Hotchkis front sway bar - 4 way adjustable?
 

When reading around everything describes the hotchkis sways as having 3 different stiffness settings front and rear (yes 5 if you mismatch holes), meaning 3 different holes for each bar. Well I put in my sways last night and the rear does have 3 setting holes, but the front has 4. Is this a new revision of the bar? Even the installation pictures shows the front with 3 holes, but mine indeed has 4. Is anybodys elses like this? Or is my bar a freak?

I believe the 4th hole is for the G35 Sedan only (yes it's their new design). They just integrated it in their design since both the Z & G use the same sways. I have their older version & it only has 3 in the front. They also welded on some retainer rings to the new design as well to keep it from sliding.

So the 4th hole is an extra soft setting then? Are the other 3 holes in the same position as the old bar?

I believe it's actually an additional "stiffer" setting. The additional hole should be located towards the inner most part of the bar. See below...

Specs:
Front 1 3/8" (35MM) Tubular(Bar Weight 13.5lbs)
4 Position Adjustable
Rear 15/16"(24mm) Tubular(bar weight 5.5lbs)
3 Position Adjustable

Bar Rates:
350Z & 03- 05 G35 Front

Hole 1 = 1525 lbs/in (22% Stiffer than stock)

Hole 2 = 1845 lbs/in (48% Stiffer than stock)

Hole 3 = 2270 lbs/in (82% Stiffer than stock)

Hole 4 = 2855 lbs/in (129% Stiffer than stock)


06 G35 Front

Hole 1 = 1525 lbs/in (5% Softer than stock)

Hole 2 = 1845 lbs/in (15% Stiffer than stock)

Hole 3 = 2270 lbs/in (42% Stiffer than stock)

Hole 4 = 2855 lbs/in (78% Stiffer than stock)


Rear:

Hole 1 = 520 lbs/in (80% Stiffer than stock)

Hole 2 = 655 lbs/in (125% Stiffer than stock)

Hole 3 = 840 lbs/in (185% Stiffer than stock)

http://www.az350z.com/photopost/data...C-814F-med.JPG

This was their old setup:

Front 1 3/8" (35MM) Hollow (Bar Weight 13.5lbs)

- 3 Position Adjustable

- Rate Increase over stock: +9%,+32%,+63%

Rear 15/16"(24mm) Hollow (bar weight 5.5lbs)

- 3 Position Adjustable

- Rate Increase over stock: +54%,+92%,+146%

Hmm? Now that I look at the new vs. old setups more, looks like they stiffened it up quite a bit from their older version even on the rear. Maybe I should upgrade :icon38:

Wow, ok thanks. What vehicle is the rear numbers for? Did they increase as well?
80% 125% 185%
vs
54% 92% 146%

The "old setup" numbers - are they for a 350z or a G35?

lol, thats what I was wondering... :)

Well, I would assume the older specs are for the 03-05 350Z & G35 (this is for the older version of course). Seems like they just made these newer versions to accomodate the new 06 G35 & perhaps the reason why it's so much stiffer.

The stiffest setting on the front with the new 4 hole design makes the car understeer like crazy. I had it setup full stiff front and med rear, and I could not even get the rear end to come around at an auto-x, it was terrible. I have it setup as 3/4 full stiff front and full stiff rear and I like that setup much better now.

I installed mine 3/4 full stiff front and full stiff rear also, and I really like the way it drives so far - huge improvement over stock :D I need to get more driving time in, but so far I love it!

"Bars now come with welded retaining rings."

This is a nice touch also ;)

i don't get why they didn't weld the rears.

They did weld the rears along with the fronts:


http://static.flickr.com/58/163934735_547bb1ff8c.jpg

Rear bar:

http://static.flickr.com/53/163934736_e565760030.jpg

Cheers!

stop wasting time and get those on your car now george.

Thanks for the info. I think its time for me to buy Hotchkis as well.

If anyone wants hotchkis stuff let me know, i have a hook up on them

I need all new suspension to help my autocross times - anything you can get that will help, send me a price.

Where can I buy the new Hotchkis from? I dont wanna place a online order and get the old version.

I purchased mine from Kyle at JSC Speed. Great customer service and shipped the bars the same day.

hndumafia: Theyre in Rajiv...keep your pants on!

I set mine on hole 2 in the front and hole 2 in the rear. The car corners much flatter and the balance is much more neutral. So far this setup seems great for my stock suspension and wheels/tires.

A word of advice to those installing these...be careful not to strip the nuts on the end links!!! I stripped the rear left link nut and had to use an air gun to get the thing off...not fun.

Update: I re-adjusted the front sway to the third hole, keeping the rear in hole 2, and noticed much sharper steering response...

I haven’t had time to really flog her in this configuration, but if understeer is bad (it doesn’t feel like it would be), I will adjust the rear bar to full stiff.

Cheers