AWD Sway Bar thread

[Oggy]

Hi guys,

my next mod is a rear sway bar, and I can't see a Sway Bar thread in the AWD section, so maybe this can become a repository for valid info - eg: opinions, experiences, sources of products and prices.

Below is my story, but first some specifics which I hope to update with latest details and keep this thread current.

Sources and prices (as at October 1, 2009 but they could vary at any time).
for an 18mm Adjustable Rear sway bar for 03/04 Magna AWD:
www.phillcomrally.com - forum link Forum Link #2. NB: Prices are from 2006 so expect to pay more!
www.Selbys.com.au - actual manufacturer, approx $245 for 18mm or $270 for custom ordered 20mm adjustable rear bar.
www.onautos.com.au - $270 for 18mm adjustable rear sway bar, currently has a coupon for free shipping "EBAY".
www.Whiteline.com.au - ?
www.k-mac.com.au - Update: 20mm adjustable rear bar is $340 at Oct 2009. Adjustable on slide mounts, not 3 holes, see web for details.
And apparently Supercheap for $220 at some point in time https://www.aussiemagna.net/forums/sh...light=AWD+Sway


From reading as many AWD sway bar discussions as I can find, it seems that the rear sway bar is deemed the best single mod for our AWDs, probably because once understeer begins, the rear drive pushes the car forwards into more understeer (to paraphrase a Josh that put it that way ).

Recently I've had some private road practice in my car on wet tarmac. It can actually develop power oversteer with the factory sway bar, wheels and tyres.
I've only experienced one instance of major understeer and a few minor ones. All were corrected by lifting off the gas and waiting

But either way, I'm not happy with the body roll, so a bigger sway bar is more than likely going on.

I've compared onautos.com.au and Selby's direct.
Selby's was just a bit cheaper with pickup, but then I asked for a custom '20mm' adjustable rear sway bar and that would be $270.

I am not sure if an off the shelf 18mm sway bar will be enough of a difference over the factory 16mm sway bar, or if a custom 20mm adjustable bar from Selby's would be too much! Would I be going too far with 20mm considering it's a road car, not a track car? Since its adjustable, will I have enough flexibility to select a softer 'setting' ?

So, what's the behavioural differences between 16mm, 18mm adjustable or larger rear sway bars? I'd love to hear other's experiences on an AWD Magna/Verada.

Bit of imperial measurements, courtesy of a PDF from Selby's website:

Sway Bar    Percentage
Diameter   Stiffer than 16mm
  18mm          60%
  19mm          99%
  20mm         144%
  21mm         197%
  22mm         257%