sway bars
 

Anybody change out there front stock sway bar for say the Hotchkis Sport 35mm? I believe that the stock is 27mm, I track the car occasionally so I'm looking for a little better turn in, I do find that the stock suspension is pretty damn good, I'm curious if you have changed to bigger bars how do you like them on the street and on the track? and any advise on brands and sizes.

Hard to imagine you'd feel a sway bar in regular street driving

But the track guys apparently love Hotchkis, as they're among, if not, the fattest bar around, and they report that fatter is better in front

Put the Hotchkis bar on the front and enjoy.

Also, DON'T touch the rear bar. It's already stiff enough from the factory.

They're pretty noticeable every time you turn the wheel. Honestly, they were the best bang for the buck mod I've done.

Save that money and spend it on a diff upgrade. I just had an OS Giken installed and boy the car is an animal coming off the corner now. Before it was a one wheel wonder. I do have the Hotchkis front bar only on my car. You can get just the front alone without the rear.

Would you care to give us a detail review on the OS Giken diff?

Hotchkis front sway bar and a rear diff upgrade and you will be set for street and track. As stated above it will transform the way the car handles and behaves during cornering!

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It is a clutch type LSD but it is very quite. No clunking etc. I was going to do a Wavetrac but could not get one so I went with the OS Giken. I am very please but lighter in the wallet than a Wavetrac.

Chuck what brand and size bar did you use I'm thinking around 32 to a 34 in front and leaving the back alone, I did something similar to my C6 vette but I replaced the front and back with Z06 sways and springs and it made a world of difference.

[QUOTE=Hotrodz;3650467]Hotchkis front sway bar and a rear diff upgrade and you will be set for street and track. As stated above it will transform the way the car handles and behaves during cornering!

How hard is a diff swap I'm pretty handy but I'm limited on any special tools I might need, I am also curious on the size of the bar?

Spooler what did the diff cost, I looked on there web site and you have to call for pricing.

I got mine from Z1 Motorsports. They have a package. I drove up for the install. You can have the diff built and sent straight to you. I have about $3300 in it with them installing it. It is not cheap but well worth it. It is about half of what I have in my suspension. Not a cheap hobby.

[QUOTE=wildolympic;3650588]I had mine done by a local shop. I believe there is diy on it and there are plenty of folks on here that can hepl you with questions. The big question is if want clutch typ diff or helical like Quaife or Wavetrac.

As for the sway bar get Hotchkis and be done. I had an Eibach that was nice but the Hotchkis is better. Our cars design to under steer so the big the bar the better. I run a square set up on the track and its perfect and if I run on oem 19s I still get understeer when tracking.

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[QUOTE=Hotrodz;3650605][QUOTE=wildolympic;3650588]
I had mine done by a local shop. I believe there is diy on it and there are plenty of folks on here that can hepl you with questions. The big question is if want clutch typ diff or helical like Quaife or Wavetrac.

As for the sway bar get Hotchkis and be done. I had an Eibach that was nice but the Hotchkis is better. Our cars design to under steer so the big the bar the better. I run a square set up on the track and its perfect and if I run on oem 19s I still get understeer when trackin


Thanks for the great info, did you or anyone else change out there end links at the same time?

Yup, as Rusty would...SPL catalog installed!

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[QUOTE=wildolympic;3650616][QUOTE=Hotrodz;3650605]I had my car corner balanced so it was a must. If you are on stock suspension I see no need in them. Me, most of the SPL catalog installed too I just need a few more pieces. LOL

This are going to be my next upgrade for sure! Hotchkis front sway bar :stirthepot:

I'm looking at pulling the trigger on a front sway bar upgrade as well. If anyone else has experience, it would be great to know.


Also, are the stock nismo and non-nismo sway bars the same? Nevermind, I believe nismo=27 and non=26.5

I really dont know the specs of the OEM Nismo sway bar vs the non Nismo.

A lot of people here that change the sway bars go with Hotchkis. Gomer have it! ;)

There is no difference between Nismo and non-Nismo. I sold my Eibach sways to a forum member that has a sport model and I bought my Hotchkis bar from a forum member with a sport!

