Great deal on Karcepts sway bar, worried it'll be too stiff

[gnarjunkie]

I am continuing to setup my GR86 for CST class while keeping it my daily street car.

Right now, I have Tarmac 2's and RLCAs, no other mods. -2.6 degrees camber front, -2.0 rear.

Only competing at the local level, though we have a lot of fast drivers who place upper pack at nationals. I am competitive with them, often in top 5 PAX and always within top 10, usually out of 60-70 drivers.

I've been finding the car to be really good with just these basic mods.

Another driver has a full set of Karcepts bars for this platform for sale for a great price. Only thing is that it's the stiffer of the two front bar options.

Karcepts recommends the softer bar for 215-245 width tires and under -4 degrees camber. That fits my car.

The stiffer bar is meant for cars with 245-275 tires and -4 to -5 degrees camber.

I'm on 245s, but probably won't go past -3.2 degrees camber anytime soon. Maybe a touch more, but not up to -4 range.

I'm a bit worried about getting these and being overly stiff in the front. I already find that the car gets a bit understeer-happy later in the day when the lot starts to get really hot.

[autoracer86]

I think you can just change out the center sections with those bars.

[steverife]

The stiffer Karcepts bar set at 1/1 is softer that almost all aftermarket front bars you see on autocross twins.

[gnarjunkie]

Originally Posted by autoracer86

I think you can just change out the center sections with those bars.

You can, but the center section is $500. So pretty much removes any savings at that point from buying the used one.

Originally Posted by steverife

The stiffer Karcepts bar set at 1/1 is softer that almost all aftermarket front bars you see on autocross twins.

That's helpful!

[steverife]

You will want to confirm that the Karcepts bar has full functionality with your coilovers. The Karcepts piece was designed for OE/MCS swaybar mounting.

[gnarjunkie]

Originally Posted by steverife

You will want to confirm that the Karcepts bar has full functionality with your coilovers. The Karcepts piece was designed for OE/MCS swaybar mounting.

Thank you -- I've had a couple other people mention the same thing. Unfortunately, they are not fully compatible with my RCEs. Sounds like it's possible to have them modified to work maybe?

I'm holding off for the moment but seems like these are the best bars out there so it would be nice to make them work. I like the adjustability idea a lot.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by gnarjunkie

Thank you -- I've had a couple other people mention the same thing. Unfortunately, they are not fully compatible with my RCEs. Sounds like it's possible to have them modified to work maybe?

I'm holding off for the moment but seems like these are the best bars out there so it would be nice to make them work. I like the adjustability idea a lot.

The compromise for “don’t fit” in my experience is that you can’t use the full stiff holes which shouldn’t matter for the stiffer center section. Shooting Mr. Karwan an email is well worth it - he’ll Brain dump clarity and some great advice off the cuff. In any case I agree with Steve above, for a car going to ST the larger center section isn’t a problem, I oscillate between 2/2 and 2/3 on mine even with softer springs, 3/3 is usually too stiff. One of my coilovers I can’t use the #4 hole.

10/10 swaybar zero regrets