mystery machine Posted November 16, 2010 Posted November 16, 2010 Hi folks, Can anyone tell me the thicknesses of Hawkeye STI front and rear ARBs? I'm looking to upgrade my rear bar. Many thanks!
Gumball Posted November 16, 2010 Posted November 16, 2010 22mm would be the upgrade path. not sure if the standard is this diameter but thats what you need. whiteline, heavy duty, adjustable arb, 22mm
mystery machine Posted November 16, 2010 Author Posted November 16, 2010 Thanks for the comment GB. I noticed that Whiteline do 22mm and 24mm... trying to decide between the two. Cheers.
Gumball Posted November 16, 2010 Posted November 16, 2010 Somone far more technical than I will no doubt confirm the difference, but in the meantime, based on us talking about thickness of metals bars behind back wheels........... I think the 24 would be firmer, flex less, more robust. that said...''fly with the crow we know''
cusco kid Posted November 16, 2010 Posted November 16, 2010 Hi folks, Can anyone tell me the thicknesses of Hawkeye STI front and rear ARBs? I'm looking to upgrade my rear bar. Many thanks! upgrade to 22mm front 24mm rear both adjustable for best results anti lift kit also and diff control bushes geo
mystery machine Posted November 16, 2010 Author Posted November 16, 2010 I think the 24 would be firmer, flex less, more robust. Absolutely.
mystery machine Posted November 16, 2010 Author Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) upgrade to 22mm front 24mm rear both adjustable for best results anti lift kit also and diff control bushes geo Do you know the diameter of the OE ARBs, Geo? I'd like to know how the front/rear balance would be affected by any replacement bar(s). I had KW coilovers fitted recently, which have improved the car's handling no-end, but I think that - when pushing the chassis - they're showing up an imbalance between the front/rear ARBs (at least that's how it feels). To some extent I can remedy this by increasing the rear damper compression power, but I don't really think that's the best solution... reckon that I need to make sure the ARBs are better balanced too, at least by stiffening the rear relative to the front. I already have the ALK - but I'm interested in the diff control bushes... how do you think harder replacements for those might improve handling? Also, do you have any experience with WL steering bushes? I'm interested in anything that could increase steering feedback. BTW, do you still do supply & fitting of WL products? Sorry for all the questions - cheers in advance for any reply! Edited November 16, 2010 by Mystery Machine
mystery machine Posted November 16, 2010 Author Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) Also, is an adjustable bar set to its highest tension equivalent in performance to a bar of (some) greater thickerness set to (some) lower tension? Edited November 16, 2010 by Mystery Machine
cusco kid Posted November 16, 2010 Posted November 16, 2010 Do you know the diameter of the OE ARBs, Geo? I'd like to know how the front/rear balance would be affected by any replacement bar(s). I had KW coilovers fitted recently, which have improved the car's handling no-end, but I think that - when pushing the chassis - they're showing up an imbalance between the front/rear ARBs (at least that's how it feels). To some extent I can remedy this by increasing the rear damper compression power, but I don't really think that's the best solution... reckon that I need to make sure the ARBs are better balanced too, at least by stiffening the rear relative to the front. I already have the ALK - but I'm interested in the diff control bushes... how do you think harder replacements for those might improve handling? Also, do you have any experience with WL steering bushes? I'm interested in anything that could increase steering feedback. BTW, do you still do supply & fitting of WL products? Sorry for all the questions - cheers in advance for any reply! dont know dia for your std bars ,go under and measure them with calipers yes w/line do a s/rack bush its good the diff bushes will tighten up the diff with not a lot of n.v.h the set up you should try is middle rear bar and soft front bar geo I touch goats
hi_jac Posted November 16, 2010 Posted November 16, 2010 Also, is an adjustable bar set to its highest tension equivalent in performance to a bar of (some) greater thickerness set to (some) lower tension? Have a look here http://www.whiteline.com.au/index.php
Gumball Posted November 17, 2010 Posted November 17, 2010 I would avoid the anti lift kit. causes understeer and is an uncecessary expenses IMO. From my experience with blob and hawk... ARB REAR 22mm ARB Bushes Whiteline alloy drop links front and rear upper Struts front and rear caster arm bushes (well worth it) Tein or Eibach springs Car will be planted.com
mystery machine Posted November 18, 2010 Author Posted November 18, 2010 I would avoid the anti lift kit. causes understeer and is an uncecessary expenses IMO. From my experience with blob and hawk... ARB REAR 22mm ARB Bushes Whiteline alloy drop links front and rear upper Struts front and rear caster arm bushes (well worth it) Tein or Eibach springs Car will be planted.com Thanks again for sharing your experiences GB. As mentioned above, I already have the anti-lift kit and KW coilovers. If your experience of the AL kit was that it induced understeer, then that's bad news indeed because its primary function is (supposed to be) to reduce understeer, which it claims to do by softening the front suspension under accel and braking. The increased caster angle also increases dynamic negative camber - another plus for front-end cornering grip, surely? Here's the explanation from Whiteline: http://www.whiteline...0WL%20ALK_b.pdf It's hard for me to say what effect the AL kit's had on my car, as it was fitted at the same time as the coilies. Certainly the car handles miles better than before, the steering is weightier and sharper, and it doesn't understeer any more than before. YMMV! I'm considering the bar as fine-tuning, to try and balance the front/back as much as is practical - not so much to dial-out understeer as such, but because I think it'll feel more pleasant to drive. Probably will end up going for a 22mm, TBH... Cheers again.
