How much difference does a Front tower bar make?

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Jun 18, 2007 | 12:24 AM
  #1  
I read many posts with conflicting opinions and each have different setups...i.e coilovers /sways etc.

Can anyone paint a clearer picture for me?

I already have sways & coilovers. How much will the front tower bar add onto it?

a little off topic but, does ride height make the largest handling difference? Lowering my car made me feel the biggest difference. I had to raise it back though due to scraping issues.
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Jun 18, 2007 | 02:38 AM
  #2  
depends what bar you get. honestly, there is no real way to measure the difference it will make that will be clear to everyone. everyone's sensitivity levels are different. that and their mod combos will be different, and thus resulting in a different feeling.

the bar known as the "vrt strut" bar has gotten only good reviews. the richie strut bar has gotten mixed reviews - most of which have said the difference the bar made was marginal. same with the circuit sports bar.
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Jun 18, 2007 | 02:42 AM
  #3  
Lowering the car also lowers the center of gravity. The combination of a good spring & strut (in your case, coilovers) will significantly enhance the car's handling by being stiffer in the springs and better dampening in the struts. The sways will also further reduce side to side body roll. Technically, as of right now, you should have a fairly well balanced car.

Adding a front tower strut bar and rear tower strut bar will further stiffen up the chassis from upper body flex. Adding further lower bracing (i.e. GT Spec lower braces) will further stiffen the chassis from lower body flex.

I should be installing my new suspension (i.e. springs/struts/sway bars) and also a front strut tower bar in about a week. I'll report back with an update.

By the way, how low did u drop it to get the scraping? Lowered vehicles should pay closer attention to speed bumps, big dips in roads, and transitions in road to driveways. Especially so for those with aftermarket bodykits.
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Jun 18, 2007 | 03:13 AM
  #4  
it's not so much the lowering the center of gravity that helps.

i mean, swift springs offer barely any drop at yell and yet are still considered to be the top performance springs for our cars in most people's opinions.
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Jun 18, 2007 | 10:08 AM
  #5  
The strut tower bar tightens body roll a little bit so it will tighten handling a little bit, but it's a mainly placebo effect. They are cheap and a 10 second install so why not? There will be some effect, just don't expect any night and day difference.
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Jun 18, 2007 | 07:03 PM
  #6  
I was thinking in terms of the ARC FSB actually.
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Jun 18, 2007 | 07:08 PM
  #7  
Quote: it's not so much the lowering the center of gravity that helps.

i mean, swift springs offer barely any drop at yell and yet are still considered to be the top performance springs for our cars in most people's opinions.
Swifts? The 350z versions are softer than z h-techs, and the G swifts have horrible springrates. Who considers them the best performance springs?
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Jun 19, 2007 | 02:12 AM
  #8  
Quote: Swifts? The 350z versions are softer than z h-techs, and the G swifts have horrible springrates. Who considers them the best performance springs?
if you insist on asking who, i can find a couple of examples (i'm not going to dig up every review i've read about them )

Quote: I been really impressed with the Swift Sport Mach Springs, they give you a slight drop and even though the spring rates are lower than the non-sport suspension they give you better handling and IMO a better ride quality than stock. If you wanted higher springs rates you could go with the Swift Z application. Also, because of the slight drop I've been using my stock shocks and the other reason I believe they give such a great ride is that they are linear springs. My commuter car an 03 Altima, I have the Eibach Prokit which are progressive springs and they don't give nearly the ride quality that the Swift springs do. With the Prokit they are very bouncy so you need a shock that is kinda firm particularly on the rebound side which takes away from the ride quality. Progressive springs as they compress the spring rates go up which makes handling more difficult, not as predictable. FYI, Swift spring in Japan are the most popular aftermarket springs, just not as popular here probably because of the cost factor.
Quote: I choose the Swift for my G after having the Eibach Prokit on my commuter an 03 Altima. I much prefer having the linear rather than the progressive spring design, much more predictable in aggressive driving and less bonciness in normal driving. Swift's are manufactured from high grade material and are guaranteed not to sag. BTW, Swift's are coming out with another application for the G with a higher spring rate with the same drop.

Mark
Quote: the spring rates are awesome. it will handle better than any spring out there.
Quote: Swift is probably the BEST spring in Japan. hands down. Swift aint no joke. many top tuners in japan utilize this spring with their coilovers. i'm sure mynismo knows too.
Quote: Swift Sport Mach 350Z

These springs are great. I used to have Tein SS-P's on my RSX Type S and I never felt any bounciness. These give me that same feeling and are real comfortable. They have yet to settle so i can only imagine how much more it'll drop when it does.
Quote: I forgot to mention mine were also the 350Z Swift Springs. I'm very happy with the setup, both with the spring rates and the mated shocks. Even with the shocks turned up, still very compliant and a marked improvement in suspension movements.
Quote: Ill have to agree with BP on this one. Swift springs are the shiznit but I got mine through Performance Nissan for cheaper than $276.
i have yet to read a negative review from a swift spring user on this site. now, i'm sure that they do exist - as they do exist with every other spring out there. my point being that i've read far more negative reviews on tein products. oh wait, i have tein. damn it!
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