takahashi

I have to admit that the sway bar is the best mod and the cheapest mod in the RX-8

I can't stress it anymore! Highly recommanded. As cortc said in the US, it virtually eliminate the sway. Well, may be a little. If anyone driven the Integra R (DC-2 ie. the 99-01' model). This is the "no sway" situation.

This are the few pics of the installation last night

THe following are the brake pads, front and rear strut bars and the sway bar (in the white box). All from MazdaSpeed

Taka

takahashi

This is the rear stock sway bar - the black one in front of the muffler drum

takahashi

THis is the front sway. Black one again. Between the radiator and the axial

See how many wire are crossing it

takahashi

THis is the new MazdaSpeed sway bar.

Silver and a bit thicker than the stock

takahashi

The black one connect to the end of the MazdaSpeed sway (silver) is the endlink I believe

I think it is what L&L talk about.

MazdaSpeed use all component (bolts and links) on your car already. not hard to do.

If you know how to take it out :D

Thanks Gomez for some hint but the front sway need a lot of dismount of front underguard and the radiator mount.

takahashi

THis is the brake pad ... a slight blue tint visible... but I think it will be black soon

Skyline

Ahh...DC2 Type R

If you don't mind me asking Taka, what did the parts set you back?

takahashi

~ The End ~

I have not taken any pics for my strut bar yet as it is not still presentable. Too much dirty finger print.

The front cover need to be modified for perfect fit. Will post pic this weekend to show why

I am very very very very very happy with the mod. It is very noticable even driving out out of the driveway.

Taka is a happy man :D

Gomez

I think the sway bars will be the next mod I do too.......How's it drive, Taka?

Gomez.

takahashi

Skyline... I don't know (I have not set down to calculate...)

Because part of it is in yen... I suspect all this with tax and installation cost about $3K!

takahashi

It drives if the world has lost the word "verticle". There is only "horizontal" in the car and there is only a minor sway.

In terms of the struts, they are very strong and you can feel there is no such a "soft feeling" about it when accelerates. Even my wife felt that too!

Happy -- VERY VERY happy.

I use MazdaSpeed as I was not sure about the others. But the significant important I get with them, I guess anyone will do. I suspect Ric's will be the same if not better!

takahashi

That make me ask a question?

How do you break in your break pads?

Gomez

Your mechanic should have told you before you left the workshop......as I recall, you should do a number of 60kph to 0kph stops braking moderately but not stopping at any time.....5 to 10 is enough stops I think. There will be instructions with the pads....

Gomez.

takahashi

That the answer I have ~ Thanks for confirmation.

Gomez

Taka, a search gives a number of different proceedures for different pad manufacturers....Bosch say to go from 50kph down to 10kph, accelerate and do it a minimum of 10 times....then go easy for the next 500k's. You really have to check what the instructions are for the pads you installed......

Gomez.

takahashi

Damn... i threw away the box... may not recover it damn...

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Nice stuff Taka. Hows the stopping power now?

I drove Smoothy's car with the racing beat bars and it was very flat without being overly stiff.

Cheers,
Hymee.

takahashi

It is stopping a bit better ... can't tell as much as the sway bar coz I think the stock one is pretty good already. Still breaking in

DCD

So taka, the sways and struts made a huge difference? I'm over the ditch in NZ and I was thinking of doing the sways and front strut but then I found out some details on the sways and it turns out the mazdaspeed ones are only the tiniest bit thinker than stock so I wasn't sure how good they would be.

I think the stock ones are 27mm front and about 17mm rear, and mazdaspeed ones are only 27.2 and 17.3!! They do have a slightly thicker wall (3.4mm to 4.0mm) but again this seems negligable. I assumed that since the difference was so tiny you would need to really get the whole mazdaspeed suspension set up for everything to really add up and work together. For example the racing beat bars are something like 32mm front.

But can you really actually notice a huge difference in performance with these bars?

Also do you think the struts are worth it? Can you tell me if the rear strut is similar in shape/size to that bar that you get with the spare tyre kit?

Thanks

takahashi

THey are made out of aluminium.... even the sways

They are much stronger than stock even with just your arm test!!

There is a HUGE difference with strut bars and the sways on . I think the strut only produce a stronger body structure so it feel more rigid while cornering, braking and accelerating but the sway bar reduces the tilt (SIGNIFICANTLY)... oh man you will know the difference.

The spring and stock, even they are STOCK, they felt much harder!

I have posted the strut bar in the MazdaSpeed part
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=31600

I will measure them if you like!

BTW: teh MazdaSpeed sway is similar in size because the bracket that hold the sway needs to be put on :D!

takahashi

DCD

If you still don't believe me --- Jump on a plane and I will pick you up at the Tullamarine!

Taka

DCD

Wow you sound absolutly stoked with them, no I will believe you, thanks for the offer though! If I'm over in aussie I might take you up on it!
Its just amazing that they got so much difference from such a small difference in bar. Oh well I was gonna leave off modding my car this year, but maybe now I won't :D

Ohhh I noticed you have an exhaust, fujitsubo, how is it? I'm looking at getting that Trust intake, the CAI one, that sits low. DO you know of anyone who has it? Its not much use posting this question in the main threads because everyone has RHD and it won't fit. I want to get an exhaust but noise laws have gotten really harsh over here at the moment, and its no good, I think there is ONE RX8 with a different exhaust that I have heard of over here! So I have no-one to talk to and try and get experience off! There is one thats being done up by Panasonic as a sound off car but thats not my style and I think they have runined the look of the car (put big ugly heavy 20 inch chromes ion it!)

takahashi

DCD... I have started a thread on the exhaust...

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aftermarket-performance-modifications-23/fujitsubo-exhaust-legalis-r-32294/#post426001

Taka

AMG

Hey taka, I may be in melbourne tomorrow to look at some property in Frankston, will you pick me up?

Congrats on the sway bar modification.

best way to bed in brakes are a number of 60-80Km/hr sudden stops, do not ride your brakes otherwise you'll glaze them.

takahashi

From airport to frankston?! let me know when you are in town we might catch up for a coffee... although I will be tied up in the morning.

Yes AMG I did what you said and the brake is good to go now!