Miata Mailing List: July 1997, Message #90
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From: 	todd.barney@ons.octel.com (Todd Barney)

Subject: Results of swaybar feedback

Date: 	Wed, 2 Jul 1997 17:50:01 -0500



     Y'all may remember I asked for swaybar information not too long before 

     the list crashed this last time. A very big thank you goes to those 

     who responded: Kevin, Ted, Herb, Bill K., Bill G., Steve, Larry, Bill 

     L., Bob, Randy, and of course, Bill C.  I hope that's everybody.

     

     I was trying to figure out what the offerings are, and get some 

     feedback on what kind of ride/handling differences I could expect.

     

     It's still all a little confusing. Some of that I attribute to the 

     differences between the 1.6l and the 1.8l cars. Most of it, though, I 

     attribute to me. :-)  Anyway, for those who were interested, I'll try 

     to summarize what I was able to pull together. Then, if you're STILL 

     interested, I'll tell you what I decided to do.

     

     Here's a table (2 rows per entry) of the brands that I looked at. I 

     won't vouch for the accuracy here.  Some of the sizes I'm really not 

     sure about, due to conflicting information. And the prices, of course, 

     are subject to change. I also assume there are many other sources than 

     the ones I've listed here.

     

     Brand              size f - r      source(s)               

     price($US)         comments

     

     Mazda              20mm-11mm       Mazda                   

     ?                  1.6l

     

     Flyin Miata        7/8 - 5/8       DA      

     185      

     

     Racing Beat        15/16 - 5/8     RB,Moss,PBC,M Roadster  

     ?,220,170,220      Really 15/16 for 1.6l appl?

     

     BSP                7/8 - 5/8       BSP     

     175                Same as Addco? 

     

     Millen             15/16 - 3/4     Millen          

                        is this for 1.6l appl?

     

     Motorsport Auto    15/16 - 5/8     Motorsport Auto         

                        is this for 1.6l appl?

     

     Jackson Racing     7/8 - 5/8       DA, Moss,JR     

     185,189,?       

     

     Eibach     24mm- 15mm*     PBC     

     270     

     * For the metrically challenged :-) 24mm is between 15/16" and 1".   

     15mm is between 9/16" and 5/8".

     

     Randy Stocker put together a more complicated table of sizes and 

     handling responses, but I'm not gonna try to include it here. I 

     believe he's gonna get it put in the Garage FAQ. 

     

     My decision was based on a few factors:

     1.  Balance - I'm used to the under/over steer balance I have now, and 

     I don't want to change it. I LIKE it!

     2.  Ride - I hit enough expansion joints, rough pavement, and railroad 

     tracks every day that I don't want to stiffen the ride much at all.

     3.  Everyday use - will I notice an improvement in my normal driving, 

     or just when I'm pushing seven-or eight tenths?

     

     So what am I gonna do?

     

     I'm staying stock. At least for now.  I realized that in stock form, 

     the car is much more fun (to me) at everyday speeds than if I had to 

     push it faster.  There's a challenge in setting up a turn just right 

     so the suspension eases into it's load, knowing that if I try to throw 

     it in there, I'm gonna unbalance things. Someone also pointed out that 

     stiffening the sways means the corners don't work quite as 

     independently in bumpy corners as they used to. And while I've said 

     before that I enjoy the skittishness on occasion, I don't think I want 

     to make it potentially worse.

     

     Since I don't plan to upgrade springs and shocks anytime soon, I'm 

     just gonna leave the sways alone, too. Mazda did a nice job of 

     striking a good balance. A balance that I've become very used to over 

     the last 6 years.  The door isn't shut completely though, and if I can 

     cadge a ride in someone's similarly stock-except-for-sways 1.6l, I 

     might change my mind.  Thanks again for everybody's help!

     

     Todd & Miatoy (who's wondering what he's gonna get NOW)

     '91 White A

     114k miles