n2oMike

My Maxima seems to be in dire need of a rear sway bar. I've found two manufacturers... Addco and Stillen. I'm assuming the Stillen is going to be -way- more expensive. Is it really worth the extra expense? Money is tight. Are there any other alternatives?

Are there any tips on optimizing the sway bar's function? What are some tips and tricks? My car is a 98 GXE with the factory 15" aluminum wheels.

Thanks!

Sprint

iTrader: (10)

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wicked1044

stillen is more money.. addco can tend to make a squik noise.,.

petenycmax

go with whatever you can afford..both do the same job just as good..

theblue

In defense of Addco, mine has never made a sound, and I drive hard and had lots of snow and water under there...

I would say go with the addco if money is a factor because mine made a huge difference and I can't see the stillen doing much more.

spyder

If money is tight then save up a little longer.
Stillen is by far the better of the 2. why you ask, you can adjust the Stillen RSB more than you can adjust the Addco.

rockymtnmax

I have Addco it made a nice difference.
Then I adjusted it once and now it makes a huge difference.

I still have room for more adjustments but I don't see
why I would.
I have it set for a slight oversteer and I think that's
plenty for my driving style.

I paid about 135.00 shipped to my house.

E.

theblue

please explain how you adjusted it... I'm thinking of doing that to mine but i don't remember how to do it

Enduro

At the default setting will it give you a neutral/under/or oversteer characteristic? Are the only adjustments from this default setting you mentioned are forward for more oversteer or could it be moved backward also for less aggressiveness? Thanks!

turbolaw99

iTrader: (3)

Get the Addco and save some $$$.

breaux124

iTrader: (1)

Addco: $119 (shox.com)
- Can Squeak, but many haven't had the problem
- Not Adjustable

Stillen: $230
- Very Solid Design
- Fully Adjustable

You have to decide if you want to spend the extra money for adjustability. People with the addco are usually very happy and recommend addco. People with the stillen always recommend the stillen.
If money is tight get the addco, if you can save up get the stillen.

clee130

The Addco one is adjustable, just a little different and not as easy as the Stillen one, but you can adjust it.

Get the Addco and save money.

rockymtnmax

OK on the Addco, I would say neutral setting is about
3/4 inch from the bar end.(the two bushings on the end of
the bar, measured from the end of bar to start of first
part of bushing)

I checked this by driving in a complete circle, start in
a parking space and note where your driver side wheels are
located to the parking space line. Turn your wheel fully
pegged before you start.
Now start driving to make one complete circle and keep
steering wheel pegged.(I would make the turn left)
You should end up pretty much exactly where you left.
This is neutral steer.
If your circle is bigger , or you stop wide of your start
point, this would be Understeer.
If your circle is smaller or tighter when you stop,this
would be Oversteer.

Anyway I moved the two end bushings into the Bar about 1 inch and achieved a slight Oversteer, Which I like.
Remember to much Oversteer could be Dangerous if you are not use to it or if you let a friend drive your car.

My Opinion is my slight Oversteer is not Difficult for any driver to get a feel for.

Now if you have a problem understanding what is meant by Outer bushings moving in for Oversteer like I do
think of this
The Bar is kind of a U shaped design, Now if you think
of the bar as being a straight bar the outer bushings
would be the two bushing closest to the bar ends and by moving them in , you would be moving them towards the
middle of the bar or towards the other to bushings.

You can only move the two outer bushings to the first bends in the bar. Your looking at about 4-5 inches of play.

The two inner bushings should not move when adjusting.

Hope I did not confuse the hell out of you,
Good luck, E

Enduro

Cool thanks a bunch rockymtnmax!!! I've been looking for this answer quite sometime now but found non til u provided it. I was debating between Addco vs. Stillen for a later purchase and my pet peeve was that it had to be adjustable but $ for Stillen is mucho dinero and if what u're saying is it's adjustable than Addco It IS. Thanks again!

rockymtnmax

Enduro, You are welcome.
Just remember my decision was based on cost.
The stillen bar sounds very good to me from what i read.
But also from what I read the two are very much the same.

I was able to get a fstb and rsb for 200.00 shipped.
This is still about 50.00 (I think) cheaper than Stillen
RSB alone.

And I enjoy both purchases and don't regret it.

Good luck, E

n2oMike

l l
-l l-
l l
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Picture the above as the rear sway bar. The dashes are the bushings that connect it to the trailing arms. As the trailing arms move different amounts, the sway bar is forced to twist. This assists in keeping one trailing arm from moving too much further than the other... which keeps the suspension on one side from travelling much more than the other side.

To make the bar stiffer, and reduce body roll, either a thicker bar can be used, or the pivot points can be moved. The thicker bar is easy to figure out... lets study the pivot points.

The bar bends from the torque applied to it by the outer bushings. The closer these bushings are to the horizontal part of the bar (portion along the axle) the harder it is to twist the bar, and the stiffer it feels.... so moving the bushings away from the ends stiffens the bar, and moving them towards the end softens it.

A stiffer bar created understeer (back end slides out first) and a softer bar created oversteer (front slides out first).

Anti-Squeak...

I plan on drilling a hole in the metal bushing mounts large enough to thread a grease zerk into, and then drilling a small hole through the urethane to where the sway bar rides. If it ever starts to squeak, I'll simply give it a shot of grease.

Good Luck!

turbolaw99

iTrader: (3)

My ADDCO does not squeak. My heater core may have leaked, my ECU may be shot, but my RSB does has never made a peep.

mtrai760

iTrader: (19)

I just ordered an Addco sway bar, thanx for all the info post, It'll definetly help with adjustment I'm sure. It seems that many companys offer great product's that are overshadowed by the "name brands" and labled as substandard, but I have not personaly heard of any problems with the Addco bar, though I will post any if I encounter them.

Aaron

iTrader: (4)

I've had the addco rsb on for a while now....3 snowstorms....no squeaks.......nothing.

When we first installed in.....it did squeak for about 2 day....but we used no grease between the bushings-bar-trailing arms....its quiet as ever now....and performs well.