I just ordered my front swaybar. I autocrossed the S2000 for the first time this last weekend and I spun it twice. I am running Kumho's 225/245 combo. I played with the pressure a little to evn the car out some. Does this bar make that big of a difference?

I already know the answer, but I want some feed back and to hear some of your experences. I also got the Koni yellows on order. Anyone play with a prototype?

Chip "my wallet is still smoking"

 

My experience is that the swaybar effect can only be observed when you have the car sliding. In first gear at 8000 rpm, the gas pedal has a bigger effect on whether the car spins or mows down cones than the swaybar. I've been autoXing for two years now and I am barely consistent enough to tell whether the bar setting is helping or hurting. I have only tested the Comptech bar on street tires so far, and have determined that it will not correct for driver error of not slowing enough, or trail-braking too far into the corner. I am positive though, that if you know what you are doing, it will allow fine tuning the car for the particular course and surface.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RandyP
[B]My experience is that the swaybar effect can only be observed when you have the car sliding.

 

I'd have to agree with Chris. I also have the Mugen bar and can easily tell when it's on the car. Even taking corners at slow speeds it's very evident.

Put your car on a wet skid pad and you can really tell though, with the Mugen bar on the car pushes like a pig (understeers).

 

Are any of you going to use the Koni yellows?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mikey
[B]I'd have to agree with Chris.

 

What's a good price for the comptech bar (as a percent off the $749 list)? I was planning on having my mechanic order it for me unless it's vastly cheaper to go through mail order. I think he's getting a good deal as it is. Feel free to send PM if privacy matters.

Is Comptech actually getting them out the door at this point? I'm hoping to have everything ready before march.

Lastly, are there any thoughts on running the comptech bar with 225/265 kuhmos. This was the combination recommended to me by my mechanic. In fact, while I was standing there, he called Neal Sapp (my local role model ) and asked him what he ran. It sounded fine to me. He mentioned some folks were even running 245/265.

Any thoughts? I'm a complete novice to autocrossing, but I don't mind spending money if it will help me keep the back end of the car on track.

Thanks!

chris.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cvance
[B]It sounded fine to me.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cdelena
[B]

The hot setup has been 225/245 with a front bar.. 225/265 with a stock bar.

 

chris,
Your idea of stiffening up the bar over time will have the opposite effect of what you're thinking. Stiffening the front bar balances the car towards novice-friendly understeer. Most of the autocrossing done with this bar has been with it on its stiffest setting with 225/245 tires.

Just as a 245 is a poor fit on a stock front wheel, a 265 on the rear is also pretty poor, but somehow do-able. If you're going to splurge for the Comptech bar, get 225/245's - if you're staying with the stock bar, you could try 225/265's - some have used this combination with success.