Comments on: H-Sport 19mm Rear Sway Bar Reviewed

By: mr. jim

mr. jim — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:00:54 +0000

Question? The JCW bar is 18.5mm is there that much difference to the 19mm? Is it the adjustability of the H-Sports bar? Thanks

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 14:47:34 +0000

This is the same bar I just installed. My MCS has the stocke sport suspension and I think this bar is the perfect addition. I personally think a larger bar on this setup would make the car too twitchy.

The install was pretty easy and only took 2 hours for my fist time. I did need an extra pair of hands to push on the bar while I held the wiring harness out of the way to get the new bar on.

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 23:27:18 +0000

So, I'm wondering how much overlap there is between the 19-ish mm bars set to stiff and the larger 22-25 bars set to soft? I have no need for the stiff setting of a large bar, but wonder if the stiff setting of a 19 mm bar is enough of a delta over the stock MINI S bar...?

-B

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 02:58:04 +0000

I've personally watched in horror the effects of a sway bar adjusted to the hardest setting in the hands of a driver not accustomed to its affect on a Mini's dynamics. 4 Minis went over the top of a left sweeping off camber crest at the same speed, 3 made it down the other side. The result was not pretty and the driver was extremely lucky to walk away from the accident which wrote off his car in the process.

If you haven't had the chance to try out the effects of a sway bar set at the hardest setting on say a skid pan, then I highly recommend you do not set it to the maximum setting.

By: Daniel Chow

Daniel Chow — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 02:43:04 +0000

What is the size of the stock factory rear bar?

By: Crashton

Crashton — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 00:54:43 +0000

I had a friend help me install the H-Sport 19mm on my 06 MCS. It’s a great addition to an already great car. My car has the stock suspension. Turn in is much sharper than it was before. When pushed very hard the car will still understeer, but those limits have been raised quite a bit. I had been running the bar on its stiffest setting. This wekend I did a track day & backed the bar off to the middle setting….just right for me. :-)

By: Kurt Collins

Kurt Collins — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 00:53:22 +0000

I love my hollow 25.4 mm H Sport rear sway bar.Set at the middle setting, I can actually feather the rear of the car around certain ramps in the DC area. I had Eric also install my bar and your review/experience is a very accurate description of being at Helix!

By: EricR

EricR — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 21:36:36 +0000

Jim Harris – careful with the full stiff. I got a 22MM and am quite happy with it on the ’soft’ setting. Autocross is a good way to check on how it changes the handling, but remember that on the road you’ll likely be driving at higher speeds. It’s good for most people to work from soft to stiff gradually.

By: Bzzz Bom

Bzzz Bom — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 20:18:25 +0000

I have the H-sport 19 mm rear sway bar, H-sport springs w/ lower rear camber arms and the Koni FSD shocks installed by Central Coast Coopers (MINI suspension specialist)in Oxnard, CA. In my opinion this is the ultimate set up for spirited street driving. Feel free to email me if you want discuss this set up. Great review!!!

By: drew

drew — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:38:32 +0000

jim – i did indeed use the middle setting. along with my jcw suspension this feels just perfect.

By: CooprSS

CooprSS — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:34:46 +0000

I agree the BAR is a must, really transforms the car, but in my case:

I have the Alta 22mm bar set on the soft setting and the car has never felt "Twitchy". I am also running the M7 springs which lowers the car about an inch and adds about a degree or so negative camber to the rear wheels. The negative camber helps to plant the rear and you have to work hard to get the backend to even think about twitching. Don't be afraid of 22mm bars, they can be great foe street usage if set up correctly.

Just my .02.

Bill

By: Jim Harris

Jim Harris — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:24:07 +0000

Hard to tell from the photo, but it looks like you used the middle hole, is that right? Therefore, you've taken a somewhat conservative route and opted for "half stiff."

I just chnaged my rear bar, the 22 mm Helix version, to fill stiff (hole closest to the bar). An autocross next weekend will tell me if this is optimal, but even this setting is not too stiff for the street. The car still feels fine and handles great.

Cheers.

By: drew

drew — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:03:04 +0000

thanks for the kind words everyone ; )

just to reiterate, the car doesn't feel twitchy at all with the h-sport 19mm set to the middle position. it feels a lot more like a race car though - and in the week i've had the mod i have thrown it into some serious twisties and never once felt the back end wanting to come around.

cheers - drew

By: Mark Hendrie

Mark Hendrie — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:54:34 +0000

Good review – I have never really considered this mod but now that I have read the above I like the sound of the improvement and will look into it.

By: Jac

Jac — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:54:23 +0000

great review. I am also planning on the 19mm bar for the street. I have spent time in twitchy cars, and for me, it really isn't any fun. I spend more time worriing about if the rear is going to come around than enjoying the curves....

YMMV!

By: PeB

PeB — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:39:26 +0000

Just a question, is the Alta rear sway bar 19mm the same ? Should be.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:34:07 +0000

Thanks Drew. Sounds like a good deal!

By: Lee L

Lee L — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:31:33 +0000

Good review. When I installed mine (an Ireland Engineering adjustable)I also noticed the fact that even in city driving around normal turns (at MINI Speed of course ;) ) that the effects of the bar could be felt. Most reviews don’t really address this and concentrate on track performance instead. THe car just feels better .

By: JD7

JD7 — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:21:11 +0000

I was going back and forth on 19mm vs 22mm. I ordered a 19mm and then quickly had them ship me a 22mm instead. Now I am wondering if I made the right choice! I should have waited until I read this. Great review by the way.

By: agranger

agranger — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:50:52 +0000

Equipment Cost: $100 to $250, depending on the bar and source Install: about an hour... maybe a bit more - $100

If you have basic hand tools, a pair of jack stands, and you have some degree of 'handiness' this is definately a do-it-yourself kind of mod. We did 6 rear swaybar installs in my driveway a few weeks ago and I posted a video how-to on NAM.