Ok, stupid question -- I'm sure-- but...

If going from straight stock suspension to coilovers (Skunk2 Pro-C), should I just go ahead and install the Progress rear sway, or wait and see how the car performs on just the coilovers? I mean, is the Progress bar sort of a "guaranteed" improvement on a Fit (sounds like it is)?

I don't want things to get overly stiff though, and my wife does drive the car too (with small kids)--pure DD for now. I've heard of the rear potentially sliding out in a hard corner with rear sway--maybe more likely with unexperienced driver like the wife? I already have the Progress bar, but have not installed it (not even opened the box yet).

This is another one of those questions that there's maybe no "right" answer to, but in general, what do you guys think/have experience with?

 

Install the bar- guaranteed more value than the coilovers alone.

 

Excellent. Thanks manxman!

 

I'll be running the same setup. Can't wait.

 

personally i like to change my setup in steps so i'd remove the
bar from the car and install the c/o's to see how it runs.

Also remember that c/o's corner weight works best with
adjustable endlinks on other cars with swaybars...meaning
the swaybar itself can contribute to the idle lean of the
suspension. since the progress rear sway is a direct mount
type with no adjustability (given that you don't use
spacers, etc to match working heights) not sure how much
the bar affects corner weighting.

it will be a true pita to adjust the free bar setting on the
progress bar unless you get bolts with a hex hole in the
middle like those endlink bolts so that you can hold the
bolt from under the car with the weight of the car on the
sus while you torque the swaybar's mounting nut.

does the spoon Fit have a rear swaybar? i dont think
it did....

 

Whoa! You just threw a monkey-wrench in my plan then. So...maybe hold off you say? That whole second paragraph totally lost me. Can it be explained differently? This is yet another one where one guy I talked to on the phones said "hold off" and another said "nah-- put it on, it won't hinder any performance, and it's mostly a cornering benefit-related item.

manxman? ciburri?

 

jsensk,

I told you the truth, but you are free to believe anyone you want. There have been several people who have installed both the rear bar and coilover suspension. No problems except for the requirement of different bolt heads than the ones supplied by Progress with their bar. Not on all coilover brands though. PM member "Hocker" about the bolt kit that he sells through Panducky.

If you install both the Progress bar and the coilovers, you will be in fine shape, and your efforts will pay off with very stable handling. The bar installation is extremely simple- anyone can do it.

But again, believe whomever you want.

I am sure that "ciburri" will agree. If he doesn't, I'll drive 50 miles and punch him in the nose.

 

:thud:

 

not really. just talking from experience. but you see a lot of
folks that dont use adjustable endlinks on other cars and get a soso
decent setup. meaning, their left and right coil seats sit like 3/4"
apart L/R and can't figure out why. uhhh... ever heard of swaybar
preload?

you might get lucky and still be within the swaybar slop. best to
install your c/o first, set your heights, take it apart, and then
install the swaybar. if there's any lean, then your swaybar's
to blame. add shims to dial it out while your car's on ramps.
this is where you need those bolts with hex center.
well, that's wat i would do if i was to do it.

plus, you'll know if your c/o spring rates are good or not and how
the progress bar improves your overall handling. i think you should
enjoy it in 2 stages... again, that's just me.

 

Thank you gentlemen. I will take that all into consideration.

 

punch him... punch him.... LOL

manxman FTW!!!!!!!

 

At least "ciburri" will get the joke- he and I agree on most things tech. related.

 

jsensk-
If today is the Thursday that you are getting your new suspension installed, please post your impressions of the changes on your 2 hr. drive back home. Also, did you install the Progress bar along with the coilovers, or will you wait for a while before installing the bar?