A couple folks have PM'd me asking about the sway bars. I know its been discussed before, but seeing as how most people install them at the same time as bigger wheels and/or with other suspension mods (ie, springs or coilovers), I decided I'd throw my .02 out there since I had my wheels, KWs, and Hotchkis sways all installed a week apart from each other (its probably worth less than .02 since I'm no expert regarding anything car related. hehe) So here goes:
*cut/paste from several PMs*
The sway bars are amazing. Most people who install them do it at the same time as bigger wheels and either springs or coilovers. So most people don't know which component of their setup did what to their setup. I installed my wheels a week before installing my KWs and that was done a week before installing the Hotchkis sways. Here's what I found:
Wheels: 22x9.5 w/ 30 series tires. Greatly improved handling. Ride quality w/ stock suspension setup was actually still quite good. It was very 'cusiony' just like it was w/ the 18s. Only problem was the grand canyon sized gap in the wheel well.
KWs: I couldn't believe how much a gap I had w/ the 22s w/ 30 series tires. The KWs took care of that for me w/ no problem. I thought they would improve handling as well, but I didn't notice much difference. Ride quality was stiffer but not rough.
Sways: I can take corners now at damn near 80 mph that I wouldn't have dreamed of doing before the sways! hehe The car feels like its on rails. There is no body lean whatsoever!! I'd probably swing the back end around and lose control of the car before I noticed any body lean.
My only true complaint w/ the stock suspension setup was the steering seemed to be 'mushy' It wasn't an instant response when I turned the wheel. The 22s helped a little in that dept, but not much. The sways have totally taken all 'mushiness' out of the suspension! They are not as thick as the stock sway bars but they are very lightweight and SUPER SUPER stiff compared to stock. Hotchkis touts the front bar as 35% stiffer than stock and the rear is 150% stiffer than stock
I know Eibach also makes a sway bar kit for our cars, but I remember reading on the forum that they weren't much stiffer than stock. I can't recall exactly what the stiffness % over stock was. I only remember reading most people went w/ the Hotchkis over Eibach for the stiffness reason.
Going w/ the sways before the wheels and KWs is something I would highly recommend! Especially if its going to be awhile before you spend the big bucks on those two components! $350 (price can vary up/down) is relatively cheap for the change it gives you. I also recommend the mod even if you're staying w/ stock wheels and never plan on lowering your car. Its really that good of a mod!!!!
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