Miata Mailing List: February 1995, Message #13
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   From: dquara@encore.com (Doug Quara)
Subject: Re: AUTOX - Which front sway bar?
   Date: Wed, 1 Feb 1995 10:11:55 -0500

Joe Murphy, On Jan 31,  7:21pm, writes:
> Subject: AUTOX - Which front sway bar?
> 
> I am considering of adding a front sway bar to my CS 92 Miata. This will be
> my second season, so I need advice. Last season I spun more than once with
> oversteer in fast/medium speed corners, so I would like to tighten up the
> rear of the car without adding too much understeer.
> 
> The Racing Beat bar is $80
> and is fairly adjustable. And how easy are they to adjust? Is it really
> necessary to make alot of adjustments to the bar?

I got the Racing Beat bar, and the one I got is not adjustable.  
The RB bar is 15/16", and it helped.  Most others are 1".  Initial 
turn-in is not quite as crisp as stock, but transitions, like in a slalom, 
are better.  The car pushes only a touch more, actually pretty neutral, in
faster corners.  It pushes noticeably more in slow corners, but
either can be compensated for by adjusting driving style.

As far as spinning the car out with oversteer, a couple of questions:
What is your alignment setting?  What kind of tires were you on
(stock or race compound)?  What tire pressures?  Did you do anything
to invoke the spin?

I've found the Miata VERY susceptible to oversteer if I don't keep
the weight on the rear wheels.  It's been difficult for me to remember
to complete all my braking/lifting in a straight line, and be back on
the gas to get the weight back on the rear wheels.  When I remember
that, I am fast.  When I forget, I'm catching the car and going very
slow.

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