sonic24740
Zippy
I went and got a new bit.. lowes it was 18.00 and it had a pilot tip on it..
and spraying with lube will increase bit life..
and spraying with lube will increase bit life..
Rear Swaybar/Brace
- Thread starter laborsmith
- Start date
vento
New member
Installed! Now it didn't go in as smoothly as hoped... Burned out a couple bits, one of the holes I drilled was at the wrong angle... Also its really hard to get leverage drilling off your back, on said angle.
But its finally in, and I know Ill just be repeating what everyone else is saying but WOW!
With decent tires (and TC fully off) its like riding on rails. Combined with the RS dampers and Eibach springs it feels like a big go kart, you just point it in the direction you want and it goes. I have yet to find its limit, but it begs to be run through a slalom. Ride is definitely a little harsher, but not much worse than what you would have if you put in different springs (might be compounded by the fact my car is lowered).
But its finally in, and I know Ill just be repeating what everyone else is saying but WOW!
With decent tires (and TC fully off) its like riding on rails. Combined with the RS dampers and Eibach springs it feels like a big go kart, you just point it in the direction you want and it goes. I have yet to find its limit, but it begs to be run through a slalom. Ride is definitely a little harsher, but not much worse than what you would have if you put in different springs (might be compounded by the fact my car is lowered).
sx sonic
New member
That's what took me soo long was fear of burning up my bits. I'd go in like ~10 sec burst, stop & oil the bit, repeat; This extended the time but my bits are still good.
I also found it easiest to start drilling at what ever angle was the easiest or gave me the most control. Then once I'd gone in enough to not worry about the bit to walk I'd change the angle to be with the centerline of the torsion beam.
I actually had to hold up the rear brace prior to drilling to make sure I had the right angle for drilling (you don't have to be perfect just close).
Sounds like you got it thou and now riding on cloud nine :banana:
I'd also like to add that stability at speed and during high speed braking appears much improved!
Preloader
The M32 Martyr
^^this^^
Dave@ddmworks
Supporting Vendor
When we have been drilling the holes here we make sure to use lots of lubrication on the bit, Kroil is our favorite, although no stores sell it, only available by ordering direct from the company. Fantastic stuff by the way, excellent at penetrating rusted bolts, along with lubricating on drilling.
american_tuner
New member
I second that. I have a bunch at work. May have to get some for this job. If you can use it well use it the best out there
sx sonic
New member
I third that. Great stuff.
It's my understanding that this car might not need this rear brace. I'm completely stock as far as tires and suspension. Going down some windy fun back roads. The back end of the car likes to come out a lot. Wouldn't this bar like all other bars of this type just make the car want to oversteer more
sx sonic
New member
If you drove my car you'd quickly counter that this car doesn't need it's stock suspension and absence of a rear brace
.Stock the sonic wallows around, it will handle very well but it's not confidence inspiring. Few people will feel confident enough on the stock setup to push this car hard enough to discover that it only had a little bit of push up front, that the back can oversteer and slide around a corner under some circumstances and that the sonic is vary manageable once it starts to break lose. To quote JohnT "The Eibachs greatest benefit is in feel as there is less movement and slightly less time for the car to react to driver input...which can make you faster if you are under driving due to the large amount of body movement. ". But overall the stock sonic is a decent handler when pushed to the limits. It does have another big bugaboos aside from just the body roll when cornering. Highspeed stability and braking feels very very sketchy.
Springs and the DDM rear brace fix all of those complaints. I'm suspecting the Brace will be the best 1st addition to the sonic in terms of fixing the aforementioned complaints (good tires almost always rain supreme in the "race" cornering game).
Now to answer your question about cornering balance. Here's my observations.
Stock the rear felt like it would barely understeer into a corner, and then from the apex out track around very acceptable. If traction was an issue it was possible to step the rear end out (like a drift) without using the brakes, again just after the apex the whole car would step itself right back in line like nothing happened. It wasn't bad but there's room for improvement.
With the DDM rear brace I've noticed 5 big changes.
1. Turn in is improved, the rear of the car feels neutral or has just a touch of oversteer coming into a turn. The result is the car tucks into a turn better and the rear follows the front wheels around the corner, very confidence inspiring
2. Grip at the apex appears improved, the back end feels more planted
3. Body roll is significantly reduced, especially in the back. This improves confidence the most but less body roll has several other perks.
4. Highspeed stability and braking is MUCH less sketchy, it doesn't feel like running on a knifes edge slowing down from speed. Gone is the feeling that anything more than minor correction of the steering wheel will result in complete loss of control.
5. The chassis responds better to slalom like maneuvers such as, well a slalom or changing lanes.
As for overall handling, the front end appears to turn in, grip, and straighten out the same.... with the added benefit of less body roll.
The big change is in the rear, for the reasons mentioned earlier.
Preloader
The M32 Martyr
I did.... I sprayed some tri-flow on all the contact points between the bar and the beam, and they went away. Didn't have to remove it or jack it up. Just laid down under the rear bumper and sprayed each side. Solved.
theenico
New member
If I ever get this, it's good to know that I have metric drill bits. Currently though, I have no issues with getting the car to rotate.
Those of you thinking it's making you "faster" need to spend more time on the "driver" mod.
I'm not discounting the bars potential benefits, but it has its ideal applications. Those of you with the stupidly sprung off the shelf, Pedders, BC, Megan, etc coilovers will see the biggest difference/benefit.
I'll now go away for another month or so and let you guys mentally masturbate amoungst yourselves.
Those of you thinking it's making you "faster" need to spend more time on the "driver" mod.
I'm not discounting the bars potential benefits, but it has its ideal applications. Those of you with the stupidly sprung off the shelf, Pedders, BC, Megan, etc coilovers will see the biggest difference/benefit.
I'll now go away for another month or so and let you guys mentally masturbate amoungst yourselves.
american_tuner
New member
You do have lowering springs which is an upgrade
