Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension Strut tower braces vs. sway bars

Couple questions:

1. Which will provide more rigidity?
2. If i want to get one for the front and one for the rear, which should go where?
3. Im aware that there are tower braces for the rear, but where do they bolt on? (i know fronts go under the hood)
4. Will a front brace/bar do much without a rear brace/bar?
5. OMP or SHO shop?

And if i missed any other basic info. that i should know about, please help!

I have the SHO Shop rear strut tower brace. It mounts on the rear towers out of the way, and I really like the handling difference that it makes. IMNSHO, a very good investment.

I recently installed the Aussie hollow rear sway bar and found a huge handling improvement. The stock bar was not tight in the mounts and would rotate not giving the stiffness needed.

I am planning on installing a neuspeed rear tower bracr - it is for a VW this weekend, will post later.
Lee

Is the Neuspeed bar the three-point that is for the golf/jetta? I heard that it would fit in the SVT...let us know.

Antiramie, from what I've understood, the front strut towers are close enough to the firewall/a-pillars that the front strut tower bar doesn't make that big a difference. The rear tower braces can really tighten down the back end. The best stiffening package would be a rear bar, rear brace, front brace and subframe braces. The whole works! Steering response quickens, as the body can't flex nearly as much.

Depends on what you want.

A strut bar will increase body rigidity, thus allowing the suspension to do its job as opposed to the body.

A sway bar will acutually stiffen the suspension.

That being said, JasonS's is probably the best direction to persue.

- Brian

For a rear sway bar, would it be best for me to get a 19mm or 22mm one?...considering that i have a Mystique LS (i dont know how large the stock sway bar is).

Anti. Bigger is better. Stock is 16mm (I think) for yours, 19mm on the SVT's, The SP bar (I have) is 22mm, and the Aussie bar is 24mm. I would say getting the one in stock would be best. Just remember that the rear will be very tight and takes some getting used to. The first time I went hard into a corner the back wanted to step out more than before (kinda the point of the bar). The rear bar will give better gains over a STB though. Would call about the fitment of the bars on your car though as I don't know if they will bolt up ???

thought stock SVT was 18mm...Mondeo ST200 got 19mm.

Well im probably gonna go for the BAT 22mm and not the SP 22mm, just a personal preference. Plus I live in Sarasota, FL...so an inquiry for BAT about fitment is only a local phone call away Does BAT keep any items stocked here in Sarasota, or do they import every individual order?

Hey Anti I'm down in sarasota right now(actually siesta key) on vacation! I have been coming here since I can remember and it's as beautiful as ever. Anyways, maybe we could meet up sometime this week, I would like to head over and see the BAT performance shop since I am here anyways. Do they have a public shop or is it just mail order?