Choosing ARB size.

[v-g]

- snip- mine isn't going near a track.

MK and your driving style and all those roundabouts. Hmm...

 

[karlosR]

i've got H&R 25mm front and rears with the S3 upper strut brace up front too. i don't find it too harsh on the road............... but there is lift-off oversteer if you want it fitting 10mm spacers on the back helps too.



ps. yes, i do have issues with the backbox knocking on the rear ARB but i'm sorting it out with a new exhaust but the handling improvement far outweighs the knocking noise.

 

[dirtysac]

Go big and stiff, it's the best way, and the ladies love it .

 

[UncleFester]

MK and your driving style and all those roundabouts. Hmm...

I think it's fair to say with the number of roundabouts and my general driving style ... I get a fair bit of use out of it. I could live without the shocks and springs but not the ARB that's for sure.

 

[J.C]

Great to hear all your views on this subject fellas.

Seems to be a close run thing, most seem to have and be happy with the 25mm up front, those that went for a 22/25mm combo seem equally happy and some have 28mm on the rear which also seems fine for the road. I suppose if there is not a massive noticeable difference between the 25mm and 28mm rear, if i went for the 28mm rear, i've always got the option of the softest setting and having been advised by Awesome to go for the softer front i.e 22mm, there must be something behind this seeing as how many of these they sell, i think i'll stick to what's on the way, 22mm front with 28mm for the rear. You pays your money.........and all that.

Nice one guy's, when i get it all fitted, i'll let you know what i think.

 

[ChrisJ]

I'm running the Eibach kit like UncleFester and im very happy with it. The only thing is the neuspeed's are supplied with replacement droplinks.....

Thats the next thing on my list, does anybody know the best place for uprated droplinks? And are they worth doing? Thanks

 

[speedinsaxo]

I have Neuspeed 25mm front / 28mm rear, S3 upper front strut brace, custom rear upper strut brace and KW V2 Coilovers, factory standard damping setup and lowered for best handling.

What can I say - the handling is superb - on the right roads. I would not want it any stiffer at all and it can be fidgety at the front on fast sweeping bumpy A roads - wheels can hop sometimes. I wince when it goes over pot holes and the car seems to 'creak' on the large ones...it is definately more of a track setup.

I can carry 4 passengers, and people have started to comment how well it holds the road, even under 'normal' driving, not knowing that the suspension has been upgraded.

But doing it again I would go with exactly the same...and probably add polybushes in to the mix.

 

[DOLBY]

I have Neuspeed 25mm front / 28mm rear, S3 upper front strut brace, custom rear upper strut brace and KW V2 Coilovers, factory standard damping setup and lowered for best handling.

What can I say - the handling is superb - on the right roads. I would not want it any stiffer at all and it can be fidgety at the front on fast sweeping bumpy A roads - wheels can hop sometimes. I wince when it goes over pot holes and the car seems to 'creak' on the large ones...it is definately more of a track setup.

I can carry 4 passengers, and people have started to comment how well it holds the road, even under 'normal' driving, not knowing that the suspension has been upgraded.

But doing it again I would go with exactly the same...and probably add polybushes in to the mix.

im still undecided on what ones im gonna get.....i may leave the coilovers for a while and just get the arbs...
the thing you said about it creaking and crashing, worries me...thing is the LCR crashes as standard, and i have thousands of rattles cos of it...

hmmm...

 

[speedsix]

I recommend 25/28. Yes it's quite firm but it's worth it.

I wouldn't recommend 22/28, you're likely going to have considerable lift off oversteer with that combo imo.

The basics of ARBs is, the sum thickeness of both bars dictates how much lateral roll you will feel (contrary to popular belief, body roll doesn't really affect grip) The ratio of thickness front to rear dictates handling balance. Thicken the rear and/or soften the front and you'll get more oversteer and vice versa for more understeer.

 

[J.C]

I recommend 25/28. Yes it's quite firm but it's worth it.

I wouldn't recommend 22/28, you're likely going to have considerable lift off oversteer with that combo imo.

The basics of ARBs is, the sum thickeness of both bars dictates how much lateral roll you will feel (contrary to popular belief, body roll doesn't really affect grip) The ratio of thickness front to rear dictates handling balance. Thicken the rear and/or soften the front and you'll get more oversteer and vice versa for more understeer.

Hi mate,

You've just outlined the only little doubt i had about the 22/28mm combo.
Having read back over what Grey225 and jaime said, i think their set-up is going to be closer to what i'm after.
What speedinsaxo said also swayed my verdict.
Sorry to wimp out guys, i'd like to be hardcore and go with the firm combo but i just can't help thinking that, for ME , 22/25 will be fine along side the fsd/eibach combo and obligatory S3 upper strut brace.
After all, any improvement over the crud standard set up is going to make me happy.

Cheers Guys

 

[jaime]

Hi jaime,

Thanks for the reply mate, i think what you've said has pretty much echoed what Awesome told me, i don't really want a twichy track tool either. I'm begining to think that i'll go with the smaller bar, i use the car for every day transport with a bit of a blast now and again, i think it will suit me fine too.

How do you find the fsd/eibach combo, my car's really crashy and rolls a bit at the moment, so i'm hoping that these will sort me out. I know they seem to be quite popular and reports are favourable.

