GT3 sway bars??

[Allen K. Littlefield]

Josh, I replaced my stock '02 sway bars with a set of the larger M030 ones. The flatness in cornering is dramatic at least by the seat of my pants. Great mod. Got a good deal at Sunset in Portland OR.

AKL

[JP-s-in st. louis]

I need to find out if I have the ROW suspension or not first I guess. Any clue on how I go about that task?

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by JP-s-in st. louis

I need to find out if I have the ROW suspension or not first I guess. Any clue on how I go about that task?

You could measure them. They should match the sizes listed here:

http://www.cb-racing.com/boxster_030.html

[easyc]

Check your option codes... or get under there and look for the part number on the sway bar themselves...

[John V]

Originally Posted by JP-s-in st. louis

I need to find out if I have the ROW suspension or not first I guess. Any clue on how I go about that task?

You wouldn't have the RoW suspension on your USA car, unless you or one of the previous owners installed it. Regardless, the RoW 030 sway bars are the same as the USA 030 sway bars.

In my experience the M030 bars don't really change the car that much. The GT3 bar is a pretty dramatic change, whether or not it's an improvement is a matter of personal opinion... but it is a drastic change.

[insite]

John's right that the GT3 bar is a dramatic change. even on its softest setting, it's a LOT stiffer than the M030.

as for fittment, you need the GT3 bar & bushings, but you also need adjustable drop links; the stock links are too long. they're available from Tarrett or TRG. i also have a couple of sets if anyone needs some (i made extras).

the rear GT3 bar from the 996 will not fit the boxster. i've found that the H&R rear pairs nicely with the GT3 bar for a base boxster. for the S, use the rear M030 'Base' (not s) bar. the H&R rear is a bit too stiff for a boxster S; you'll have trouble putting the power down out of the corners (unless you have an LSD).

[chaudanova]

Originally Posted by insite

John's right that the GT3 bar is a dramatic change. even on its softest setting, it's a LOT stiffer than the M030.

as for fittment, you need the GT3 bar & bushings, but you also need adjustable drop links; the stock links are too long. they're available from Tarrett or TRG. i also have a couple of sets if anyone needs some (i made extras).

the rear GT3 bar from the 996 will not fit the boxster. i've found that the H&R rear pairs nicely with the GT3 bar for a base boxster. for the S, use the rear M030 'Base' (not s) bar. the H&R rear is a bit too stiff for a boxster S; you'll have trouble putting the power down out of the corners (unless you have an LSD).

Insite, in the past you suggested the M030 "S" front bar with the M030 base rear bar. Now that you're currently running the GT3 front bar, and H&R rear bar, what are your thoughts/feedback on the driving experience, handling, and ride feel between these various setups?

[insite]

Originally Posted by chaudanova

Insite, in the past you suggested the M030 "S" front bar with the M030 base rear bar. Now that you're currently running the GT3 front bar, and H&R rear bar, what are your thoughts/feedback on the driving experience, handling, and ride feel between these various setups?

it really depends on your personal tastes. most people would find the GT3 bar too stiff for comfort, even at its softest setting. with the GT3 bar full soft and the H&R bar in back also on full soft, the car really handles quite well. it's only over severely damaged pavement that it gets annoying.

on GT3 bar settings stiffer than position 2, the M030 struts can't properly damp the higher spring constant of the GT3 bar, so porpoising is a problem.

on the race track, i tend to run the GT3 bar full soft and the rear H&R bar full stiff. the handling is RAZOR sharp like this with no understeer at all. i run tire widths of 225 / 265. i think this works great with my setup. you can get REALLY aggressive with the car like this as it's tough to provoke understeer. you can really whip the tail around; it's quite a lot of fun.

i have run several different settings on street & track; for me, the GT3 bar stays full soft at all times. i move leave the H&R full soft for street, full stiff for track.

i did mention that for an S, the H&R bar may be too stiff in back. the added power of the S will cause the inside rear tire to spin under hard acceleration out of corners. this can be corrected with a limited slip differential or by using a softer rear sway bar (M030 base bar is great).

if you take your car to the track or are a real performance enthusiast who doesn't mind sacrificing some comfort, the GT3 bar is a great upgrade. if you favor a reasonable blend of performance with comfort, the M030 setup you mentioned (M030 S front, M030 base rear) is impossible to beat.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by insite

it really depends on your personal tastes. most people would find the GT3 bar too stiff for comfort, even at its softest setting. with the GT3 bar full soft and the H&R bar in back also on full soft, the car really handles quite well. it's only over severely damaged pavement that it gets annoying.

on GT3 bar settings stiffer than position 2, the M030 struts can't properly damp the higher spring constant of the GT3 bar, so porpoising is a problem.

on the race track, i tend to run the GT3 bar full soft and the rear H&R bar full stiff. the handling is RAZOR sharp like this with no understeer at all. i run tire widths of 225 / 265. i think this works great with my setup. you can get REALLY aggressive with the car like this as it's tough to provoke understeer. you can really whip the tail around; it's quite a lot of fun.

i have run several different settings on street & track; for me, the GT3 bar stays full soft at all times. i move leave the H&R full soft for street, full stiff for track.

i did mention that for an S, the H&R bar may be too stiff in back. the added power of the S will cause the inside rear tire to spin under hard acceleration out of corners. this can be corrected with a limited slip differential or by using a softer rear sway bar (M030 base bar is great).

if you take your car to the track or are a real performance enthusiast who doesn't mind sacrificing some comfort, the GT3 bar is a great upgrade. if you favor a reasonable blend of performance with comfort, the M030 setup you mentioned (M030 S front, M030 base rear) is impossible to beat.

Did you ever try the H&R front bar?

[Allen K. Littlefield]

. ..... if you favor a reasonable blend of performance with comfort, the M030 setup you mentioned (M030 S front, M030 base rear) is impossible to beat.[/QUOTE].....



This is the setup that I have and since I do not drive the track with this car and have a wife, the above setup as stated is "impossible to beat". The car corners much flatter than before. I left the springs and shocks stock and still have the 17" wheels on.

AKL :dance:

[JP-s-in st. louis]

Originally Posted by insite

it really depends on your personal tastes. most people would find the GT3 bar too stiff for comfort, even at its softest setting. with the GT3 bar full soft and the H&R bar in back also on full soft, the car really handles quite well. it's only over severely damaged pavement that it gets annoying.

on GT3 bar settings stiffer than position 2, the M030 struts can't properly damp the higher spring constant of the GT3 bar, so porpoising is a problem.

on the race track, i tend to run the GT3 bar full soft and the rear H&R bar full stiff. the handling is RAZOR sharp like this with no understeer at all. i run tire widths of 225 / 265. i think this works great with my setup. you can get REALLY aggressive with the car like this as it's tough to provoke understeer. you can really whip the tail around; it's quite a lot of fun.

i have run several different settings on street & track; for me, the GT3 bar stays full soft at all times. i move leave the H&R full soft for street, full stiff for track.

i did mention that for an S, the H&R bar may be too stiff in back. the added power of the S will cause the inside rear tire to spin under hard acceleration out of corners. this can be corrected with a limited slip differential or by using a softer rear sway bar (M030 base bar is great).

if you take your car to the track or are a real performance enthusiast who doesn't mind sacrificing some comfort, the GT3 bar is a great upgrade. if you favor a reasonable blend of performance with comfort, the M030 setup you mentioned (M030 S front, M030 base rear) is impossible to beat.

Thanks for your input! Please PM me the price on the drop links. Since I have a few extra HP I would really need to et LSD in the back before I do the rear don't you think?