Progress Tech SWAY-BAR Post-Install Review // (ND) Mazda MX-5 Miata

[@phillm156]

Thank you for the review. It’s highly under estimated how much of a difference a set of proper sway bars can compliment a stock suspension. Granted with a stock system, on the track it will feel unsettled, maybe even too drift happy. On the street during spirited driving, it’s a perfect addition without compromising ride quality. I’ve notice more suppleness to the rebound and compression of the suspension movements (by tying the left and right suspension movements together).

[@TheLemonFactor]

👍😁

[@craig8692]

Great video as always, Chad. It reaffirms my desire to install Meister Rs and sway bars this summer on my '19 ND2 GS-P RF (Canadian Club trim) with the BBS/Brembo/Recaro package.

[@TheLemonFactor]

Thank you, Craig! It really does transform the car. I need to get it on a track to test the new handling limits 😁. Side note, love those Recaro seats - wish I had them.

[@tludwig400]

Well done video as usual, Chad. I installed coilovers more than 6 months ago, and while they make the ND a much more capable handler, they definitely detract from the playful nature of the car. For the same reason you pointed out, I’ve been hesitant to install sway bars because I really don’t want to lose more of the fun factor in a car that I almost exclusively drive on the street. Your feedback on that is really helpful. 👍

[@TheLemonFactor]

I’m glad you found it informative. While I love the new suspension setup and flat cornering I do miss being able to break the rear loose at relatively low speeds and in such a controlled manner 🤷‍♂️

[@AcoAegis]

Really good review. I like the soft rolling suspension for the street as a learning tool. If it weren't for that, I'd be buying an FM sway bar for my ND right now, a very convincing review. (It's FM's recommended first upgrade as well.)

[@TheLemonFactor]

It makes a world of difference 👍😁

[@Elbenito84]

I couldn't agree more. I have the same Zeta CRDs and Progress bars on my 19 RF GT-S and I recently removed the sways and find the car is more fun to drive and likely has more usable grip without the sways. I started with stiffer Bilstein dampers and Progress bars on stock springs and moved on to coilovers. The stiff B6 dampers and the stiff bars hnadled well together with stock springs but the ride was pretty bad. Over 7500 miles with coiloveres and sways I found that I actually needed more damping in harmony the sway bars to maintain the kind of stable handling you want in canyon driving and running at 9 and 11 was so stiff with the bars installed the cowl shake shook the steering column in your hands. It was insanely capable but less fun when driven in a sane manner. I'm at 13 and 13 without bars now and the car smooth and inspires confidence. I'm driving slower and having more fun. I do miss the steering feel and and the planted feel but the bars add too much additional spring rate and make the car snappy and it doesn't feel as toss-able and fun as it does with coilovers alone now. I might put them back on but I was fighting ever changing sway bar preload with fuel load dependent ride height changes and just got tired of it. I might sell them and get a less aggressive bar. Wondering if more aggressive tires will find value in them and the S001s are getting down there at almost 20k so I'll try them with sticky tires and report back.

[@TheLemonFactor]

I’m sure changing out the tires to a better set of performance summer will further improve the cornering abilities, but if you like to purposely break loose the rear tires this will impact that threshold point and feel for it 🤷‍♂️

[@Elbenito84]

@@TheLemonFactorI think I'm going to reinstall my bars this weekend. I really like the car stable and planted for canyon driving where the risk-reward is high. The stiff sways make it easy to break traction which is fun, but you have to run a lot of damping to in the rear for the best traction on stock tires. I'm hoping tires make better use of the corner loads the bars generate.

[@michaelm7864]

I also did the coil overs and bars, huge improvement in handling however with an open diff. It likes to pick up the back wheels more.

[@TheLemonFactor]

It’s a massive improvement - making the car so much more planted 😁

[@Dreihme]

Great point about the coil overs (dialing them down). Might tip the balance with respect to me reallocating some money in that direction..

[@TheLemonFactor]

It’s definitely an added benefit that I wasn’t fully aware of (not to what degree) 👍

[@AntiMatter305]

Great job! Great information.

[@TheLemonFactor]

TY😁👍. Very glad to hear that you found the video helpful.

[@jessepotter365]

You didn't lose any cred with me, Chad. That's a big project that takes a lot of time. I'm also considering just having someone else do mine. I installed the same steering wheel and all the LEDs you have already, so I'm not averse to doing my own stuff.

