Midwest front anti sway bar
- Thread starter Ron Avery
- Start date
I agree with your assessment Ron. I put a set of MWB Koni coil overs and MWB front bar on my 85X back in 2013 between my first and second seasons of autocross. These changes made a world of difference in how the car drove on street tires. I added a set of Hoosier tires a few weeks into season 2. The car looked the part, but I am a crappy autox driver. 
You can see one of the bar brackets under the car. Those parts are still on the car to this day even though it isn't auto crossed anymore. Same car more recently.
You can see one of the bar brackets under the car. Those parts are still on the car to this day even though it isn't auto crossed anymore. Same car more recently.
Looks like a nice kit ,
I am not sure those Plaia kits are available any longer. They are not in stock.
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
The way I view that particular installation (with the MWB kit), the urethane "pivot" mounts really aren't pivots at all. They are located on the track rods toward the front (red circle), and the sway bar is connected to the control arms toward the rear (yellow circle). The track rods are firmly attached to the control arms just adjacent to the sway bar (green circle):
Therefore effectively the sway bar is attached to the track rods in two places, essentially making the left and right track rods joined. So the forward sway bar mounts (red) do not act like most installation approaches, where it pivots off the frame (chassis). Here they could be solid mounts and work the same. This is done on the rear of some FWD vehicles where the rear suspension has a "beam" from side to side:
I'm not saying the MWB setup is wrong, and I don't know how much difference any other mounting arrangement would make. I'm only pointing out how I view them.
Therefore effectively the sway bar is attached to the track rods in two places, essentially making the left and right track rods joined. So the forward sway bar mounts (red) do not act like most installation approaches, where it pivots off the frame (chassis). Here they could be solid mounts and work the same. This is done on the rear of some FWD vehicles where the rear suspension has a "beam" from side to side:
I'm not saying the MWB setup is wrong, and I don't know how much difference any other mounting arrangement would make. I'm only pointing out how I view them.
Last edited:
kmead
Old enough to know better
In the past Chris has had them made up to order.
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
It even says so in the listing on his site.
This pic of the redesigned mounting arrangement illustrates what I was saying about the location and function of the front "pivot" mounts for the MWB sway bar. Here the pivots are located onto the chassis rather than on the suspension (as with the MWB kit). And the orientation of the pivot axis is perpendicular to the vehicle (red line) so the sway bar can actually pivot, compared to parallel as seen earlier.
Again, I'm not saying that either one is good or bad...only comparing them. However the vast majority of sway bar designs are like the one shown in the above pic.
Ron Avery
True Classic
I agree about the stock set up. My car has 175/70 13 Perelli tires. If I was not participating in so many Auto cross events. I most likely would not have added the anti sway bar. But after I watched my Son in-law do several laps in my car. And after conferring with him about the cars handling ( he is a 3 time SCCA champ and a driving coach).
We decided to look into a anti sway bar. And after a conversation with Matt at MidWest. And going over my cars mods and set up, he recommended the Anti sway bar. He did say without coil overs and still doing some street driving, that a rear bar would not be necessary or optimal.
We decided to look into a anti sway bar. And after a conversation with Matt at MidWest. And going over my cars mods and set up, he recommended the Anti sway bar. He did say without coil overs and still doing some street driving, that a rear bar would not be necessary or optimal.
kmead
Old enough to know better
In regards to the X not having excessive roll on an autocross course, I would beg to differ.
The tires on my car are old, tired, mismatched 185/60s and I am far from a competitive driver as I have many bad habits but I can push the car to its limits.
They lean. A front bar would certainly help for a street car used occasionally to autocross or track day. If I was even slightly committed I would go the stiff springs route of managing the suspension.
That is a lot of wheel well.
The tires on my car are old, tired, mismatched 185/60s and I am far from a competitive driver as I have many bad habits but I can push the car to its limits.
They lean. A front bar would certainly help for a street car used occasionally to autocross or track day. If I was even slightly committed I would go the stiff springs route of managing the suspension.
That is a lot of wheel well.
Ulix
True Classic
They point was not that it doesn‘t lean.
The point is that it leans and still handles really well while doing so.
My buddy had a bone stock X in top shape with CD30s and 185/60s the only mod.
It was incredible how well it drove fast even though it looked quite spectacular from the outside. Ride quality was also amazing.
Personally, I really like stock springs or lowering springs combined with the front bar. Really makes fast turn in much more confident.
The point is that it leans and still handles really well while doing so.
My buddy had a bone stock X in top shape with CD30s and 185/60s the only mod.
It was incredible how well it drove fast even though it looked quite spectacular from the outside. Ride quality was also amazing.
Personally, I really like stock springs or lowering springs combined with the front bar. Really makes fast turn in much more confident.
Ron Avery
True Classic
You hit the nail on the head.
kmead
Old enough to know better
Agree on all those points. I love how an X rides, a Miata feels like an ox cart in comparison.
I just can't stand the Addco means of adding a bar which is the defacto standard for X front bars.
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
I assume that is what MWB sells?Yes, Addco are the only bars available, for a long time.
I can't stand it either, but it works surprisingly well.
But it blocks the front center jacking point.
I am impressed that ADDCO still manufacturers a set of bars for these cars. A couple years ago I spoke with them at a trade show about the X1/9 application. No one at the show knew they still offered it, nor anything regarding them. I'm sure they don't sell many.