Front Sway Bar Comparison for AutoX

handyman · 05-12-2011, 05:07 PM

I'm trying to figure out which front bar would be the best for autox in CS. Here is the info I've managed to gather.

OEM: 26.5mm, 560 lb/in or 416 lb/in depending on who you ask

Eibach: 32mm, 730 lb/in, 2 way adjustable, claimed 76% increase in rigidity

Stillen: 34mm, 720 lb/in, 3 way adjustable, claimed 21-48% increase in rigidity

Whiteline: 27mm, 2 way adjustable

Hotchkis: 35mm, 3 way adjustable, claimed 60-160% increase in rigidity

Can anyone fill in the holes, or help me understand why there is so much variance in claimed stats (I.E. the stillen is bigger than the eibach but much less rigid, and the hotchkis is slightly larger than the stillen but MUCH more rigid)

Thanks

boardkat · 05-12-2011, 05:12 PM

CS? hotchkis.

XwChriswX · 05-12-2011, 05:13 PM

As for Hotchkis and Whiteline, I can say that the Hotchkis is a tubular design, whereas the Whiteline is a solid piece. So I'm sure that has something to do with the numbers.

As for Eibach/Stillen, I'm not too full up on those.

spearfish25 · 05-12-2011, 05:29 PM

The front Hotchkis is not adjustable, but the rear is 3 way adjustable.

Here is the link to their site:
Hotchkis Sway Bars Infiniti G37, Nissan 370Z

AutoX Z · 05-12-2011, 09:52 PM

What tires are you running? RE-11s right? I would not recommend the hotchkis for those tires, it s too stiff. The white line or Eibach are probably closer to what street tires can handle. And the tubular Eibach pro ably weighs less.

boardkat · 05-13-2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

What tires are you running? RE-11s right? I would not recommend the hotchkis for those tires, it s too stiff. The white line or Eibach are probably closer to what street tires can handle. And the tubular Eibach pro ably weighs less.

didn't realize he meant TCS not CS. agreed on street tires without a doubt.

handyman · 05-13-2011, 08:19 AM

Sry, I forgot to include that little detail. Yes, TCS on 285 RE-11's.

Eibach it is. Thanks again for the help guys.

spearfish25 · 05-13-2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutoX Z

What tires are you running? RE-11s right? I would not recommend the hotchkis for those tires, it s too stiff. The white line or Eibach are probably closer to what street tires can handle. And the tubular Eibach pro ably weighs less.

Why do you say this?

I've been really happy with the Hotchkis and street tires, both in autox and on road courses.

JB1 · 05-13-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handyman

Stillen: 34mm, 720 lb/in, 5 way adjustable, claimed 21-48% increase in rigidity

Slight correction, the Stillen bar is 5 way adjustable now. And it's tubular. I don't know how good it is, as I still did not have a chance to install it yet.

handyman · 05-13-2011, 01:36 PM

Spearfish: But you're running both front AND rear sways, right? The difference here is that to stay in CS I can only run a front sway, so big Hotchkis up front combined with the OEM rear wont work out well. I need something up front that is big enough to help with body roll and help get the power down on corner exit, but not so big as to cause tons of understeer.

JB1: well... sortof. I listed the number of holes as the adjustability. You can stagger holes (how stillen comes up with 5-way) on any sway bar if you want, but that gets a little more complicated.

What really gets me is comparing the Stillen and the Eibach. The stillen is bigger but claims lower rigidity. I would like to get as much adjustment as possible but Stillen's numbers just don't make sense. Maybe someone from Stillen can chime in. If not, I'm going with Eibach.

JB1 · 05-13-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handyman

I listed the number of holes as the adjustability. You can stagger holes (how stillen comes up with 5-way) on any sway bar if you want, but that gets a little more complicated.

What really gets me is comparing the Stillen and the Eibach. The stillen is bigger but claims lower rigidity. I would like to get as much adjustment as possible but Stillen's numbers just don't make sense. Maybe someone from Stillen can chime in. If not, I'm going with Eibach.

Ah, get it, Eibach has 2 holes vs. Stillen 3.

Difference in rigidity between the two probably is due to a difference in wall thickness, but I'm guessing here.

cmmonte92 · 05-13-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handyman

I'm trying to figure out which front bar would be the best for autox in CS. Here is the info I've managed to gather.

OEM: 26.5mm, 560 lb/in or 416 lb/in depending on who you ask

Eibach: 32mm, 730 lb/in, 2 way adjustable, claimed 76% increase in rigidity

Stillen: 34mm, 720 lb/in, 3 way adjustable, claimed 21-48% increase in rigidity

Whiteline: 27mm, 2 way adjustable

Hotchkis: 35mm, 3 way adjustable, claimed 60-160% increase in rigidity

Can anyone fill in the holes, or help me understand why there is so much variance in claimed stats (I.E. the stillen is bigger than the eibach but much less rigid, and the hotchkis is slightly larger than the stillen but MUCH more rigid)

Thanks

No mention of the Tanabe sways? Or are they not worth mentioning?

Josh@STILLEN · 05-14-2011, 11:55 PM

It would appear that the measuring techniques for stiffness between manufacturers is different. We have some additional tech planned to identify each bar and compare them with our test equipment, so there is apples to apples discussion.

