Hotchkis sway bar

[Doctor Fishtail]

The forum is biased towards them because most ppl on here are getting heavy doses of marketing from those two vendors. In the real world it's a different story.

Of course it's great that they share information but they are on here to sell product and they will tell you theirs is the best every time. Just like all of the companies selling intakes and crap that may or may not be better than another (or the stock one). As stated by the Ford Racing rep I spoke with, they don't give out that info specifically because smaller companies try to copy their products.

Looking at the hotchkis bar

EcoSwag, I am waiting for some member to call you a troll. Just for the simple fact that you are looking at a product that is not mainstream here on this forum. Had a Dbag do this to me for talking about a product that was not blown up the forums ass. I remember posting I was running a lowering spring from a high quality German manufacturer (H&R) and you would of thought I was the plague. It all amounts to peer pressure. Do the forum vendors have some good products? Sure they do I have bought from 5 forum vendors and will do so in the future. Good luck to you and the decisions you make. I actually like a member that can think for himself and not just fall into gang mentality. :amen:

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[Todd15Fastback]

The forum is biased towards them because most ppl on here are getting heavy doses of marketing from those two vendors. In the real world it's a different story.

Of course it's great that they share information but they are on here to sell product and they will tell you theirs is the best every time. Just like all of the companies selling intakes and crap that may or may not be better than another (or the stock one). As stated by the Ford Racing rep I spoke with, they don't give out that info specifically because smaller companies try to copy their products.

Looking at the hotchkis bar

:doh::doh::doh:

Try working with David at Steeda or Kelly from BMR. They are here to help and make all of their products the best they can be for the S550 platform. You have no clue the amount of feedback, etc that is shared by members of this very forum before their products hit the shelves to be sold and afterwards, too. These guys even answer the phone or questions on the weekends as warranted. They guys are tracking their cars or their parts on other cars, every weekend.

Of course they are going to market their product, they pay to advertise here.

 

[Todd15Fastback]

EcoSwag, I am waiting for some member to call you a troll. Just for the simple fact that you are looking at a product that is not mainstream here on this forum. Had a Dbag do this to me for talking about a product that was not blown up the forums ass. I remember posting I was running a lowering spring from a high quality German manufacturer (H&R) and you would of thought I was the plague. It all amounts to peer pressure. Do the forum vendors have some good products? Sure they do I have bought from 5 forum vendors and will do so in the future. Good luck to you and the decisions you make. I actually like a member that can think for himself and not just fall into gang mentality. :amen:

H&R are amazing springs. Ran them on 2 previous Cobra's I have owned. Top quality craftsmanship, for sure.

 

[EcoSwag1990]

:doh::doh::doh:

Try working with David at Steeda or Kelly from BMR. They are here to help and make all of their products the best they can be for the S550 platform. You have no clue the amount of feedback, etc that is shared by members of this very forum before their products hit the shelves to be sold and afterwards, too. These guys even answer the phone or questions on the weekends as warranted. They guys are tracking their cars or their parts on other cars, every weekend.

Of course they are going to market their product, they pay to advertise here.

I've been here since the car came out and know that they've been on here the whole time. They are good at doing what any company does, finding a consumer need and fulfilling it. That doesn't mean that I should let 2 vendors monopolize the platform and shut out the competition because they aren't on here

 

[Doctor Fishtail]

I've been here since the car came out and know that they've been on here the whole time. They are good at doing what any company does, finding a consumer need and fulfilling it. That doesn't mean that I should let 2 vendors monopolize the platform and shut out the competition because they aren't on here

Exactly. :cheers:

 

[elfiero]

I've been here since the car came out and know that they've been on here the whole time. They are good at doing what any company does, finding a consumer need and fulfilling it. That doesn't mean that I should let 2 vendors monopolize the platform and shut out the competition because they aren't on here

That's pretty much exactly what I meant- just stated much more tactfully. That being said, over the years I've had great luck with Hotchkis products- which is why I asked if anyone had used this new 36.5mm bar. Personally, I think that any vendor is going to have to do a lot more than hand out a few freebies and answer a few weekend questions from guys that don't know much about suspension to earn my dollars. My question was more related to cabin noise and vibration input in mid to highspeed cornering while using a 36.5 vs a 35 vs a 32mm front swaybar.

 

[daltron]

The forum is biased towards them because most ppl on here are getting heavy doses of marketing from those two vendors. In the real world it's a different story.

What do you mean "in the real world"? Outside of this forum, Steeda and BMR are HUGE names in the Mustang world... Forget marketing, Steed and BMR have been around and produced solid products for ages. Their stuff is not only on TONS of customer's cars but it's also race proven with professional drivers posting serious times at the track.

Then again, you must be right, we are all duped by them spoon feeding us "heavy doses of marketing" :doh:

 

[BmacIL]

The forum is biased towards them because most ppl on here are getting heavy doses of marketing from those two vendors. In the real world it's a different story.

Of course it's great that they share information but they are on here to sell product and they will tell you theirs is the best every time. Just like all of the companies selling intakes and crap that may or may not be better than another (or the stock one). As stated by the Ford Racing rep I spoke with, they don't give out that info specifically because smaller companies try to copy their products.

Looking at the hotchkis bar

All it would take to understand exactly how the FR or Hotchkis bar works would be to measure the attachment point positions, measure the diameter, cut it open and measure the thickness and plot that into a relatively basic finite element tool. Sway bars are not that complicated to design (I've done it for race cars).

 

[Anthony@HTM]

Another thread down the tank.

 

[EcoSwag1990]

My question was more related to cabin noise and vibration input in mid to highspeed cornering while using a 36.5 vs a 35 vs a 32mm front swaybar.

This will also be effected by the bushings used. It looks like the Hotchkis and the other vendors are using polyurethane bushings and FRPP uses rubber ones like the stock ones. What are the benefits of the poly?

 

[Burkey]

This will also be effected by the bushings used. It looks like the Hotchkis and the other vendors are using polyurethane bushings and FRPP uses rubber ones like the stock ones. What are the benefits of the poly?

Less deflection, stiffer bushing.

 

[BmacIL]

EPDM bushings also have a much higher working temperature range. The rears are of no concern, but it gets pretty hot near the front bushings. This would be a long-life kind of failure, where the poly may slowly break down.

 

[daltron]

I went with Steeda billet mounts. More money, but those suckers are not moving.

 

[David@Steeda]

It really comes down to application. We design our bars to have a very large range of adjustment, to last forever, and to not change rate over time.

No other set of bars on the market has the same level of adjustment that our bars have and no other bar on the market will be able to swing your handling as far in either direction (understeer/oversteer). There is more to anti-roll bar design than simply trying to get the beefiest bar on the car that you can. And while 'maybe' the Hotchkis bar is stiffer than our bar, does it mean that it's the best for your goals with the vehicle? Perhaps not.

The Hotchkis bar only has 2 adjustment positions, stamped ends instead of our welded inserts and thin steel stampings for brackets which will deflect to an extent, changing the spring rate of the bar. Also while their front bar 'may' be stiffer than ours, their rear bar is softer which is only going to lead to more understeer than what the car came with from the factory.

 

[theman]

with the current automobile's tendency towards under-steer folks should always put more priority on improving the rear bar over the front... David has a beautiful point there, no matter what vendor he represents.

Hotchkis has been in the game a while and makes some nice stuff, if you like the way it performs then go for it... but do look at all the details before calling one brand better over another.

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