NC Whiteline sway bars

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:00 am

Install the front bar only and balance goes out the window. You will understeer dramatically.

I have them fitted and for the road the fronts are set on â€œsoftâ€ and the rears on either the soft or centre position. On the track the rear one goes up to full hard. Full hard for the road tends to oversteer slightly through round-abouts with spirited driving.

As for the S2000â€™s, snap oversteer is caused by them backing off through corners when on the limit. The same thing will happen to a MX-5.

@ndrew · Postby **@ndrew** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:13 pm

Can i have an estimate of how long would a workshop take to install f&r sway bar?

@ndrew · Postby **@ndrew** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:43 pm

I've been told the rear ones are quite quick and straight forward, however the fronts are a little more complex?? Been quoted around $160, im considering just going through with it as i'm pleased with the quality of workmanship.

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:57 pm

Rear 10 minutes. Don't need to jack the car up.
Front, using Mazda supplied jack and a few sockets. About 50 minutes with help to guide the new bar through the maze of tubes and chassis bits.

There is a step by step guide on Miata.net for those thinking about doing the job themselves.

zawrilla · Postby **zawrilla** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:49 pm

Mania will fit them for $60 for the pair. If you're there to pick up the bars, and can't be arsed getting under the car to fiddle around with the fitting yourself, might as well pay them to install it. Not too much compared to the prices quoted for other places to fit the bars, and you might as well make the most of your time there if you've made the trek

@ndrew · Postby **@ndrew** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:52 pm

I'm sticking with the eibach and have no intention on installing them myself, rather be confident there on properly.

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:28 am

The rear is a 10min job, the front is a PITA. I'd gladly pay Mania $30 to fit the front one.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:14 am

Raising the dead here.

I now have Whiteline adjustables supplied and fitted by MX-5 Plus :wink:

. Set soft front and mid rear. The transformation is just astonishing. :mrgreen:

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:26 am

JBT wrote:Raising the dead here.

I now have Whiteline adjustables supplied and fitted by MX-5 Plus . Set soft front and mid rear. The transformation is just astonishing.

That took you long enough to put on John.

Especially after I've been telling everyone for years how much of an improvement the bars make.

Now you need to consider some lowering springs. If you don’t want to drop it much get the Racing Beat springs as they only drop it 10mm.

They will make a difference also and the ride is only a touch firmer than standard.

See you at NatMeet for the charge up the hill.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:24 am

Haha CB, I always put off to tomorrow what can be done today :roll:

. Look forward to catching up at Natmeet and discussing these springs of which you speak. I'm not running the hill at Natmeet - will play at the funzykanah with Mrs JBT instead.

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:33 pm

The transformation is just astonishing.

Indeed. Makes you wonder why Mazda chose the one's they did.

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:23 pm

So these bars are that much better than the standard sway bars

When I was a younger man we used to put K mac sway bars on the old holdens, but I thought with the 5 they had them pretty good as standard, might have to consider these.
Cheers
Old Dude

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:42 am

Yes, they do have them standard. However, the NC does have a fair bit of body roll which is not apparent until you see the photos :roll:

or fit after market stiffer sway bars :mrgreen:

. Apart from the vast grip and turn in improvements, the normal road "feel" changes too and, to my mind and recollection, makes the NC feel very reminiscent of the NA. I gotta tell you that, as an old fart, I was a sceptic.......but now a true believer.