Greg's aluminum link question.

[Snoopy]

I have the 18mm sway bar on my Impreza with the stock bushing. I was wondering what benefit or advantage I would have with the aluminum link over the cheaper metal links that SPD and Rallispec sells(other than weight advantage that aluminum has over metal).

Thank you.

[8Complex]

Let me explain exactly what the links do...

If you look at your stock rear links you see they are a hard plastic/rubber. This allows for flex. When you come into a corner hard and suddenly, they have a tendency to stretch and recoil. As an example of this you can hold a rubber band in one hand by one or two fingers, and then drop on something with a little weight on a hook to the other side. You will see how it drops far below where it ends up resting.

That stretching causes the car to heavily load to one side before the sway bar gets a chance to kick in and then when it finally recoils, it does so harshly and you will lose the rear end.

The more solid the links you get, the less recoil you get. I had the MRT links on my car and I've driven Greg's car with his solid links (am still awaiting my set to be completed). The solid links make handling predictable and easy to correct for, while the stock links are tougher to predict. If you slalom back and forth a bit, you will tend to lose the rear end more and more unless you start taking it easier, with solid links you will have a lot more control and won't have to correct nearly as much.

Front end links do the same thing, except they provide better steering response... less delay from turning the wheel to turning the car.

[Snoopy]

Okay, but I was asking if there was any significant advantage the aluminum link has over the cheaper metal links that other sell.

I'll just assume that looking at the design of greg's alluminum link that this will have no torsion whatsoever compared to the cheaper "rod-like" metal link Ralli-spec sells.

BTW, I got my 18mm from JC Sports. Took only one week!

[8Complex]

Well, advantages basically are that Greg's links are more solid then the MRT ones or any other ones made out of rod, however you may not like your car to handle on rails exactly, since you only have an 18mm bar, I'm supposing that you just want to get rid of some understeer versus make the car handle perfectly. IMHO, I've never driven on an 18mm bar or setting so I don't know exactly what would be good for it, but I don't think it'll make too much difference for you with either solid links, semi-solid links, or stock links.

[John2.5RS]

I'm interested. I know the 20mm bar is only for "Expert Drivers". How much is the difference any can somebody explain the mechanics? Isn't the 18mm bar better for stock suspension? If so, why wouldn't you be able to use the 20mm bar? Would it be that much of a difference with how the suspension handles?

[8Complex]

John2.5RS - The rear sway bar size is dependant upon personal preferance and ability to drive. If you are skilled, you can drive on a 22mm bar all day long an you won't notice any adverse effects. If you're not so skilled, an 18mm bar will reduce understeer (by causing more oversteer) slightly and even the car out more. Also if you get a suspension on the car, the rear end will be stiffer an may not need such a large rear bar as before.

Like I said, it all depends on your driving style and preference.

[greg]

8complex i could not have said it better myself, thanks. But the obvious difference between my links and others is that mine are beefier(is that technical enough LOL)and transfer energy in a more linear fashion. The other links loose some thru the thick eurethane bushing wich tends to flex and move to much.

[greg]

also its more of a preference for taste as 8comlex said. choose more stiffness and preciseness or let the thicher eurethane take some of that energy. So really its not better or worse i guess just how you like your car to handle.

[daytonians]

Greg,

Do the solid links increace vibrations and noise transfered to the body ?