H&R front sway bar installed and pleasantly surprised

bimmerboyE92 · 06-12-2016, 08:29 PM

Always wanted to reduce track day roll on my daily driven F80. I didn't want to lower it any being a daily driver.

Haven't been to the track with the sway bar on but some spirited street driving has me pleasantly surprised. Bought it from ECS tuning and arrived Saturday via FedEx Home (free) after ordering Thursday night after 10pm.

Took me a leisure 2hrs from first foot into garage to first drive. Swapping out was pretty straight forward with the biggest challenge figuring out how to put the front end on jack stands. I ended up jacking the rear jack point so that I could put a jack under the front jack point. Then used the central point on the skid plate to lift the entire front end up for jack stands.

I snapped off the "ears" on the stock sway bar bushings getting them out of the clamp holders - hardened after less than a year of ownership???

The car has a perceived "less delayed" turn-in. Similar in amount to what it feels like to go from Comfort to Sport Plus steering (kinda). Car is more settle in a turn that goes from banked to reversed banked. Definitely feels stiffer in a bumpy turn.

I think it was a worth while modification and feels stock in a straight line. Only when in a turn can you feel less compliance.

Next scheduled track day is not until later this year and I'll report back then. Can't really tell if this helps the reverse camber on tires during track day driving. I just don't feel comfortable loading the car that much on the street. But it feels like it can only help.

rubber_ducky · 06-13-2016, 07:58 AM

Great write-up. I'm looking to dial out some of the inherent understeer in the F80 chassis using [front] anti-sways. Seems that H&R is the only available option if you don't want to do the rear bar as well.

Good to know it's a DIY job.

bimmerboyE92 · 06-13-2016, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

Great write-up. I'm looking to dial out some of the inherent understeer in the F80 chassis using [front] anti-sways. Seems that H&R is the only available option if you don't want to do the rear bar as well.

Good to know it's a DIY job.

Actually, AFE also sells a front sway but I decided to stick with H&R.

rubber_ducky · 06-13-2016, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmerboyE92

Actually, AFE also sells a front sway but I decided to stick with H&R.

I had no idea...

The machined bushing brackets are a nice touch. Too bad they didn't make it adjustable at all

tomlong · 03-28-2020, 03:49 AM

You never reported back on track day. Any updates?

bimmerboyE92 · 03-29-2020, 04:34 PM

With a macpherson strut vehicle, getting the front to stop rolling is paramount. I’ve since bumped these to the stiffest setting along with -3.5deg camber and TCK DAs, and its better, but camber loss when the car rolls is just a part of life with these cars. My track setup is far different then when I first installed this sway bar. But if you have stiffened everything up and still have issues with tire wear, try a different tire.

06-12-2016, 08:29 PM	#1
bimmerboyE92 Captain 412 Rep 737 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Louisville, KY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2001 Miata NB K24Z3 [0.00] 1990 Miata NA 1.8 VVT [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00] 2016 BMW M3 [0.00]	H&R front sway bar installed and pleasantly surprised Always wanted to reduce track day roll on my daily driven F80. I didn't want to lower it any being a daily driver. Haven't been to the track with the sway bar on but some spirited street driving has me pleasantly surprised. Bought it from ECS tuning and arrived Saturday via FedEx Home (free) after ordering Thursday night after 10pm. Took me a leisure 2hrs from first foot into garage to first drive. Swapping out was pretty straight forward with the biggest challenge figuring out how to put the front end on jack stands. I ended up jacking the rear jack point so that I could put a jack under the front jack point. Then used the central point on the skid plate to lift the entire front end up for jack stands. I snapped off the "ears" on the stock sway bar bushings getting them out of the clamp holders - hardened after less than a year of ownership??? The car has a perceived "less delayed" turn-in. Similar in amount to what it feels like to go from Comfort to Sport Plus steering (kinda). Car is more settle in a turn that goes from banked to reversed banked. Definitely feels stiffer in a bumpy turn. I think it was a worth while modification and feels stock in a straight line. Only when in a turn can you feel less compliance. Next scheduled track day is not until later this year and I'll report back then. Can't really tell if this helps the reverse camber on tires during track day driving. I just don't feel comfortable loading the car that much on the street. But it feels like it can only help. Attached Images Last edited by bimmerboyE92; 06-12-2016 at 08:35 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-13-2016, 07:58 AM	#2
rubber_ducky Colonel 386 Rep 2,989 Posts Drives: roach coach Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: boston-ish iTrader: (21)	Great write-up. I'm looking to dial out some of the inherent understeer in the F80 chassis using [front] anti-sways. Seems that H&R is the only available option if you don't want to do the rear bar as well. Good to know it's a DIY job.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-28-2020, 03:49 AM	#5
tomlong Captain 617 Rep 600 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Sedan Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	You never reported back on track day. Any updates? __________________ https://www.instagram.com/tomlong/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-29-2020, 04:34 PM	#6
bimmerboyE92 Captain 412 Rep 737 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Louisville, KY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2001 Miata NB K24Z3 [0.00] 1990 Miata NA 1.8 VVT [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00] 2016 BMW M3 [0.00]	With a macpherson strut vehicle, getting the front to stop rolling is paramount. I’ve since bumped these to the stiffest setting along with -3.5deg camber and TCK DAs, and its better, but camber loss when the car rolls is just a part of life with these cars. My track setup is far different then when I first installed this sway bar. But if you have stiffened everything up and still have issues with tire wear, try a different tire.
	Appreciate 0 Quote