ZCP vs Base (or CS) Front Sway Bar, which stiffer?

mitch32 · 09-08-2023, 10:01 AM

Hello,

Cannot find a straight answer on this in the search, does anyone know which sway bar is stiffer? Based on the fact that people with ZCP switching to CS/Base front sway bar have said that the car has less understeer I would assume that the front sway bar on the base is stiffer then ZCP. Has anyone every confirmed this?

TractionControlDelete · 10-19-2023, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch32

Hello,

Cannot find a straight answer on this in the search, does anyone know which sway bar is stiffer? Based on the fact that people with ZCP switching to CS/Base front sway bar have said that the car has less understeer I would assume that the front sway bar on the base is stiffer then ZCP. Has anyone every confirmed this?

Yes, confirmed. I’m swapping in the Base front sway right now into my ZCP

RugbyBro · 10-19-2023, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch32

Hello,

Cannot find a straight answer on this in the search, does anyone know which sway bar is stiffer? Based on the fact that people with ZCP switching to CS/Base front sway bar have said that the car has less understeer I would assume that the front sway bar on the base is stiffer then ZCP. Has anyone every confirmed this?

Base is softer which leads to more front end grip and less understeer.

jfritz27 · 10-19-2023, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

Base is softer which leads to more front end grip and less understeer.

+1

Hotflare · 11-08-2023, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TractionControlDelete

Yes, confirmed. I’m swapping in the Base front sway right now into my ZCP

Guessing this is something I should look into

TractionControlDelete · 11-08-2023, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotflare

Guessing this is something I should look into

Yeah! I love it. I’ve had it since October 27th and it makes the car feel lighter in the corners. So instead of fighting understeer in just gliding through the corner and I don’t feel like I’m fighting the car

N1rve · 11-09-2023, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch32

Hello,

Cannot find a straight answer on this in the search, does anyone know which sway bar is stiffer? Based on the fact that people with ZCP switching to CS/Base front sway bar have said that the car has less understeer I would assume that the front sway bar on the base is stiffer then ZCP. Has anyone every confirmed this?

The front sway bar is softer on base which results into more mechanical grip in the front and causes less understeer.

Basically more grip in front = oversteer and less grip in the front (or more grip in the rear) = understeer. Stiffer doesn’t always equate to more grip, a softer suspension will adapt to road irregularities faster than a stiffer suspension which results in more mechanical grip.

Soul Coughing · 11-09-2023, 02:50 PM

I did the swap with my ZCP and additionally the front springs and then had the car coded to CS for the dampeners. It was a great upgrade that really improved the ride for not much money.

Interestingly, I did the sway bar and spring change before doing the coding, and on the first drive, I felt like the front and rear were no longer connected. It felt like the spring rates were not matched to each other and there was a lag between front and rear over bumps and going around corners. The CS coding for the dampeners changed that feeling and really completed the package. Worth doing if you've got a ZCP.

mitch32 · 11-09-2023, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soul Coughing

I did the swap with my ZCP and additionally the front springs and then had the car coded to CS for the dampeners. It was a great upgrade that really improved the ride for not much money.

Interestingly, I did the sway bar and spring change before doing the coding, and on the first drive, I felt like the front and rear were no longer connected. It felt like the spring rates were not matched to each other and there was a lag between front and rear over bumps and going around corners. The CS coding for the dampeners changed that feeling and really completed the package. Worth doing if you've got a ZCP.

Did you update your istep at the same time? What istep are you on?

Soul Coughing · 11-10-2023, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch32

Did you update your istep at the same time? What istep are you on?

I had had the dealer update my istep to the highest at the time in 2021 which was high enough. Unsure on what year your car is

09-08-2023, 10:01 AM	#1
mitch32 First Lieutenant 127 Rep 316 Posts Drives: F82 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Michigan iTrader: (3)	ZCP vs Base (or CS) Front Sway Bar, which stiffer? Hello, Cannot find a straight answer on this in the search, does anyone know which sway bar is stiffer? Based on the fact that people with ZCP switching to CS/Base front sway bar have said that the car has less understeer I would assume that the front sway bar on the base is stiffer then ZCP. Has anyone every confirmed this?
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11-09-2023, 02:50 PM	#8
Soul Coughing First Lieutenant 258 Rep 358 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2001 Honda S2000 [0.00] 2006 Mini Cooper JC ... [0.00] 2020 Audi SQ5 [0.00] 2017 BMW M3 Competi ... [0.00]	I did the swap with my ZCP and additionally the front springs and then had the car coded to CS for the dampeners. It was a great upgrade that really improved the ride for not much money. Interestingly, I did the sway bar and spring change before doing the coding, and on the first drive, I felt like the front and rear were no longer connected. It felt like the spring rates were not matched to each other and there was a lag between front and rear over bumps and going around corners. The CS coding for the dampeners changed that feeling and really completed the package. Worth doing if you've got a ZCP.
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