Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance Aussie bar vs. BAT

The BAT bar sounds like a better deal to me... its a good bit cheaper and I have a lot more trust in the BAT because BAT is a established company with a good reputation. It also seems that the aussie bar is a bit of over kill. You don't want the car to be too stiff. Is there anything i don't know about the two bars that i shuold?

The BAT 22mm is cheaper & probably works well but the "Aussie" bar is better. It is 24mm but has stiffness about the same as a 22mm bar because its hollow (which is not as stiff as a 24mm solid bar). But, it weighs much less than a 22mm bar and actually less than ther stock 18mm. Reduced weight is suspension components is ALWAYS good. It is made by the company Aussie works for -American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) which is a recognised name in suspension components. And then the full kit with bushings & tech support via Terry Haines. That is a name I trust.

Well said Mr. Nixon. Now if only Terry has at least one more bar...

Dan provides some good insight on this. Lighter is better.

I have the 21mm Progress Tech (SCA) bar, while not being the lightest bar it is strengthened to that of a 22mm bar.

Only con to AAM bar is that bending the brackets is a chore. With adding any larger bar it is ideal to replace stock mount with weld in brackets and upgraded brackets. After I bent my brackets to mate to the larger 21mm bar I experienced clunk relatively soon as the brackets failed. I replaced my stock brackets with Ford part and pried them up and over the bushing to make a nice tight fit. These lasted about 3 months before I bent them again. People with the Aussie bar have reported failure relatively fast, some not at all. I personally think bending the bracekts causes rapid failure.

Whatever bar you choose, I strongly encourage you to buy the upgraded backing plates and have them welded in. If Aussie is providing the Prothane upgraded brackets that mate to the backing plate you can buy seperately, Aussie bar may save you some cash later. Damn Prothane kit is $10 + $10 shipping. Sticking it to me!

Mine are on order from Aussie.

The BAT comes with the bushings too. How much does the aussie bar weigh?

It weighs less the the stock 18mm SVT bar. (probably half a 22mm bar - losing unsprung weight is ~8x as effective as losing sprung weight!)

It gives the rigidity of a 22.5mm bar.

It retains the clearance bends other bars do not. (no clunk!)

I love mine...

Not true. So long as my brackets are not bent I have no clunk. Bar has the slight bend in it just like the stock bar.

Clunk is caused by brackets lifting up and then slammin down on the mounting point.

Buy it, fit it & love it..!!!! (yes we have some left,first come first served!!!) ...

I still haven't been given any good reasons why the aussie bar is better, especially with the extra cost. So far the only thing that is"better" is that is weighs less...and is...hollow????

That's the advantage. The AussieBar weighs less and is slightly stiffer than the 22mm BAT bar. Since reducing unsprung weight results in dramatic improvements in handleing the AussieBar has an advantage over the solid bars on the market. That advantage being the bar is lighter but just as stiff.

If you can't justify the extra cash then just pick up a BAT bar. I haven't heard many complaints about them so they must work well.