Most liked posts in thread: Install - Hotchkis 25mm Comp Rear Sway

With the new bar and fittings, the MINI will feel tighter or smoother, give it. 500 miles and see if it stays smooth. Should not have any vibration unless a suspension componet it loose.

Enjoy it, try different things.
Don

 

Great service from Chad & the good folks at Detroit Tuned.

I'd sure put it on hole 3 (farthest from the end) tightest setting. My tip to you is to use some blue 242 locktite on all the bolts. Torque them to spec.

 

Countering oversteer in a FWD car is not easy. Instinct tells you to get off the throttle......you need more throttle in a FWD car. That is why I say keep it neutral with a tendency to understeer at the limit. It is much easier to come out of an understeer unless you have lots of track time to practice. You aren't on a race track.

 

The internet is not a great place to learn high performance driving. You need seat time & a safe place to do it. Doing a Porsche club or other track day / drivers school is a very good idea. you will learn a lot. Even auto-x will teach you the benefits of smoothness & car control.

Please be careful trying to find the limits on public roads. The margins for error can be very slim.

Have fun be safe.

 

I recommend putting the bar on the lowest setting and get some driving time to experience the change. It's easy enough to change it to a new setting when desired.

 

Hole nearest the end is the soft setting......closer in gets harder. Harder is going to cause the rear to get loose. Not fun in a FWD car......be careful

 

You should have no problem with the RSB at its tightest setting. As long as you don't do stupid things like snap off the throttle mid-corner, you will be fine. Enjoy your new found turn-in.

 

Well since you did not ask, as mentioned, if on full stiff on a 25, do not lift in a turn, ever! I usually run in the middle since my reaction times have slowed a bit in my 70s. . I have run a 19mm and a 22mm in the middle on my 07 MINI, never took the jump to a 25, but gave it some serious though when I was doing some autoX.

Don

 

Nothing to add tip wise other than the very good advice above. Just practice, practice, practice and start simple and learn how the car reacts to different imputes in turns. The best thing you can learn is from seat time, doing it yourself will build your skills and memory.

 

If the noise wasn't there before the new sway bar then it is probably related to that installation. If you haven't already done so, I'd recheck all the fasteners and make sure they are tight. Also check the e-brake cables and brake lines to make sure they are not hitting anything.

 

Slide a 3 foot pipe over your breaker bar. That may give you the extra grunt needed. Use a 6 point socket, it will give a better bite than a 12 point. Seems many places hammer thee lugs on with no thought to what proper torque is.

Best loosen all the lugs front & rear & re-torque them to spec.