As part of recent suspension refresh, I fitted a 22mm Whiteline ARB, I cannot believe the difference it makes, the whole car has just become so much more poised, a 40 MPH corner becomes a 45-50MPH one, totally flat , the nose has lost it's slight vagueness. The car's handling just feels more "contemporary", the understeer is almost eradicated, just have to fit the Toyo R1R tyres (once weather has warmed up), to see what difference that makes.

Fitting a strut brace 5% difference, Eibachs and new dampers, 10% new wishbones, drop links 10-15%
Rear ARB, more like a 20-30% difference. (No doubt helped by the other mods).

Overall, a very good purchase.

Kind of wondering.
In the mind or for real
This is not directed at you charlie

Replacing 19 to 22

Theoretically I spent money having this fitted. I want very much for that money not to be wasted, I 'think ' it feels better Or is it just because it is a new part you have fitted and will be substantially better than a worn out part?

Sometimes I think we are just fish in a barrel.

Good point, I picked car up and it's had its FMIC fitted and ARB.
While driving home in the rain, I took a couple of corners and was surprised at how little understeer there was and had to remind myself that the ARB was fitted. (I had forgotten that it had been put on)

All I can say is that, the car is definitely handling sharper and more like a sportscar.

Without anyway of measuring the handling all comments will only be subjective, would I recommend it? Yes I would.

Any new part / improvement on that part is good.
The % 's all add up

Just wondered are your dampers standard if so
What's the ride like with the eibachs as I was thinking
Of getting new standard dampers and some eibachs or
Fcss springs
also where did you buy the rear arb from

Thanks
Darren

Darren,

Standard Dampers, 225/45x16 tyres, Eibach springs (bump stops cut off) and ride is firm, not crashy at all. Though FMIC has reduced ground clearance a bit.

You can get them from here http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/products.asp?subcategory=Anti-Roll+Bars&category=Suspension cost s £130 delivered

Good on you mate!

It would be really interresting to try a car with everything brand new standard parts... Would probbably be better than most would expect....

When I fitted my Novitec 23mm rear ARB many years ago, I commented enthusiastically at the time that it was easily the single most effective handling mod I've ever made

Several years later, I've uprated again to a Whiteline 24mm and it still remains the single most effective chassis mod on my car (and I have most of the usual mods)

rear ARB (in isolation) truly transforms the car - with other supporting mods, it makes it as good as any modern FWD car and bizarrely, quite a bit better than a lot of RWD cars, as the driver of the M3 will testify when he span trying to follow me round a wet roundabout.....

Do you have uprated front arb?
Wondering what to buy.. You have the complete set from eibach, wich one should think was a good match together with their springs and billies..
Any thoughts?

When I was first setting out on my modding career, I didn't really understand the effects of ARBs. So, in my ignorance, I fitted an uprated front ARB to try and get rid of some understeer - it didn't make any difference (but at the time, I didn't know why)

Then I fitted the Novitec rear ARB, which transformed the car.

Then, when I transferred all my mods to my Plus, I went back to a standard front ARB, with the Novitec rear, which improved the car again

Finally, I uprated to 24mm for the rear, but still on a standard front.

However - a word of warning - the steering geometry is critical (I'm also running -1.4 camber at the front) - I'm just about to nip down to my local Kwik-Fit to get the tracking set for the third time in the last two months - I've tried all sorts of settings, but it looks like I'm going to have to go for maximum toe-in to get the straight-line stability back - with normal toe-in, the car was quite nervous in a straight line (but was brilliant in the corners)

Thanks for the info mick will be looking at that set
Up for mine I don't mind firm just not crashy

I think the basic rule of thumb is:

FWD=Uprate rear ARB
RWD = Uprate front ARB

I would be very interested to hear what setting works best for you Nigel, at the moment mine feels pretty planted but there is a very small "wobble" through wheels like the wheels need balancing.

Nigel,
Have you tried the 24mm rear bar with the Novitec (Eibach) front bar fitted, I think that would be an interesting combination.

No - any uprating of the front ARB will bring back some understeer, so I'm happy to stay stock at the front. With the Osravs and Eibachs, there's not much roll anyway, so I don't feel the need to stiffen it any further