Si Front & Rear Sways on an EX Sedan

[flsedan07]

This is what I have read here and now I am confused about what to do. Don't want to create problems.



Adding the Si front swaybar to a sedan, or base coupe will actually reduce performance for one simple reason... the fact that the Si has a limited slip differential and the other Civic models do not.

As Mario mentioned, you will shift the already nose heavy balance of the sedan to an even greater tendancy to understeer. This is because you will be causing a large shift in the roll stiffness distribution front to rear.

There are two basic rule is chassis tuning regarding roll stiffness distribution.
1. Your roll stiffness distribution should roughly equal your sprung weight distribution.
2. You should minimize roll stiffness on your drive axle, especially with an open differential.


So... by adding the Ø28mm sway to the front of a DX, LX, or EX, you will highlight the already mild tendancy to understeer while at the same time experience much more wheel spin on your inside wheel.

Additionally, you may cause premature failure of your front lower suspension arms. The lower arms on the Si have a much beefier sway bar link bracket, as well as other reinforcements.

[ABM JDM]

^^^ Well that certainly doesn't sound good... I am not any sort of suspension expert, and I have read stuff like that also, as well as the posts of many folks in this thread who have sworn by the beefier front bar. I don't know if this is correct thinking, but I believe that my set-up, Si front and Progress rear should decrease understeer b/c of the relative change from stock (LX, for me). That is, there is a DRAMATIC change from the tiny, hollow stock rear to Progress 22m, while there is a significantly smaller change (not that big a weight or size difference) from my front bar to Si front bar. But please enlighten if this is off.

Also, I should add that I didn't get my bars just for handling/cornering - for wind stability too. Living in the midwest, we get some pretty harsh winds at times, like today. I will say that having these bars made a HUGE difference. My car didn't seem like a ragdoll getting tossed around anymore.

Originally Posted by flsedan07

Is the stabilizer bar the same thing just different name as a sway bar? I have been told otherwise.

The HFP name for it is 'stabilizer', so the answer would seem to be yes...?

[flsedan07]

I agree, the wind knocks the civic around like a toy, even passing a truck my car wants to jump to the next lane. I drive the skyway bridge which is 200ft high and definately feel the wind up there. Hope the bars help.

[cojaro]

The sways definately help. Before, driving around 70-80mph was almost a chore of keeping the car straight (esp. when windy) while trying to tolerate the shaking. After the sways, driving around 80mph is a breeze. And almost no sacrifice to ride quality! :thumbs:

[flsedan07]

You are right, it's a chore driving at 75, 80 mph. Car seems it would go out of control easily if one over corrected.

Hope it helps

[06NaviEX]

Everyone complaining about high speed stability; are you still rolling on the stock tires?

I had this same problem when I was still on my stockers. Once I changed out to some good performance tires, it made all the difference in the world.

I'm still kicking around the idea of doing the rear, and possibly the front, Si sway bar, but now I'm starting to think twice. I may wait until after I upgrade the shocks/struts and springs first.

This is a very good thread though. Thanks to the OP for starting it

[ABM JDM]

^^^ You down w/ OP, yeah you know me!

[flsedan07]

My stock is goodyears $110 on tirerack and they get great reviews so I doubt its the tires. Read here where the sways will be the best place to start for such a problem considering the low price to do so for one. Shouldn't have to change springs and struts on a new car to get a good ride.

[nindustrial]

i finally got them both in, and i am quite impressed! many thanks to the people here who helped with questions, and the diy as well.

i first put the rear one in, and drove around for a week with it. it was a change, but not as dramatic as adding the front. WOW, the front really changes the character of the car when cornering. im amazed at the difference it made. well worth the money, time, and effort in doing the install!

now im trying to figure out if adding a front-strut bar would help any further, or am i now chasing diminishing returns?

its kind of anti-climatic when one's mental list of to-dos is complete. im lost, dont know what to do next to the car! maybe some angel-eyes? hehehe..

[ABM JDM]

^^^ I'm wondering this myself, about the front strut bar. And yeah, it's kinda like the journey is better than the destination (just ripped that from the new movie Peaceful Warrior that just came out). :)

[JasonC.]

I have a REAR '06 Si Sway bar is someone is interested. I'll take $40 shipped for it. Bar only. PM me please.

[Gaspar_06_Civic_EX]

Does anyone have the SI Suspension on an EX sedan ie springs shocks etc. If so how does the ride compare to stock..

THanks

[Gaspar_06_Civic_EX]

So am I understanding this correctly. I will not be able to mount the SI rear Sway to my EX with the EX hardware and need these parts..


52306-SVB-A01 BUSH, STABILIZER HOLDER 2 x $1.39
52308-SVB-A01 HOLDER, STABILIZER BUSH 2 x $2.04
52317-SVB-A01 BRACKET, R. RR. STABILIZER 1 x $3.02
52318-SVB-A01 BRACKET, L. RR. STABILIZER 1 x $3.02
93401-10020-08 BOLT-WASHER (10X20) 4 x $0.93

[flsedan07]

just buy the parts with it.they are a little heavier then what you have already..........I did go to the si sways on my lx sedan.......very little if any improvement. The punks here who say they can now take an exit 35 mph faster are idiots......I wanted to stop the body roll on highways. Didn't help much.

[tegrady]

Originally Posted by flsedan07

just buy the parts with it.they are a little heavier then what you have already..........I did go to the si sways on my lx sedan.......very little if any improvement. The punks here who say they can now take an exit 35 mph faster are idiots......I wanted to stop the body roll on highways. Didn't help much.

Hmmm...... Not sure why you didn't see much improvement, judging from this thread and others, the vast majority of us who did this swap have seen at least some change. I agree that adding 35mph to cornering speeds is a huge exaggeration, but the comment is a bit harsh.

[cojaro]

As far as cornering speeds increasing with the sways, it's all personal and the information is not too reliable.

For me, I think the real change is stability more than handling, although I may be wrong. Let's say the sways to increase stability at most speeds; then the driver will feel more confident taking Corner A at X speed. That X speed may be higher than he's previously driven and the driver may associate the higher corner speed with the addition of the sways, when really the sway just made him fear less of and feel more confident taking Corner A at X speed.

*shrugs*

[zenith931]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I am a little confused. I'm looking into doing this mod soon. The people here have said that adding the rear AND front sway bars give you the most handling increases. Highrev1 is stating that we would increase oversteer in our cars with the front sway installed and only recommends installing the RSB.

Can anyone give me a straight answer on this? I'd love all the suspension upgrades I can (within my budget -- the HFP one is not yet ), but I don't want to increase my oversteer.

I only really do DD with my car and don't plan to autox her or anything. Should I do the RSB or both?

[flsedan07]

i added si sways for both front and rear on my 07 sedan. I don't see much improvement on handlingalthough I see a little, others say they see great improvements. Cost was roughly $140.00 for parts.

[Highrev1]

Originally Posted by zenith931

The people here have said that adding the rear AND front sway bars give you the most handling increases. Highrev1 is stating that we would increase oversteer in our cars with the front sway installed and only recommends installing the RSB.

Can anyone give me a straight answer on this? but I don't want to increase my oversteer.

Addin the front sway bar will increase UNDERSTEER.

Obviously these are EXTRME pics but you do want to add some oversteer to this car.


FUll write up here
Complete Si sway bar kit

[zenith931]

Originally Posted by Highrev1

Addin the front sway bar will increase UNDERSTEER.
FUll write up here
Complete Si sway bar kit

Ack! I got what you said all switched around, then. Sorry!

So, you would NOT recommend getting the SI sway bar for the front, correct? Only the rear?