REVIEW: BE-RS rear sway bar - 06 Civic Si (FG2)

[jonweir]

So Our friends at BE sold us one of their 21mm rear sway bars, and they tell us we got a discount, so here's our feedback so far:

STATIC:

The bar is constructed the same as the stock unit, and it uses new bushings (supplied with the bar) and the existing links. The red powdercoat is holding up ok some chipping damage is evident from off track excursions.

The install was simple, and only took a couple minutes once the car was on the lift. Installation without a lift is possible, just a little slower.


DYNAMIC:
Since we don't drive the car on the street, we have no comments on the NVH effects or how it affects your drive to work (who cares!?).

On the track, as expected, the rear roll is reduced slightly. The turn in is quicker, and the overall balance of the car at the limit is changed from aggressive understeer to very mild understeer. Lifting or braking mid-corner will get the rear to step out nicely, although it takes some time to get used to how quick it rotates.
When combined with a little toe-out, it makes it very easy to rotate the car with the throttle.
It has definitely allowed us to shave down our lap times some more. But also, since there is less understeer, it reduces the abuse on the front tires a bit.

This photo shows how stiff the rear is, it lifts the inside rear a lot more with the bar. But this is ok if you still have the ABS connected.
The EBD feature will bleed pressure from the rear brakes to prevent the rear wheels from locking up when lifted in the air.
This is the main reason we leave the ABS switched on when we race.


In terms of durability, we've run 1/2 a season of solosprint and about 1/2 a dozen track days with the bar and we haven't broken it yet (but I'm guessing BE would give us a new one?).

If I had a street FG2, I'd put one on for sure.

-Jonathan

[bluetroll]

nice review.

[Cr8tive_leo]

Awesome review, *nice pic*, yeah for a bump.