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I run the Hotchkis front bar and rear bar. The rear bar only because of my rear tire size of 345's. I threw the whole SPL catalog at my Nismo. Big difference in the feel of the car. Everything is tighter. :driving:

Rusty I think I saw in previous posts you had installed front and rear then uninstalled the rears. Maybe that was with skinny tires? I have only 325s on the rear. I respect your input and would you suggest I just start with the Hotchkis front? Two bills and an easy install is relatively painless.

Also, is this just a do it mod...don't look back?

Time for a diff upgrade now.... LOL Need to save some of that retirement money for more upgrades....

I started with both Hotchkis bars, then no rear bar, stock rear bar, and settled on the Hotchkis bar on the soft setting because of the 345's on the rear.

With the 325's, and depending on your alignment settings, and front tire size. The front Hotchkis bar and the stock rear bar.

Well...............my pooch blew his knee out last week. :( The vet said it will cost around $4,000 fix it. He goes in for surgery the week after ZDayZ. The motorhome needs 6 tires. 6 Michelin's are $4,200. :eek:

So much for retirement. Your gonna have to start working again. :)

I did. :shakes head: Part time at Home Depot. :eek: :shakes head: Sometimes I think I retired too soon. Got talked out of my original plan. But then again. I enjoy my free time. Started going to the range alot more.

285 on the front and suspension is currently stock (including alignment settings) with no plans to alter it other than sway bar.

Also, saw your post about spending more time at the range. I recently picked up a Kahr PM9 for carry. They make some sweet shooters!

If you get adjustable upper control arms. You can change your camber in front for better handling and to take full advantage of the sway bar. ;)

I'm in a shooting league now. :D Shoot every Thursday. And usually at the range on Monday or Tuesday. :D Burn up about 500 rounds a week.

Mr. Rusty, I've gotten half the SPL catalog so far, minus outer tie rods or bushings but I'm looking to tighten my suspension a little more. What you recommend ?

You can skip the tie-rod ends unless you're lowered, and want to correct for bump steer.
The lower front control arm bearings help tighten the front up.
You have the bearings for the rear knuckles?
Hotchkis front swaybar.
Good Coil-overs with the right springs.

Nissan - 09+ 370Z (Z34) - SPLParts

Hi Rusty! In your opinion, what is the best coilovers spring rates for our Z's? Im trying to get all the info that I can cause my next project are going to be the suspension department :stirthepot:

Man...that's a hard question. Depends if you just DD, or track, or do both and how much of each. You willingness to withstand a stiff set-up on the street if set-up for the track. And just the opposite for the track. If you run aero on the track. It's going to be stiffer. In the rear. You got the stock location, The SPL arms, and true coil-overs to think about. Best bet would be to start a thread and ask the question. You will get a bunch of different opinions.

No problem bro! I know its hard to tell! My car was my dd before but not any more thanks to GOD because the streets here are getting worst every day:shakes head: Now the Z are going to be 70% track and 30% back road driving :driving:

easiest budget solution is to call Charles at Powertrix, tell him what you want, and do what he says

his coilovers are under $2k

Your bought will dictate your options and I think there are a lot of good choices at or just below $2000. What I have observed with or without rear aero spring rates very between 8k to 11k on average. This will depend on depend on the spring manufacturer. I see the most variations on the front end because of the amount of aero and suspension. If you are building a time attack car with crazy areo you will need to consult with the pros lol! I'm running swift springs 13k front and 10k back with a 4"front splitter up front and an APR gt 300 rear wing. It is set at APR's recommended angle of attack for optimal down force and drag because I got the hp to push through the drag on high speed courses lol!

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Up front you're going to want at least 1000+ lb/in springs for a track/autox oriented car. The rears get a little trickier since the desired rate will depend largely on whether you keep the spring and damper separate or switch to a true coilover. Mine are still separate and I have 800lb/in springs in the rear with no rear sway bar.

You also want to make sure your dampers are valved to match the spring rates you're using.

Suspension setup is the ultimate game in whatever auto spot you chase. The more you learn the more complex it gets especially as you add or subtract components and what tracks/courses you run at.

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Suspension set-up is of personal preference also. What works for one person, may not work for someone else. Then you have guys who can drive anything.