You're My Boy, Blue

[ScottyB]

well the rain cleared out and it got so nice i had to get off my ass and spin some wrenches.  plugged in the 20mm 9th gen rear bar - fit like it's supposed to be there.   its NOT anything amazing, considering the "big" bars are 24mm and adjustable.  but again the hope here is to elevate the fun factor and performance to an envelope that's maybe 15-20% higher than stock, but is still daily-driver friendly, reliable, and predictable.  doesn't hurt that this was cheap too, relative to most RSB kits.
parts:

• Honda Rear Sway Bar 52300-TR7-A51 (hondapartsnow.com)
  
• Moog Sway Bar Bushings/Brackets Kit K90395 (rockauto.com)
  
• Moog Sway Bar End Links Kit K750125 and K750126 (amazon)
  

grand total was $107.31...not bad for a pile of new stuff.

upsee daisy onto jack stands.  i never get tired of this angle.


got under the back and got a closer look at things.  the bar sits ahead of the rear axle line and sends the bar ends forward which is different than any setup i've seen on a FWD/AWD car yet.  weird, but super accessible.


despite the lack of corrosion overall, there was no hope getting the endlinks off utilizing the allen key in the ends of the endlink bolts.  Liquid Wrench + vice grips were the only way it was happening.


old n' busted 17mm compared to the new 20mm hotness.  bonus points for the bushings matching my paint.


if you ask Moog "where's the beef?", they'll tell you.  what a difference.  love the zerks.  amazingly the stock links felt smooth and the boots showed no cracks even at nearly 100k miles.


closer view of the size difference.


so i took it for a rip this morning in the cold, damp weather.  not raining but the roads were soaked and greasy.  had a chance to hit a couple good 90 degree turns through an undeveloped office park and the bar makes it very clear its there.  come in hot with even a little trail braking and it immediately wants to pivot on the nose more.  midcorner is neutral.  exit is less understeer.  i guess that's exactly what a bigger rear bar should feel like, so there you go.

i'd bet all those effects will be less prevalent on dry pavement but i'm OK with that.  really interested to see how it makes the car act on dirt considering it was tail happy to begin with the few times i chucked it around on those surfaces.