evgenk

Hey guys,

got a number of questions:
I've got a '97 Civic EX 4-door and I want to get a new front and rear sway bars.

1. My car currently does not have a rear sway bar, but all the mounts should be there, right?

2. I couldn't see the front sway bar, but I assume that it's there ... even if it's not, would all the mounts be there already?

3. What sway bar sizes should I go with for the front and rear? I know that the rear one is supposed to be thicker than the front one ...

4. What make should I go with?

This is my daily driver therefore I don't really want to go into extremes. I just want the car to handle better


Thanks guys!

90EFHB

Quick question....do you have aftermarket springs yet? H&R makes OE sports which don't really drop the car, but man does it make it feel like its on rails. May find it's a little cheaper than getting the sway bars bought and installed.
just I put OE sports into my accord coupe and the handling dif was like night and day

I'll have a look around to see about your questions re the sway bars for your civic

get back to ya...

evgenk

thanks dude, that is very interesting ....

I was going to get the springs later, but was concerned about a drop. I don't want to drop my car at all.

it would still be great if you could let me know which sway bar ticknesses to use for rear and front.

btw, how much did you pay for the springs and where?


thanks for your help man, gonna wait for your reply.


L8RZ

BellaRSport

swaybars and springs act differently. in pure city driving swaybars are better. really stiff springs suck in the city.

evgenk

I am well aware of that, that's why I want to get the sway bars first ...

but I need suggestions as to which sizes I should go with for front and rear ...

thanx

Cosmic Girl

Take a look at the SWAY BAR RATE CHART on the board. Hope it helps!

90EFHB

I was like you not wanting to drop the drop.....the OE sports from H&R are hardly noticable and it doesn't have a harsh ride.
Got them from TireRack in the states (Tirerack.com)
$167 US....just make sure they don't ship UPS if you go with them....UPS has killer brokerage fees. USPS is the best way to go.

Here's the description on the OE sports and I can comfirm it is exactly what I experienced

"H&R OE Sport Springs are designed with a revised spring rate for increased driving convenience with great handling characteristics. OE Sport Springs offer a mild lowering to cleanup that "too high-rally-stock look." Stock ride comfort is retained. "

The cost for your car is $162 US

evgenk

thanx man

aren't there any local shops that sell them?

evgenk

btw, the sway bar chart is great, but it does not tell me the info I need.

does at least anyone know what the stock sway bar size on any civic is ?

I really need this, plz.


thanx

ryuujin

umm..the thickest I recommend you going is 19mm, anymore and you will need mounting plates on your LCA for sure (not that I wouldn't recommend getting mounting plates for a 19mm either)

the stock Civic Si and Acura EL has a sway bar of I think 13mm (it could be 15mm, but either way those are dinky and provide very little difference in handling).

Generally I think if you get anything above 19mm you will need to upgrade the front sway bar, but if you stay at 19mm, your stock front one should be fine

Now there are various companies that make swaybars, whichever one you choose is up to you obviously, they all pretty much work the same way anyways

HTH, and my recommendations are based on daily driving of course (with a little spirited driving here and there occassionally )

evgenk

thanx dude!
that is very helpful !

imported_audiophilia

In response to:

'aren't there any local shops that sell them?'

Try Kevin at www.psychotic-racing.com

He posts here, too. Great service and prices.

A good rep for H&R is 'StuckonSi' on the Club Si board. Just post in the Ontario section and he'll get back to you. His real name is Dal.

For H&R in this town, Dal and Kevin are the way to go.

evgenk

thanks for your help man

EL_Sport

The H&R's OE Sports are also available at Speedtech in Scarborough. I'm probably going to get a set for my EL next year.

99CHB

my sway bars are 1" front and 3/4" rear, it's tail happy as hell.

evgenk

Dude, you are crazy !
that's 25mm on the front and almost 19mm in the back !

I'd probably go for like 18mm in the front and 16-17mm in the back ...



[QUOTE]Originally posted by 99CHB
my sway bars are 1" front and 3/4" rear, it's tail happy as hell. [/QUOTE

evgenk

Me and my buddy checked under my car, and found out that I do have a front sway bar already ... I just couldn't see it before...

Visualy i'd say it's about 20mm. (4/5")

What would you recommend for the rear? 18mm(0.72") sounds good?

thanx

99CHB

if I'm not mistaken, your front sway bar should be .87" (about 22mm), I'd suggest you get a factory SiR rear sway bar, since your car already has all the mount points/holes for it on the lower arm and the chasis. the Sir rsb is .51" in diametre. be ware that going from no rsb to having one take some getting use to if you always take corners at the car's limits.
(18mm is a bit too thick for a 22mm front, it might be a good config for a 5th gen tho)

imported_SW20 MR2

I'm gonna go with the ITR rear sway bar on my 96 hatch with the Beaks mount kit.

evgenk

Thanx dude.

how hard is it to track one down?
any idea what i'd cost me?

thanx