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[NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:48 pm
by wassup
Hi all,

Need help from those of you with knowledge of swaybars to help guide me.

I recently attended the Spinning Wheel's alignment day and the cars feeling much better for it. The guys at Spinning wheel did mention that despite the recent install of the Bilstien's that the car could do with a thicker swaybar, up front, to eliminate the noticable roll - i agree.

Ive got an Na6 thats pretty much only used on weekends. Its in factory condition so no powermods.

I recently had NA Bilsteins with FatCat top mounts etc installed along with front and rear lower bracing from Mania, current swaybars are orginal from factory. The ride is not hard at all and surprisingly very compliant. I'd like to keep it this way (read: it wont see the track)

My main priority is to keep the car as factory as possible but i conceed that certain improvements will require after market.

Appreciate anyone's advice as to the type and thickness that will dial down the roll but not impact negatively on the ride.
Questions running through my mind:

- Can i get away with just replacing the front or do i need a rear bar that compliments?
- What thickness?
- Any particular brand?

Im currently eyeing the Signature Swaybar from Mania, front (of some size) painted black to look factory.
http://www.mx5mania.com.au/product1328.htm

Thanks in advance for the help!

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:41 pm
by Hjt
If you want the stock front sway bar off my SP your welcome to have it mate, I think it's 22mm (I have a whiteline bar on now)

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:43 pm
by sailaholic
You can get away with just stock, most aftermarket rear bars get set to softest anyway.

Search solo miata in google and there is a write up of a huge amount of combos.

Others will recommend a size of the to of their head which will probably be fine but the number escapes me at the moment.

I would recommend an adjustable unit if the price gap is small.

Edit: when you read solo, miata keep in mind there were different size stock sway bars fitted over the various models. I don't remember where I came across it recently though I'm sorry.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:46 pm
by Steampunk
Hjt wrote:If you want the stock front sway bar off my SP your welcome to have it mate, I think it's 22mm (I have a whiteline bar on now)

The blind leading the blind. Not compatible.

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:53 pm
by geofiz
1red5 wrote:
Hjt wrote:If you want the stock front sway bar off my SP your welcome to have it mate, I think it's 22mm (I have a whiteline bar on now)

The blind leading the blind. Not compatible.


Not entirely true. If you get adjustable end links, then you can fit any NB bar onto an NA, the main difference is the angle that the bar ends make in relation to the mounting points in the lower control arm.

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:09 pm
by NitroDann
What he is saying is that just putting a bar on blindly is a stab in the dark on improvement. Its like changing tyres for an improvement but just choosing them via scissors paper rock.

Dann

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:15 pm
by Apu
Keeping it stock huh, Adam?

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:51 pm
by wassup
Apu wrote:Keeping it stock huh, Adam?


Of course mate... but willing to make some concessions... besides... a black swaybar would look stock enough. :mrgreen:

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:47 pm
by Hjt
The blind leading the blind. Not compatible.


If you wish, since i'm blind and leading you blind, your welcome to use my stock bars, adjustable end links and even my whitelines for testing.

I would need most of it back, but if you want to play around your welcome!

p.s maybe you stiffened the top part too much?

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:41 am
by Scoota
My advice.... Get onto the Fat Cat Motorsport site and look at the effect of fitting various sizes of sway bars. They have a spreadsheet that models your car's handling. Go to "FAQ's, Tech Articles", select "Online Suspension". I would suggest that you select the tutorial first. Once you're up to speed, choose "90-93 Mazda Miata" from the "Online Suspension" menu and start experimenting. This will help you make an informed decision about your handling mods.

Key decisions that you will need to make:
1. Do you want to retain the original understeer/oversteer characteristics (FRC = 55._%)?
2. If you desire less understeer, how much? ie. determine a target FRC and choose swaybars to achieve it.

PM me if you want more info.

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:22 pm
by wassup
Scoota wrote:My advice.... Get onto the Fat Cat Motorsport site and look at the effect of fitting various sizes of sway bars. They have a spreadsheet that models your car's handling. Go to "FAQ's, Tech Articles", select "Online Suspension". I would suggest that you select the tutorial first. Once you're up to speed, choose "90-93 Mazda Miata" from the "Online Suspension" menu and start experimenting. This will help you make an informed decision about your handling mods.

Key decisions that you will need to make:
1. Do you want to retain the original understeer/oversteer characteristics (FRC = 55._%)?
2. If you desire less understeer, how much? ie. determine a target FRC and choose swaybars to achieve it.

PM me if you want more info.



Thanks Scoota ill take a look and see what i can gleen from the site. FCM do offer some quality advice and products.

Hjt thanks for the offer of your SE Bar.... its factory which works for me!... i'll do some research and if it works out ill hit you up!

Thanks to everyone else for your advice so far. keep em coming!

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:35 pm
by 93_Clubman
MX5 OEM sway sizes:
NA6: 19mm Front & 12mm Rear (except on the 1993 NA6 LE which were 19 & 11mm)
NA8: 19mm F & 11mm R (US standard Packages: 19mm F & 11mm R)
NA8 Clubman: 20mm F & 11mm R (US R Package: 20mm F & 12mm R)
NB8A: 22mm F & 11mm R
NB8A 10AE: 21mm F & 12mm R
NB8B 22mm F & 12mm R
SP 22mm F & 12mm R
SE 23mm F & 14mm R
NC1: 21mm F & 12mm R
NC2: 23.5mm F & 11.5mm R

Re: [NA] Swaybar advice needed

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:18 pm
by Hjt
SE rear bar is chunky at 14mm!