hi_jac Posted November 18, 2010 Posted November 18, 2010 Good choice 22mm on your car, go bigger on a road car can make things more interesting in the wet. What you gain in one hand you will lose in the other.
mystery machine Posted November 24, 2010 Author Posted November 24, 2010 The only thing I've been able to find so far is some banter on an American forum, where a poster claimed that the standard ARBs are 20mm front & rear. Sounds fairly believable, assuming the US cars don't use different spec Johnny Marrs. Funny thing was, the guy posting was looking to upgrade the front only to 27mm... and someone else chimed-in to recommend 32mm on the front (with standard rear)
kennyuk300 Posted November 24, 2010 Posted November 24, 2010 Good choice 22mm on your car, go bigger on a road car can make things more interesting in the wet. What you gain in one hand you will lose in the other. Jac ,i have 24mm on the rear and 22mm on the front and it seems to be holding up so far Was great around Kames last month Kenny
mystery machine Posted November 24, 2010 Author Posted November 24, 2010 Jac ,i have 24mm on the rear and 22mm on the front and it seems to be holding up so far Was great around Kames last month Kenny But this is exactly the point, Kenny... it's how thick the back is relative to the front, which is why I'm interested in knowing the OEM front thickness before I upgrade the rear only. I'd imagine - as I think Jac's suggesting - that 24mm on the back with the stock front bar probably would make the car a little on the loose side, but that 24mm will work well with 22mm on the front, as per your setup What make of bars did you go with, Kenny?
kennyuk300 Posted November 24, 2010 Posted November 24, 2010 But this is exactly the point, Kenny... it's how thick the back is relative to the front, which is why I'm interested in knowing the OEM front thickness before I upgrade the rear only. I'd imagine - as I think Jac's suggesting - that 24mm on the back with the stock front bar probably would make the car a little on the loose side, but that 24mm will work well with 22mm on the front, as per your setup What make of bars did you go with, Kenny? Whiteline was the flavour at the time of purchase Was Talking to someone on Thursday night,on a classic they only uprated the rear bar.Asked about understeer and he said he felt it was fine easily managable.. Kenny
mystery machine Posted January 29, 2011 Author Posted January 29, 2011 (edited) If anyone's interested, I had a Whiteline 22mm rear ARB + bushes fitted today - had the front bushes replaced with Whitelines too (kept the original front bar). I had limited opportunity to try the new setup today because of traffic and greasy roundabouts, but when I did have the chance to push on a bit it felt very nice - noticeably more composed and 'pointy' than before - groovy! And now I know the answer to the original question of Hawkeye OEM ARB thickness: Front: 20mm Rear: 19mm Just need to watch out for any 'twitchy' lift-off oversteer on roundabouts now... Edited January 29, 2011 by Mystery Machine
Wee Jock Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 Who is "Nick", Jock? You didnt watch the (Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown, David Cameron debate) Everyone agrees with Nick!
mystery machine Posted January 30, 2011 Author Posted January 30, 2011 P.S. In the end, it looks like even Nick himself didn't agree with Nick (student fees?)
mystery machine Posted January 30, 2011 Author Posted January 30, 2011 Thanks for posting that, Kenny - it helped me understand a little better the relationship between the bush fixing point and the lever end
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