So tomorrow Im heading down to Oregon for a cousins wedding, and I decided that I was going to break down and get new idler arm bushings for the drive. So, I bit the bullet and called the dealership. They had two in stock for $6 each. I figured that it wasnt too bad, seeing as I needed them by tomorrow, and paying shipping to get them by then would be more than just buying them from the dealership. So, I got those and installed them. Also, I figured that since Ive had rear brake pads laying around for a while (I bought front and rears at the same time, and only did the fronts), I might as well install those as well. I pulled the tires off, got to looking, and what do you know. I have plenty of pad on the back, so I figured theres no point in putting new pads on when I still have that much left on the ones on there now. So this kinda raises a question though, why is it that the fronts were so worn, yet the rears look hardly used? They have been used, just no where near as much as the fronts. I know that more of the braking is done with the front, but is it really that much? So, if you know the answer to that, or what I should check, please let me know.

Anyway, while I had the tire off, I noticed that my sway bar looked kinda funny on the one side. So, I checked the other side, and sure enough, the passenger side was all bent. I have no idea how it could have happened, as the rest of the car looks fine and it always drove straight and stuff, nothing else was bent or goofy looking. Im not sure if its supposed to be bent like that or not (I assume not), but I figured this is a good chance to disconnect it and see if I like it. Well, I got it disconnected, but then realized that even if I dont like it, I saw no point in reconnecting a possibly broken part, so I just took it all off. So with the bar now removed and my new idler arm bushings, I took it for a cruise. Man does that thing corner! I still need to work some freeplay out of the steering box, but boy oh boy does it feel like a sports car now!

~T.J.

PS - Im gonna put some pictures of the bar up online, so you guys tell me if its supposed to look like that or not, ok ?

 

Oh, and heres the link to the pictures. Its obviously the first three .

http://www.angelfire.com/space/rotor...isc/index.html

So, on the ends by where it bolts to the end links, are they both supposed to be straight or bent? Or is it supposed to be the way mine is?

~T.J.

 

Yeah.. front brakes wear down A LOT faster than the rear ones do.. Usually you can go thru 2 sets of fronts before you need to replace the rear. I think it has to do with physics when stopping. Inertia, momentum, energy = heat yadayada. I sold my physics book after, so I can't look up anything from physics 101. How can you resist the beer $ at the end of the qtr?

I'm guesstimating maybe >60-75% of the car's weight (energy of motion) is shifted to the front axle/wheels. Since there is so much energy shifted to the front, this energy is released as heat when your 12 piston calipers with Hawk Black pads are pressed into your 14in X-drilled/slotted Brembos therefor decreasing your pad life. Motorcycle front brakes are HUGE compared to the rear almost non-existant brakes. When I'm mtn biking, the front brakes do most of the work which sometimes results in me landing face first performing an endo.

 

That bend in the rear sway bar is normal..OEM bend..

So it does actually corner better withotu it? No *** sway?

I guess mine is coming off.

 

I'm not exactly sure that removing the rear sway bar improves cornering..

It will increase predictibility and reduce snap oversteer, but I dont think it will do much for cornering (ability)

 

Yeah, I thought the same thing when I first inspected my rear sway bar but then I saw a junkyard car with the same bend..... that set me straight.

I also took my rear bar off recently and it ain't going back on! As Chemical stated, it increases predictibility and reduces snap oversteer. With the rear bar removed and a CP racing strut bar installed, my car handles absolutely great now!

 

Yeah, I kinda like it off. I need to drive around some more and get used to it a little more, but I like it so far .

~T.J.

 

I think with the rear bar removed it gives the impression of cornering better due to the more predictable nature, maybe affecting your confidence. I removed mine ages ago (with the bend) and it improved greatly.

 

So I can remove bar and no probs?

 

And what is wrong with oversteer? Some of us actually like getting the back end loose.

 

So do I and I'll take oversteer over understeer anyday.

Trust me... without the rear bar you'll still get oversteer. Let's just say that it's oversteer that's more controllable by you instead of the car.

--Bob

 

exactly

 

i've been barless for years and i bought another car with the bar and its scary

mike

 

Loose is fast, but too loose is slow.

Idler arm bushings should be on the list of first stuff to do on a newly acquired 1st gen.

 

A hair dryer will quickly solve any 'lack of oversteer' problems you may get!

I think the car just feels better without the rear bar.

 

hmmm on my rear end I havent even connected my sway bar yet, do you guys think I should even bother? I havent ever really driven my rex like it was ment to be, since I bought it limping it home with that 12a with the blown seal.

But needless to say, I dont have much experience with a RWD car YET. Should I even bother connecting the bar? If I connect it I need new bushings so if I leave it off thats 20 bux I can spend on something else!

 

bump

 

Leave it off then till you feel like spending the 20 to try it. SOme guys like it on, some dont.