If you've got a factory wonderbar on your car, is it really worth the money to go buy a good aftermarket one from say, TDS? How much better, if any, are they than a factory one...

 

i honestly wouldnt buy a new one unless you plan on doing some hard core roadracing.. a stock should be good enough.. if anything, just clean up the stock one and paint it..

 

I don't plan on going head over heels into Auto-X, but I would like to have one of the better handling cars in my local fbody club.

I've already got new shocks and struts, and Alston sfc's. Just looking for a few other ways to help the handling, I should be doing springs this summer too.

 

Might as well, you could buy a better one and sell your old one for almost as much as it costs to buy a new one.

 

I really don't see how the aftermarket ones are any better than the factory ones? They do exactly the same job.

I don't know what you have, but bigger sways would be an idea.

 

bigger sway bars, drop springs, poly bushings, panhard bar, and wheels and tires will get you where you want to be.. i had it all minus the wheel and tires.. best handling car i ever drove.. but the next best thing was a stock s-10 xtreme.. haha body roll like crazy, but stuck to the ground.. my TA would not roll what so ever.. 80+mph turns on pretty much an offramp(i live on maui, not real offramps), car flat as could be..

 

Not really "better" but the aftermarkets have more mounting points and are beefier.

Bluezee - If you have a factory bar(which i doubt) there is no point to upgrade really...

Most people want $40 for the factory bars id rather spend $50 and get the TDS bar..

 

Not all of them have more mounting points. And beefier does not really mean that they do anything more than the factory ones, could just be heavier. I have not seen any proof to show me that there is any advantage to an aftermarket vs stock.

 

Theres not other then the fact that id rather get a new bar that cost $20 more and is powdercoated with more mounting points then a stock who knows whats been done with it old factory bar.

Good enough?

http://www.top-downsolutions.com/pro...7daa56c0aed2e0

.7 lbs heavier and the price has gone up since when i bought mine last.

 

I don't you would be able to tell the difference when driving, I'm so sure I'd put money on it. I agree on the price factor, but if someones was to say, find one on a JY car, you could save some $$.

 

I would keep the factory one. Maybe clean it and powder-coat it.

What shocks/springs you have? What are your plans on the springs?

And the biggest sway bars aren't really the best. Newb mistake. You have to match the sway bars to the car/driver. My current rear bar is too large unless I lower the PHB; if I did that, it would lower the instant center of the rear of the car and require stiffer rear springs and a larger rear bar. But, stock instant center doesn't need a huge bar. I would reccomend 36mm front and a solid 21 or *hollow 22mm* rear. The 22mm is much lighter than the solid with just about the same stiffness.

I'm going to not reccomend poly bushings on the LCAs. Causes binding and bad things. I am going to running rubber/rod ended LCAs and a double rod ended PHB soon. Replace the bushings on the front control arms. Check all the steering linkages and ball joints; do your best to eliminate slop in the steering.

 

Steve, I checked and I actually DO have a factory wonderbar.


And my car came with the factory 36/24 sway bars, I don't know that getting aftermarkets would really do anything. I'm probably going to get Dropzone springs in the summer. The biggest problem I have right now with the car, is when I'm hitting a corner and there's a crack or what not in the road, the car literally like jumps up and moves sideways and then it catches. It's really annoying. It's almost too stiff I guess...who knows.

 

I doubt you'll experience any seat-of-the-pants difference between stock and after market. IIRC, the Wonderbar was designed as a Bandaid to eliminate cracking around the steering box area; as a consequence, I'm unsure how much it truly contributes to "handling."

JamesC

 

I please tell me you are doing shocks and struts with the springs.

 

I already did shocks and struts a few months ago. I am gonna do springs this summer.

 

What kind of shocks you get? Nevermind, KYBs. How low are you planning to go? Do you know the spring rates on the springs?

 

Lookin' at either getting a Pro Kit or DropZone springs.

 

I would just keep the stock one.
I felt no difference between the Spohn, BMR, TDS, and the GM one.
I am currently running the GM one I think, can't remember.
Oh, and the only ones that bolted on with no modifications were the GM and TDS ones. the Spohn and BMR required one of the holes to be elongated slightly so that all 4 bolts would line up. Don't know if they changed thier design since 03 when I had them.
And if you were to buy an aftermarket one, I would get the TDS as it bolts right up and has 2 extra bolt holes, which makes it easy to install.

 

My Spohn bolted right in without any difficulties. I have heard, however, that the TDS is preferable if you have dual fans. I don't, so the Spohn fit perfect for me.