I have been trying out various suspension systems over the past few months and they all do a good job at lowering the GE8 to everyones taste.

However, there is one small problem with slight body roll/sway driving over slightly uneven surfaces which I have found out is a result of using 205/50/16 wheels and tires. When re-fitting stock wheels and tires this sway/roll is nearly gone (narrow tires).

The question is which type of Strengthening bars would be the most effective to reduce sway/roll on uneven surfaces using larger wheels and wider tires, not just for better cornering, but better overall handeling.

 

anti-roll bar would definitely help, aftermarket struts as well

 

panda is correct, a rear anti sway bar and better struts would really help the handling of these cars.

 

The biggest factor is going to be a heavier duty roll bar. The thicker the bar the more resistant to flex, which in turn means less sway. If you are serious, look into racing sway bars, especially ones that are adjustable. The adjustable bars are just one part of tuning the handling.

Struts are minimal since they only deal with osculations and don't support the weight of the vehicle.

The real weight of the car is controlled by the springs. Heavier duty springs will keep the car from compressing a bit, but also give a stiff ride.

 

Our cars really won't benefit from a rear sway bar since the suspension isn't independent right?

 

it isnt no... but think of the rear torsion bar as a large sway bar... adding a more structure to the torsion bar, i.e. the fit sway bar, is like putting on a larger diameter sway on a conventional mcpherson suspension...

 

So what's your favorite spring/strut setup so far?

 

Mugen Suspension for good all round street driving.

BC Coilovers for adjustability, but better for racing I quess.

Never buy Tanabe again.

The problem is which brand should I go for.

 

I'm really imagining shocks and springs having a bigger effect in the rear...but this is my first car with this type of suspension, so who knows.

 

eh.. same here... i think ur right tho... from what i see... when fit owners get a full coilover suspension, adding a rear sway bar is kind of overkill... theres no real need after acquiring stiffer springs and the dampening adjustability...

just an assumption.. but someone with coilovers wanna chime in on the subject...?

 

Hey Lek...I'm curious. Why don't you like Tanabe? I've never owned anything by them but I was thinking about getting their springs--any insight you have is appreciated.

 

If memory serves, Lek had NF210s on his GE before. He says they made the car "wallow" like a boat.

Right Lek?

 

Dang, and I was thinking about getting the NF's.
I don't want a very low drop. Grr...Progress?

I don't have the budget for coilovers but I want some nice springs that aren't too low and still provide the "rake" look and still provide stiffness/balance for the turns.

Ideas on springs? (rear sway as well maybe?)

On my EP, I had the HFP suspension (approx a 1" drop all around) with a CTR 22mm Rear Sway and a Neuspeed Solid front strut bar. Handled great. Wondering if a similar setup would be useful for the fit.

 

t1r s coils great ride and nice drop made in japan also.

 

Hmm...I might just have to go with T1R S Coils then...drop looks nice.
I'm gonna do some research on here as far as experience goes--thanks guys.

Lek...good luck with your setup!

 

that's kind of silly to say

With a sway bar you can improve handling without having to make the ride too rough for your taste. You're thinking on a scale where one end is crappy handling and the other end is superior handling. You've also got to think about ride quality, because some people like to drive their car to work (without developing jeep rider's syndrome).

 

Lean is not necessarily bad, just too much is bad. The fit is top heavy and tends to lean more than many cars. Putting stiiffer front antiswar bars to reduce lean also creates more understeer, which in handling at the limit will lose traction much quicker. Leads to having to crank the steering wheel harder into the turn. And losing control much quicker.
The Fit handles better, that is, more neutral between understeer and oversteer, with less understeer and more oversteer. Putting stiffer springs will do better to control lean. Use antisway bars to balance the handling ( rear adds oversteer, front adds understeer, and the size and strength of the bar designs the amounts) Its not simple.

 

Doesn't make any difference whether live or dead axle. Both sides have springs or coils or leaves. The action of an antisway bar is to increase the spring force on the outside by the spring force on the inside. While many think antisway bars are meely to rediuce lean their actual purpose is to balance understeer and oversteer of the front and back.
Lean is best controlled by springs and antisway bars are used to push handling into more neutral for better control on curves and transitions..

 

how is that silly to say? read/understand... i put it in terms of fit owners with coilovers...

if you want to improve handling and NOT be rough, you shouldnt even consider coilovers... i was just mentioning if coilovers were installed, maybe a sway bar would be overkill... had nothing to do with ride quality...

if you want nice ride quality and improved handling.. get stickier tires and keep the suspension stock...

 

Get bigger sway bars and coilovers.