Can anyone tell me how much difference there is between the stock P5 swaybar and the MazdaSpeed (red Racing Beat) rear sway bars? I have a chance to pick one up for $80+shipping and I dont think it's a bad deal .. but I dunno if it worth spending money on. Is it significantly better or about the same as the P5 one?

Also, if I decide to buy it do I need new bushings or can I reuse the stock ones? Thanks d00ds.

 

It's thicker, red and says Racing Beat on it.

To install it RIGHT, you'll also need the subframe from an MSP (at least that's how the "kit" comes from if you buy it from the dealer)...Roy got one and I helped him install it.

You can install it just fine on your P5 subframe, but you may need new brackets, because the RB bar is a little beefier. No biggie, though, and it'll make a ton of difference in handling. Just install it like you would an AWR bar.

 

to properly install the mazdaspeed rear sway, you have two options: (1) get the mazdaspeed rear subframe, (2) get the clunk-fix kit. even with the right brackets, it won't bolt up correctly to the protege5 rear subframe.

 

What's incorrect about it? A lot of people run MSP bars with the P5 subframe.

 

So what exactly is different that requires the MSP subframe? If that's the case, I find this hardly worth the trouble ..

 

if you get the clunk fix kit, its worth it.

the mazdaspeed sway brackets are larger (much larger) than the protege5 brackets, and are too big to fit where the stock bracket bolt up. you COULD bore out your stock bushings to fit the mazdaspeed bar. then you could just reuse your stock brackets.

 

I don't think aMaff even bothered boring them out, just forced them over the MSP bar and used the stock brackets. To my knowledge he hasn't had any issues.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not crapping on the AXR setup. It rocks.

 

Is the clunk fix deal still going on?

 

Here's the most recent group buy. I think evolv may still have some.

 

Correct. Well..to be clear, the previous owner of the sway bar did that. I bought the bar w/ brackets and bushings still attached lol


And boy you can ride it! lol. Totally transformed the car, my favorite mod yet.

 

No clunky?

Also, I'm still wary of using it with the stock front bar. Mine's a daily driver, even in winter, not a track car. I don't want that **** coming around too easily. I want to work for it.

 

No more clunk thank I had with the stock bar lol

I really don't think you need to worry about it. It's not crazy oversteery, instead w/ the stock bar it's very neutral.

 

Ok .. so if I don't feel like spending another $200 some dollars for the AXR bracket, what exactly do I need to modify to make this fit with the stock P5 setup?

 

MSP endlinks - $50. You can reuse stock bushings and brackets. Maybe you'd want to bore the bushings out a little...I dunno.

 

yep, definitely want the MSP endlinks