BTW.. if you're shopping for pure stiffness, then you need to reevaluate your knowledge of sway bars and how their used. Working on some additional 'white-paper' tech from Steve Millen which may help guys get up to speed on how to balance a suspension setup, and what you should consider (including personal testing for your own driving style, not to mention what it's being used for.. even different tracks could take widely different suspension goals).

The "stiffest" bar should be far from what your goals are.. we could make a 500% stiffer bar, and it would completely destroy the balance of the car..

Kingbaby · 05-15-2011, 12:14 AM

<----has stillen

handyman · 05-15-2011, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh@STILLEN

It would appear that the measuring techniques for stiffness between manufacturers is different. We have some additional tech planned to identify each bar and compare them with our test equipment, so there is apples to apples discussion.

BTW.. if you're shopping for pure stiffness, then you need to reevaluate your knowledge of sway bars and how their used. Working on some additional 'white-paper' tech from Steve Millen which may help guys get up to speed on how to balance a suspension setup, and what you should consider (including personal testing for your own driving style, not to mention what it's being used for.. even different tracks could take widely different suspension goals).

The "stiffest" bar should be far from what your goals are.. we could make a 500% stiffer bar, and it would completely destroy the balance of the car..

Glad to hear you guys are working on this! I, for one, would LOVE to see a apples to apples comparison. I'm definitely not shopping simply for stiffness. I'm looking for something with a wide range of adjustability who's softest setting is slightly stiffer than stock.

05-12-2011, 05:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
handyman Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: WV Posts: 45 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 16	Front Sway Bar Comparison for AutoX I'm trying to figure out which front bar would be the best for autox in CS. Here is the info I've managed to gather. OEM: 26.5mm, 560 lb/in or 416 lb/in depending on who you ask Eibach: 32mm, 730 lb/in, 2 way adjustable, claimed 76% increase in rigidity Stillen: 34mm, 720 lb/in, 3 way adjustable, claimed 21-48% increase in rigidity Whiteline: 27mm, 2 way adjustable Hotchkis: 35mm, 3 way adjustable, claimed 60-160% increase in rigidity Can anyone fill in the holes, or help me understand why there is so much variance in claimed stats (I.E. the stillen is bigger than the eibach but much less rigid, and the hotchkis is slightly larger than the stillen but MUCH more rigid) Thanks

05-12-2011, 05:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
boardkat Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Beaverton, OR Age: 46 Posts: 59 Drives: '09 GXP Z0K Coupe Rep Power: 17	CS? hotchkis. __________________ '09 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe - RIP '82 Reynard FF1600 \|\| CM/70 '86 VW Golf \|\| chumpcar monster

05-12-2011, 05:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
XwChriswX WFLYIDNNE Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In The Fastlane Posts: 50,648 Drives: 02 GDB WRX Rep Power: 453	As for Hotchkis and Whiteline, I can say that the Hotchkis is a tubular design, whereas the Whiteline is a solid piece. So I'm sure that has something to do with the numbers. As for Eibach/Stillen, I'm not too full up on those. __________________ Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall! R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

05-12-2011, 05:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	The front Hotchkis is not adjustable, but the rear is 3 way adjustable. Here is the link to their site: Hotchkis Sway Bars Infiniti G37, Nissan 370Z __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

05-12-2011, 09:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
AutoX Z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 314 Drives: 370Z Base, Sport Rep Power: 17	What tires are you running? RE-11s right? I would not recommend the hotchkis for those tires, it s too stiff. The white line or Eibach are probably closer to what street tires can handle. And the tubular Eibach pro ably weighs less. __________________ 2013 SCCA Solo National Champion VVV For Sale VVV

05-13-2011, 08:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
handyman Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: WV Posts: 45 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 16	Sry, I forgot to include that little detail. Yes, TCS on 285 RE-11's. Eibach it is. Thanks again for the help guys.

05-13-2011, 01:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
handyman Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: WV Posts: 45 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 16	Spearfish: But you're running both front AND rear sways, right? The difference here is that to stay in CS I can only run a front sway, so big Hotchkis up front combined with the OEM rear wont work out well. I need something up front that is big enough to help with body roll and help get the power down on corner exit, but not so big as to cause tons of understeer. JB1: well... sortof. I listed the number of holes as the adjustability. You can stagger holes (how stillen comes up with 5-way) on any sway bar if you want, but that gets a little more complicated. What really gets me is comparing the Stillen and the Eibach. The stillen is bigger but claims lower rigidity. I would like to get as much adjustment as possible but Stillen's numbers just don't make sense. Maybe someone from Stillen can chime in. If not, I'm going with Eibach. Last edited by handyman; 05-13-2011 at 01:42 PM.

05-14-2011, 11:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
Josh@STILLEN The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 1,197 Drives: 2004 G35 Coupe 6MT Rep Power: 534	It would appear that the measuring techniques for stiffness between manufacturers is different. We have some additional tech planned to identify each bar and compare them with our test equipment, so there is apples to apples discussion. BTW.. if you're shopping for pure stiffness, then you need to reevaluate your knowledge of sway bars and how their used. Working on some additional 'white-paper' tech from Steve Millen which may help guys get up to speed on how to balance a suspension setup, and what you should consider (including personal testing for your own driving style, not to mention what it's being used for.. even different tracks could take widely different suspension goals). The "stiffest" bar should be far from what your goals are.. we could make a 500% stiffer bar, and it would completely destroy the balance of the car..

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