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Rear sway choice - RB, FM, stock, none?

Old Jan 27, 2018 | 11:38 AM
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Default Rear sway choice - RB, FM, stock, none?

Hi all,
What would be a good choice for a rear sway on 2002 with 15x9 245 Rival'S, Koni Sports+450/325, RB 1.25OD front and -2 camber on a car that will be driven on street, track and auto-x? I would like to have the car be either solidly neutral or have light under-steer as I see it as a safer setup for a novice track driver. I haven't measured how low the car sits, but probably around 12F-12.5R or so.

RB, FM, stock or nothing at all?

Thanks all
Old Jan 27, 2018 | 11:41 AM
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Stock with supermiata end links. Or Supermiata 14mm rear if you're set on spending money.

I'm tuning stock rear with 1.25 hollow front
Old Jan 27, 2018 | 11:49 AM
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If you insist on Konis, ditch the rear bar, then slam the rear to get on the bump stops and off the terrible koni "damping".
Old Jan 27, 2018 | 11:49 AM
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MSM rear bar.
Old Jan 27, 2018 | 11:56 AM
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I know its sorta common to run no rear swaybar on the NB2 but I think you would be much better off balancing the car around a having a rear sway, even if its stock or something like the MSM mentioned above.
If your current setup is prone to oversteer with a stock bar you could try going to a little higher spring rate in the front.
Old Jan 27, 2018 | 12:32 PM
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IIRC isn't the msm sway bar the 14mm one that supermiata sells? Thought I read that somewhere but could be wrong
Old Jan 27, 2018 | 12:43 PM
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Probably, but it's not a Supermiata bar if so. It's a Mazda bar.
Old Jan 27, 2018 | 12:51 PM
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Touche
Old Jan 27, 2018 | 06:10 PM
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Your choice is what you need with your present setup. If you have a stock bar on it now and are loose try no bar, if you are tight try the 14mm bar. If you want to run a rear bar then adjust the springs instead, if you are loose, stiffer front or softer rear
Old Jan 28, 2018 | 02:30 AM
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Never go with an FM rear bar. It is way too big for anything. Oversteer city, no matter what you do.
Old Jan 28, 2018 | 02:35 AM
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https://iscracing.net/suspensiontop-hatsshocksspringsbushingsswaybar/


try this sway bar and report back
Old Jan 28, 2018 | 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by matrussell122
IIRC isn't the msm sway bar the 14mm one that supermiata sells? Thought I read that somewhere but could be wrong
They used to supply the mazda MSM bar (the one I bought a few years ago came had the mazda part number sticker on it). Now they supply their own 14mm bar that has extra adjustment holes for softer / harder.

@OP see the section on 'sway bars' here for setup info Miata Race alignment
Old Jan 28, 2018 | 11:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Chilicharger665
Never go with an FM rear bar. It is way too big for anything. Oversteer city, no matter what you do.
Very much this. I got mine to work well enough, but only set to soft and with more negative rear camber than front, FM/stock-style. Even so, I think I'd be faster and more confident if it oversteered a little less. I suspect that the stiff rear bar isn't doing my ride quality any favours, either. It's only laziness that's holding me back from putting the stock rear back on and getting realigned to 949 settings.
Old Jan 29, 2018 | 11:46 AM
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Ok, i'll keep stock for now then. Probably should reinforce the front RB 1.25 though.
Old Jan 29, 2018 | 07:32 PM
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Whatever the track guys say for the track, and then disconnect both (not just one, still binds with just one) endlink for when you auto-x it.
Old Jan 29, 2018 | 09:36 PM
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Stock or SPM 14mm 2-hole
Old Apr 3, 2018 | 11:28 AM
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I ran the FM front and rear bar together for years and ditched it about a year or so ago for a stock bar in the back.

The FM rear bar is just too damn big. Highly recommend against if you have big power or sticky tires. It just lets go suddenly and is very scary. You end up driving below the limits to keep the car safe. Taking the rear bar back to stock made the car way more confidence inspiring. It's like night and day.
Old Apr 3, 2018 | 12:27 PM
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Yes, kept RB front and stock rear, thanks all.
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