Well, I've been through many, MANY threads and have not found an answer to this question. Nor was it even brought up! Maybe it's a bit picky...

There is a design difference between the ADDCO, CATTMAN/PROGRESS RSB and the STILLEN version.

The hardware required for the Stillen places the bar BELOW the trailing arms and has no rubber/urethane bushings and DOES NOT connect to the rear beam.


Link to STILLEN Design (Scroll down the PDF to page 2 for pics)

http://www.stillen.com/product_files/304200~inst.pdf


The CATTMAN/PROGRESS and ADDCO DO have both urethane bushings and the mounting position is inside the trailing arms instead of below them!

CATTMAN/PROGRESS/ADDCO



Also note the added connection of the PROGRESS/ADDCO to the rear beam lacking on the STILLEN shown here



QUESTION
My question is this: Has anybody had a bar from both manufacturers and noticed differences other than just simply "Installation was easier"?

Would the STILLEN design be better or worse based on it lacking both urethane mounting brackets and a connection to the rear beam.

Would the difference affect the ride?

The STILLEN design puts the bar BELOW the trailing arm. Does this help or hurt the rigidity?

My conclusions based on speaking with an engineer (easy access) are that the STILLEN has a design flaw BECAUSE it doesn't attach to the rear beam and because it bottlenecks all the benefit through the brackets. In addidtion, the bushings on the PROGRESS design would theoretically make for a nicer ride.

Please, these are just theories based on the fundamental engineering philosophies. Real world application affects the outcome greatly therefore any input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

i have the progress and josh (irish) has the stillen...we have driven each others cars and couldnt tell a difference.

the stillen is supposed to be "adjustable" but adjusting it doesnt really make a difference.

bottomline: the stillen does the same thing but is more expensive

 

the Stillen bar is also thicker to compensate for the lack of axles mount u-bolts......

 

The progress bar is also stiffer than stillen's because it is solid rather than hollow. The lack of bushing under the axle might make the stillen even softer. I guess the question is how stiff you want the rear end to be.

 

or thicker because its hollow?

i wonder what the weight difference is for the RSBs and mounting hardware

 

Do you mean the lack of attachment to the rear beam might make for a stiffer ride? Cause that is what I suspected.

And are you SURE that the stillen is hollow?

Did you notice a difference in ride quality over uneven ground? maybe some extra noise?

Or was it exactly the same.

Interesting results thanks for the response!

 

yes, the stillen is hollow.

it is the consensus on here that the stillen has the same results as others. a few people have actually admitted that if given the choice again, they would have gotten the cheaper progress/cattman version.

 

As stated, the stillen is definitely hollow. I think the lack of attachment to the rear beam makes for a LESS stiff ride, as the bar has more space to deflect/bend/move. So the progress should be stiffer due to the solid bar and the connection to the rear beam.

That said, I agree that you probably won't be able to tell any difference between the two.

 

Alright, well i think I have enough information to make a decision on what to do with my stillen replica lacking mounting hardware. Which by the way costs 150 bucks apparently!?!

If you are wondering I'll be buying a progress from cattman!

Thanks for the input!

 

 

Can't find my spreadsheet right now but based upon the weight, diams, and lengths I figured the Addco was the softest, Stillen was stiffer, and Stillen knockoff was the stiffest of the 3. I have owned and run all but too many other variables for an honest in car compare.

 

I'll like to comment on this:
The Addco in a good setup, They've been around a long time, probably longer than anyway else! The Addco and Progress are very similar except in the area of hardware and how robust and thicker the Progress hardware is! If you over tighten the Addco hardware it seems to bend right in front of your eyes as you tighten/torque it! Progress' level of quality is definitely higher and there is a slight bit of adjustability. Stillen's design would be better than it presently is; if it were supported with midsection D-bushings! My preference would stand in this order: Progress, Addco and then Stillen; Suspension techniques is another company that's been around a long time but I think they only provide a product for Gen 2 & 3!

 

I have a Cattman RSB
I had a 2k max that i ended up drifting into a wall with the back passenger tire taking the brunt of the impact. Bent rear axle, BUT the only thing that kept the axle from breaking was my Cattman RSB. with out any exaggeration, the RSB saved the rear axle. take a look at the pressure point in the pics below



Now the same RSB from my 2k is on my 2k3. It was bent at all.
IMO dont do anything cheaper then the best, go with the progress from Cattman

 

Addco for me, i did notice a difference although i did several changes all in one day but it did a nice addition to my suspension mods. Poly mounts for the win.

 

great info! I am shocked about the stillen replica being stronger than the others... Are you SURE about that?
Think thats a bad thing on bumpy roads?

 

you know, I've heard alot of people over the years say "the Stillen is hollow" but have never seen any evidence to back it up (I doubt anyone cut their $tillen bar in half to see...) When I first got mine years ago, I wanted to test this rumor so I weighed it and then did some calculations based on the diameter of the bar. By my calculations (I wish I still had them), I don't believe that it is hollow. And I'm pretty sure that is another "urban legend" around here, unless someone proves otherwise.

More likely, the stillen knockoff is the hollow one.....

Not me, I like the stillen just fine/or better. Easier to install, no u-bolt banging if they come out of adjustment, and (in theory) adjustable, though I've never had reason to want to adjust it. I've had it on the car for 4 years and never had any issues with it. As much as Stillen is overpriced, they remain one of the few companies that supports our cars and ocasionally puts out new, good products....so I have no problems with supporting them.



btw, to those who don't know...the Progress and Cattman RSBs are made by Addco to Progress/Cattman stiffness specs, IIRC.

 

I swear I thought I was the only one that believed the Stillen was solid. I'm glad I'm not the only one!! It seriously feels too heavy to be hollow; but if it is, it uses ridiculously thick tubing.

 

From about the 20 different threads I have read about the Stillen vs. Progress RSBs (this being the most recent), I have decided to go with the Progress. Sounds to me like the only real difference in them is the $150 difference in price.

 

I had the stillen rear sway bar on my 96, I think irish is right when he says it's not hollow, then again--i wouldn't be able to fully say it's true because I used mine and didn't cut it :P. Stillen seemed like the best bet for me so I went for it.

 

im glad i got my stillen for $80, same stiffness for super cheap FTW