[@TheLemonFactor]

Thank you, Jesse! The time had a lot to do with my decision as I wanted to get them installed but with everything going on couldn’t find what I was considering a ~6 hr job 🤷‍♂️

[@Johnny_Odessa]

another great & helpful video Chad, thank you

[@TheLemonFactor]

Thank you for the watch and positive comment. Always appreciated 😁👍

[@kavalere]

Now i just need to find a miata specialty shop! No way i could install that myself.

[@kavalere]

Is it worth it to just add sway bars and not coil overs? I don’t want to lower the car. I did get 8” wide wheels with 225 45 17 tires and that in and of itself made huge difference. Great video thank!

[@TheLemonFactor]

If you’re looking to reduce the body roll around corners, giving it a more planted feel, the swaybars will help tremendously 👍

[@g33kguyva]

Hi Chad. When you had the sways on there. How many clicks from hard did you adjust the Zeta's to? I'm about to put the Progress sways on my ND and was curious to your adjustment. I'm currently at 12 clicks on the front and 13 in the rear. Thanks! Appreciate the videos. They are super helpful.

[@TheLemonFactor]

Once I put the sway bars on I did soften both the front and back by 4 clicks. However since moving to Denver I’ve been fiddling with the settings as I have much better roads to drive on. Not sure exactly where I’m at but I’m still dialing it in.

[@AD-bx5fm]

Hi Chad, I'm considering the Progress 22 mm RSB for my stock '09 Accord coupe. Not looking to go on the track or anything, just looking for greater responsiveness, stability and a tighter feeling on these CO mountain roads! Do you think it might be a good fit?

[@TheLemonFactor]

I think it would certainly help the car feel more planted, and remove some of the understeer. Eibach Rear Sway Bar Install (How-To) - (2019 Honda Accord 2.0) kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5exoqt9aceAZsU

[@AD-bx5fm]

@@TheLemonFactor Awesome and thank you for the link!

[@AD-bx5fm]

@@TheLemonFactor Just popped it in this past weekend, honestly cannot believe the difference!

[@TheLemonFactor]

@AD-bx5fm 😁😉

[@lanzhao]

thanks for the great vid. can you share a link to the end links? cant seem to locate those sick red ones.

[@TheLemonFactor]

Which end links are you referring to? If it's the one's I installed, those are Whiteline end links and I purchased those from Fab9tuning.

[@garylee5568]

For the perfect finish to what you`ve done, ditch those stock wheels and put on 17X8`s wrapped in 225/45/17 Michelin AS04`s for all season road and track.

[@mikescool]

Hi Chad, thanks for the video. Do you think just installing the sway bars (no coil overs or other suspension mods) will retain more of the "fun" factor? I mainly drive on the streets so it would be a big negative for me if I lose that

[@TheLemonFactor]

I believe it would. If you’re not looking to change the ride height and only want to do one suspension upgrade, I’d opt for the sway bars 👍

[@mikescool]

@@TheLemonFactor thanks!

[@rb2530]

👍👍

[@diegocordero2914]

Great informative video, I’m about to install gwr roadster sport set of sways, I’m running on progress lowering springs so the car is dropped a bit, do I need to get adjustable links ??

[@slippercream]

Great review. Really curious to know how much redux in roll is to be had from just the swaybars+links on OEM shocks/struts/springs. (Anyone?) The rears are a real confidence suck on a tight bend, even with an OEM LSD.

[@snottyboy831]

sounds like the law caught up with you while shooting your outro. maybe your cars limits are too high for the street after all 😂

[@todd5082]

Do it yourself. Not a difficult install. I’ve installed a few sway bars and I’m no pro.

[@TheLemonFactor]

Maybe next time 😜

[@db8556]

Hey there Chad, good feedback for those considering these items. On my 2019 GT-S soft top (Bilstein sport suspension), I found that after I installed front & rear sway bars alone there actually was a noticeable decrease in ride comfort, maybe 15-20%. But steering response & transitional behavior improved. I just finished installing FM's Stage 1 Koni suspension (300lb-in front, 175lb-in rear) and that, combined with a custom alignment, has virtually eliminated all remaining roll, squat and dive. Response to any input from wheel/shifter/accelerator/brake is MUCH more immediate.

[@TheLemonFactor]

I’m really enjoying the increase in responsiveness 👍