Science of Speed Sway Bar Install

[mvanbuhl]

All,

I have read through this excellent thread http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24233, I add my thanks to all who contributed over the last couple of years!

I have a stock 2001 and am about to embark on installing Science of Speed (Comptech) sway bars. Despite requesting installation instructions twice, I never received anything from SOS. Thankfully, I read this thread before beginning the install.

Some background and then some questions:

Background:
- Car is 40% track, 60% street.
- Currently stock suspension, however I plan to upgrade to something like Tein RA. I welcome any advice for a suspension upgrade.
- Also plan to install the Type-R brace in the future. Currently back ordered at SOS.
- I do not carry a spare, I have roadside assistance (I hope that is sufficient, never tested).

Questions:
1) Given what I plan to install with suspension and brace mods, should I install the sway bars with Al's kit from the outset to avoid future problems with the brace after lowering?
2) With Al's kit, do I still need to reverse the drop links? Can I get a more explicit explaination of this process?
3) With the kit will I still need to trim the battery tray?
4) Can anyone confirm the torque setting on these bolts to be 61 lbs (based on the service manual)?
5) What is the recommended initial setting (holes) for both the front and the rear?
6) What is the handling effect of tightening/loosening the front bar/rear bar? When should they both be adjusted versus just front or rear? For example, if I experience oversteer, should I soften the rear bar and also adjust the front?

 

[ATERPAK]

Hi Mark, you've got a lot of questions. I'll try my best to give you the correct answers.

Question #1:
You should install my kit at the same time you install the lower Type R brace and front sway bar if possible. This will save you extra work in the long run. My suggestion would be to remove both front tires, drop the front battery tray down in the front, support the battery tray in the rear. Remove the old front sway bar completely. Reverse the drop links and mount them loosely to the lower A-arm. Install the new sway bar using my adaptor for the sway bar shim and then make all bolt connections to the parts but do not tighten them all right now. Install the Type R lower brace using the rest of my adapter parts (see enclosed detailed instruction sheet). Make sure everything is in and all bolts are connected. Finally tightened all bolts.

#2:
See #1 for that question. However my kit doesn't really affect the drop links. It just seems to give you a better angle whether you lower the car or add the Type R brace or not.

#3:
It's probably not necessary to trim the battery tray. If needed, you could bend down the outer lip in the area near the sway bar. This seems to be a car by car variation.

#4:
Torque setting for the sway bar links are done by hand and make them as tight as you can. The nyloc nut prevents backoff. The torque on the sway bar bracket and shim is 17 foot lbs. My instruction sheet gives all torque specs.

#5:
Adjustment for the sway bar is done one end at a time. Start with both in the middle. Then depending on what you're trying to achieve adjust one bar or the other to see what happens. Your scenario of oversteer would have me loosen the rear bar and then driving it to see if it helps correct it. If you need more changes, then stiffen the front and see if that helps. Always do one adjustment at a time and see what affect it might have. You might find that after you loosen the rear bar, that it would take only a little looser rear shock setting to fine tune it the way you like to drive. Remember go from a coarse adjustment first and then fine tune it which in this case would be sway bar, shock, and finally tire pressures.

Give me a call at (916) 364-7385 for any further info. You will definitely need my kit for the 2001 and the Type R brace with the Comptech sway bars. Take care,