Subframe/Swaybar GR86 vs BRZ

[norcalpb]

My 2022 brz rear sway bar bracket will be here tomorrow. Once my car stops being so broken down I’ll attempt to install and post feedback

[dragoontwo]

Take some good pictures of it please.

[norcalpb]

Just wanted to mention that I have successfully put the 2022 bar mount on my 2013. The biggest difference by far, as mentioned, is how quickly the bar responds to steering input. I took the car on a backroad last night and found that I needed to start my steering input later than expected, and once the car settled on fully on its left or right side, the car would turn very hard. Overall, this is a pretty awesome upgrade for ~$80. Extremely easy to install too, once the stock mounts are cut out of course.

I would say it should come like this from the factory, but it already does!

[raisingAnarchy]

Can anyone share if the difference in ride quality between GR86 and BRZ is that significant? Concerned about Racecomp Engineering's post discussing the competence the BRZ might have over bumps vs the GR86, as most of my driving is on pot-holed bumpy roads.


I understand they're likely talking about stability on track after hitting curbs and such, but curious if the difference while street driving will be noticeable? The BRZ has a few things I like: the aluminum hubs (I live in the rustbelt), revised suspension that many claim gives a better ride, world rally blue paint.


But the big things the GR86 has that I like are some aesthetic choices I prefer, the digital oil temp readout (vs BRZ bar slider), supposedly more propensity for oversteer, and the free track day.

[Lelandjt]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

The best handling 2022 would be a BRZ with GR86 rear springs and the OEM crash bolts for a tiny bit more camber. Maybe the GR86 rear 15mm bar too.

This is what I'm thinking but for the rear bar I'd like to keep Subaru's mounting but run Toyota's spring rate. Who makes a bar that feels like the GR's 15mm, while fitting the Subaru's mounts?

[dragoontwo]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

This is what I'm thinking but for the rear bar I'd like to keep Subaru's mounting but run Toyota's spring rate. Who makes a bar that feels like the GR's 15mm, while fitting the Subaru's mounts?

Why not just run the stock Toyota/Subaru 15mm bar? It fits like stock.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by raisingAnarchy

Can anyone share if the difference in ride quality between GR86 and BRZ is that significant? Concerned about Racecomp Engineering's post discussing the competence the BRZ might have over bumps vs the GR86, as most of my driving is on pot-holed bumpy roads.


I understand they're likely talking about stability on track after hitting curbs and such, but curious if the difference while street driving will be noticeable? The BRZ has a few things I like: the aluminum hubs (I live in the rustbelt), revised suspension that many claim gives a better ride, world rally blue paint.


But the big things the GR86 has that I like are some aesthetic choices I prefer, the digital oil temp readout (vs BRZ bar slider), supposedly more propensity for oversteer, and the free track day.

My BRZ rides pretty close to stock on 7k/8k coilovers on 245/35/18 tires, if you've ever driven through Oklahoma, our roads are pretty terrible as well.

[Lelandjt]

Originally Posted by dragoontwo

Why not just run the stock Toyota/Subaru 15mm bar? It fits like stock.

I thought the stock BRZ bar is 14mm and the stock GR86 bar attaches differently. At first I was going to get the GR86 bar and mount hardware but I've been convinced that the BRZ mounting is better.

[dragoontwo]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

I thought the stock BRZ bar is 14mm and the stock GR86 bar attaches differently. At first I was going to get the GR86 bar and mount hardware but I've been convinced that the BRZ mounting is better.

What I meant was a 1st gen BRZ 15mm rear bar or the GR rear bar and mount it like the stock bar. They fit just like the 14mm stock bar.

[Lelandjt]

Originally Posted by dragoontwo

What I meant was a 1st gen BRZ 15mm rear bar or the GR rear bar and mount it like the stock bar. They fit just like the 14mm stock bar.

So even though the bushing connects to the car differently on the BRZ vs GR86 the bars are the same shape and the bushings are in the same locations?

[makinen]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

So even though the bushing connects to the car differently on the BRZ vs GR86 the bars are the same shape and the bushings are in the same locations?

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/show...0&postcount=11

The same bar mounted using both methods.

[dragoontwo]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

So even though the bushing connects to the car differently on the BRZ vs GR86 the bars are the same shape and the bushings are in the same locations?

Here's a 2020 15mm sway bar laid over a 2022 14mm bar.

[Lelandjt]

Originally Posted by dragoontwo

Here's a 2020 15mm sway bar laid over a 2022 14mm bar.

Lovely. I thought getting GR suspension on my BRZ was going to be a production but looks like I only need to buy the rear bar & springs and the bar swap is something I can do in less than an hour. Including the bumper and paint my conversion should cost <$1000. Combined with the BRZ purchased at MSRP that's less than a GR86 would have cost me and I have the assurance that I'll have it by summer.

What's everyone's favorite online Toyota parts source?

[Blighty]

Originally Posted by raisingAnarchy

Can anyone share if the difference in ride quality between GR86 and BRZ is that significant? Concerned about Racecomp Engineering's post discussing the competence the BRZ might have over bumps vs the GR86, as most of my driving is on pot-holed bumpy roads.


I understand they're likely talking about stability on track after hitting curbs and such, but curious if the difference while street driving will be noticeable? The BRZ has a few things I like: the aluminum hubs (I live in the rustbelt), revised suspension that many claim gives a better ride, world rally blue paint.


But the big things the GR86 has that I like are some aesthetic choices I prefer, the digital oil temp readout (vs BRZ bar slider), supposedly more propensity for oversteer, and the free track day.

Its a bit softer over the bumps and you can notice it - however this isn't night and day - its a small difference. When I test drove them back to back it was summer, but I would assume that in the winter it might be a fraction more noticeable.

Another thing you can notice, and as a few people have eluded to, the steering response is faster on the BRZ, while again its a small change, its actually much more than the tiny added stiffness from the front bar compared to the GR86 should in theory provide. As others have pointed out this is likely due to how the rear bar connects directly to the chassis, allowing them to make the suspension softer through vertical deflection and twist of the smaller diameter bar, but actually improves the moment of inertia because it laterally acts faster (well almost instantly) than through the subframe/bushing.

That said if I was making the perfect twin, I would certainly have the suspension arrangement from the BRZ and the front bumper from the GR86 (but with the cheap little under spoiler part the BRZ front has - that thing is taking up all of my driveway scratches and is cheap to replace!) - All down to personal preference.

However, all these things pale into comparison to actually just owning either twin, its a wonderful platform. Just get one, any of them. I'd even include the old one in that conversation as well - just great cars designed really well for driver enjoyment.