Sorry for the late reply....
I like the set up I have now, I think it probably gives me the best compromise as I spend most of my life on motorways and I think that if it was any harder of a drive, I would need a new spine after every journey...
In all seriousness, I think the FSD/Eibach is perfect if you spend your time bumming about and then give it a bit of welly every now and again. It is definately a superior to the standard so enjoy.... let me know what you think when you have it all fitted.

jaime

 

[jonjay]

I recommend 25/28. Yes it's quite firm but it's worth it.

I wouldn't recommend 22/28, you're likely going to have considerable lift off oversteer with that combo imo.

The basics of ARBs is, the sum thickeness of both bars dictates how much lateral roll you will feel (contrary to popular belief, body roll doesn't really affect grip) The ratio of thickness front to rear dictates handling balance. Thicken the rear and/or soften the front and you'll get more oversteer and vice versa for more understeer.

I agree with what you said apart from the affecting grip statement. Less roll there is on the car the more contact the tyre has with the tarmac hence it does effect grip. If the car rolls a lot one side wont have as good contact ton the road as the opposite side do the the way the weight has been transfered.

It certainly proved true as i go round bends faster...

 

[J.C]

Sorry for the late reply....
I like the set up I have now, I think it probably gives me the best compromise as I spend most of my life on motorways and I think that if it was any harder of a drive, I would need a new spine after every journey...
In all seriousness, I think the FSD/Eibach is perfect if you spend your time bumming about and then give it a bit of welly every now and again. It is definately a superior to the standard so enjoy.... let me know what you think when you have it all fitted.

jaime

Hi jaime,

Thanks for the feedback mate, still waiting for my order to arrive from awesome, its been three weeks now, starting to get a bit .
Apparently the delay is with eibach, awesome are still waiting on the springs to arrive from them.
If i ever get them i'll let you know how it goes.

Cheers mate......

 

[richybigman]

So have you got them yet?

 

[chriz1]

would just uprated anti roll bars improve that floating feeling as you turn in on the lcr?
Or should they really be matched with eibach springs?

 

[danieltm]

Evening all! This thread has come at a very good time as ARBs are next on my list and was just talking about it at work today. It is a interesting read but im still not sure what size?? I was thinking 25 and 25, or do i go 25 and 28?? Would i feel much difference between 25 and 28 on the rear? It is lowered on weitec GT coilovers by about 30mm ish? and it is just for every day use. This all seems to be more of a personal preference thing rather than what is right or wrong.

 

[chriz1]

would just uprated anti roll bars improve that floating feeling as you turn in on the lcr?
Or should they really be matched with eibach springs?

 

[J.C]

So have you got them yet?

Hi guys, haven't been on for a while, been a bit busy.

My order arrived from Awsome the other day, Fsd's, eibach springs, Neuspeed antiroll bars.

After much head scratching and having read all your comments i decided to plump for the 22/25mm antiroll bars. I know most of you run the bigger ones, but i was a bit apprehensive about the car being a bit too stiff, i use it every day so wanted some comfort as well.

With the help of a good mate who's also pretty handy we fitted everything.
Shocks went on ok, had a few complications with the roll bars but they went on also. Had to drop the front subframe but didn't need to unbolt the steering rack, just wiggled it in. Very satisfying

Its all been on about a fortnight now and all i can say is , absolutely unbelieveable, comfortable but firm and now seems to go round bends like its on rails, with virtually no body roll.

It all cost a fair bit, but i can honestly say, it was worth every single penny, the car is a joy to drive.

Thanks for all your feedback and comments guys, you've been ace.

Anybody who's thinking about doing these mods, if you've got the cash, or you don't have much on your card, i wouldn't hesitate. Do it , you won't regret it.

 

[Willie]

Is the rear adjustable?
What setting do you have it on?
How much did the FSD's drop your car
Whats it like on fast sharp corners, understeery?
Have you had the back end out yet?

 

[J.C]

Evening all! This thread has come at a very good time as ARBs are next on my list and was just talking about it at work today. It is a interesting read but im still not sure what size?? I was thinking 25 and 25, or do i go 25 and 28?? Would i feel much difference between 25 and 28 on the rear? It is lowered on weitec GT coilovers by about 30mm ish? and it is just for every day use. This all seems to be more of a personal preference thing rather than what is right or wrong.

Hi Mate,

Sounds like you've got the same dilema as i had, what swung it for me was the comments made by Jaime, GREY225 and speedinsaxo.
I think your right when you say its personal choice, i wanted good handling but also day to day comfort. Its difficult to make the choice because of the money involved and your scared your going to regret your choice after its on the car, wishing you'd gone, maybe, stiffer or softer.
Thats what it was like for me anyway.

I opted for 22mm front, 25mm rear, i'm running this with fsd's and eibach pro springs which have lowered it about 20mm, along with S3 strut brace.
I wouldn't want to sway your decision one way or the other i can only offer you some feedback on what mine's like now, and that is, like i've said, really does handle superbly, virtually no body roll, the nose of the car seems to be directly attatched to the steering wheel and follows it whenever you turn.
I don't do track days, just use the car everyday and have the odd blast, now and again. Totally respect those guys that have gone bigger, but for what i was after, i think i made the right choice.

I would like to think that the smaller combo would feel, maybe like... say an M3, plush and comfy but no roll and on rails.
And the bigger size combination, like ....say what i would imagine a ferrari to feel like, awesome but maybe tireing after a while on the road.

Stupid analagies, i know but thats just me.

Good luck anyway mate, hope this helps.