Suspension Brakes Most liked posts in thread: 22mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar?

My Alta bar has been problem free for over 8 yrs now.

 

That's great. With as early in the MINI lifetime as I got mine I would not have been sorry to have had a problem that needed to be addressed by either a replacement bar or modifying the bushings. This being the bane of early adopters. But since it has had no issues I am happy with it......and no squeaks! :biggrin5:

 

:cornut: ScottinBend, a little explanation is in order here. During the period 2007-2008(I'm unsure of 2009), the JCW was not a factory built car but was ordered in increments and built at the dealership from standard R56's(my Margi for example 08 R56 MCS/JCW[ecu map/air intake/cat back exhaust] but she has the sport suspension and not the lowered JCW suspension). The increments 1(engine ECU map, air intake, and cat back exhaust), 2 suspension( heavier springs/shocks/anti sway bars/frame lowering), 3 JCW Big Brakes, 4 JCW Body Parts/aero kit. Hence people in those years would speak of their JCW MINIs as JCW x 1 or x 3 etc. Thank you for providing the REALOEM link and I searched it and a few other sources(not an extensive search however) and was unable to find these specific(suspension) parts. They simply weren't listed, why, I don't know but they aren't. Now one see's that there were 3 different sizes of suspensions and consequently anti sway bars during those years, standard, sport suspension, and JCW lowered suspension. Again, why REALOEM doesn't list them is a mystery. Establishing the history of our MINIs is very important, thanks for the opportunity.

Jason

 

I had my 22mm Alta bar installed at AMVIV back in 2007. I have had to regrease the bushings once since, and it continues to function fine. The handling difference is definitely noticeable (especially in an R53). I would definitely ditch the runflat tires too.

My swaybar is set at the stiffest setting, but most of the time, I think the middle setting would suffice for how I drive.

I do worry that at the stiffest setting, the rear-end will want to turn around to lead me sometimes, particularly in the winter when it snows here, but it has never happened to me. Maybe because I do not drive particularly agressively when it snows.






Though after 6 years, some of the red paint, at the adjustable ends, has flaked off and some surface rust has developed, it is nowhere looking like it might have compromised the strength of the mount and I highly doubt it will fail.

 

Sorry I can't help you with the torque specs. Chad at Detroit Tuned installed mine.

 

Factory spec for stabilizer bar to rear subframe on R53 is 19Nm (14 ft-lb.) I have used the spec on R56 too.

Note: you may want to use a small washer underneath one side of the bracket if the swaybar does not move freely.

 

Your welcome!!

 

Yesterday, I had the NM Engineering (Neuspeed) 22-mm rear sway bar installed on my 2013 JCW. The transformation in handling is incredible - the car is flat, and the understeer is gone. On one of my favorite ramps before installing the bar, I was sawing away at the wheel and hanging on at 45 mph; the first time I tried the ramp with the bar, I hit 53 without even trying. The ride is slightly stiffer on rough roads, but the car feels much more planted at "highway" speeds.

Originally, I had no problem finding the limits of the car and, in fact, was a little disappointed with the overall handling. In some situations now, I'm at the point of butt-pucker while the car just stays flat and tracks around the curves. For the moment the car is faster than I am, which certainly wasn't the case with the stock setup.

Why the NM bar? Quality workmanship, adjustable, no welded ends and really cool billet mounts (instead of cheesy brackets) with outboard-facing zerks for easy lubing.

YMMV, but this is the best under-$300 investment I've ever made for a car.

 

I think Metalman put some swift springs on his MINI & is very happy with them. Lowering your MINI is going to require you to get some adjustable lower arms for the rear if you want to get your camber dialed in correctly. Add some IE fixed camber plates it will really help you with turn in.

 

Too much of a good thing. That is why you have ruined the rear tires. Tire rotations help tires last & even out wear.

Your alignment numbers will vary depending on what you want to do with your car. How do you use it, track, auto x or street car?

IE = Ireland Engineering