Lenn on Oct/10/02 said:
Do rear sway bushings make a big difference on a stock sway bar? Same for the shifter bushing.
Which company would you recommend?
swaybar bushings do stiffen up the stock rear swaybar movement but as I said in my PM to you, it would be minor in comparison to doing it properly: if you really wanted to reduce understeer (by increasing oversteer with more rear stiffness) then the way to do it is to a) get a bigger swaybar (since the stiffness increases by the square of the increase in diameter...i.e. more than a 1:1 linear increase) and b) get stiffer rear springs (which also would prevent rear swaybar tear off from the frame since the springs would reduce rear frame flexing...the culprit behind swaybar tear aways).
What To Get & How to install a bigger 22mm ITR rear swaybar in a GSR and LS
BSQ mounting kit
the rear swaybar will improve cornering much more than a front strut brace by far (front strut brace: every beginner gets this first for some reason [including me]..._________ , see _______ do ). When you stiffen one end of the car, it increases the tendency at that end. Stiffen the front and you get MORE UNDERSTEER. Stiffen the rear and you get MORE OVERSTEER (or LESS UNDERsteer)...so in a front heavy FWD which naturally understeers too much, stiffening the rear is the correct modification.
you can get a new itr swaybar from the dealer for $58 if you don't want to scour a junkyard. It's a relatively inexpensive mod...when it comes to modifying a car and getting a performance gain.
I use a Neuspeed short shifter which comes with their bushing. The throws are crisper and less notchy/rubbery with less play. The throws are reduced by about 1/3. I've never used Energy's bushing on my short shifter and so I can't comment on how it works...I don't see the need to get one for a stock shifter though. Don't forget to lubricate polyurethane with a compatible polyurethane lubricant like Wurth HHS2000 spray (and not WD40 please!) on install or you'll have mice in your car (squeek, squeek).
