling from understeet to neutral? Or did you have to take it to a shop to do it for you?
No book, but I studied some automobile dynamics in school.
More stiffness=less relative grip
So installing just a new larger front sway bar will decrease your front grip (more understeer).
Installing just a larger rear sway bar would decrease rear grip (more oversteer).
In my case, I installed both, but the rear sway bar had more stiffness increase over stock than the front bar. So my Miata went from slight understeer (stock) to neutral. Rear bar has 2 settings for fine tuning.
I want to clarify though that adding roll stiffness won't change the overall grip! If you added stiffness (though springs, shocks, or sway bars) by the "same amount" to the front and rear, the overall grip won't change. Its only the relative front and rear grip distribution you can change with roll stiffness.
Getting a neutral balance front to rear will maximize your overall available grip....if that makes sense.
@brcassidy Koni has the fsd (dark golden color ) which is better and includes the spring coils. You can get these for much less then on the official website on ebay. Then order the Koni springs from the website. My Mazda3 GT has the RB sway bars and when I'm up on the expressways leading to Windy Mountains and back down no one can catch me doing 90 on those curves. I mean, it's like your car is glued to the street w/ no body roll or skip of the heart, your just Zoom, Zoom w/ steriodes.
When you installed the sway bars, did it come with a instruction book on how to set the handling from understeet to neutral? Or did you have to take it to a shop to do it for you?
ayeyot1 1 year ago
No book, but I studied some automobile dynamics in school.
More stiffness=less relative grip
So installing just a new larger front sway bar will decrease your front grip (more understeer).
Installing just a larger rear sway bar would decrease rear grip (more oversteer).
In my case, I installed both, but the rear sway bar had more stiffness increase over stock than the front bar. So my Miata went from slight understeer (stock) to neutral. Rear bar has 2 settings for fine tuning.
brcassidy 1 year ago
I want to clarify though that adding roll stiffness won't change the overall grip! If you added stiffness (though springs, shocks, or sway bars) by the "same amount" to the front and rear, the overall grip won't change. Its only the relative front and rear grip distribution you can change with roll stiffness.
Getting a neutral balance front to rear will maximize your overall available grip....if that makes sense.
brcassidy 1 year ago
yeah I have stock springs and shocks, its handling great so I don't feel I need to spend the money on more suspension
brcassidy 2 years ago
I am now thinking of getting the koni yellow adjustable shocks and some slight lowering springs while I'm at it.
brcassidy 1 year ago
@brcassidy Koni has the fsd (dark golden color ) which is better and includes the spring coils. You can get these for much less then on the official website on ebay. Then order the Koni springs from the website. My Mazda3 GT has the RB sway bars and when I'm up on the expressways leading to Windy Mountains and back down no one can catch me doing 90 on those curves. I mean, it's like your car is glued to the street w/ no body roll or skip of the heart, your just Zoom, Zoom w/ steriodes.
damianfonseca 8 months ago
What other suspension mods are in your setup? Or are you using stock springs and shocks?
TheJman808 2 years ago