.250 comp RSB review

[brandon3212]

About a year ago I started taking my car to my local road course and really really loved it, car handled great stock and was crazy fast compared to my old Nissan Sentra. The one thing that bothered my was the horrible understeer the car was suffering, it made the car easy to correct but was really killing my cornering speed.

I started doing some research and bought a full lowering kit, H&R sport springs, Koni Yellow shocks and Whiteline poly control arm bushings. Did a few track days at the Grand Bend road course as well as 1 unforgettable day at the Mosport Grand Prix track. The upgrades definitely helped out allot in cornering but it was still really easy to push the car into understeer.

Shortly after that I did some more research (on MSF or course) and decided that a beefy rear sway bar was the next step. I looked over all the sway bar options out there and ended up settling on the Competition bar from James Barone Racing since track performance was way #1 priority.

Upon unboxing this thing it really hits home how much of a beast it is in comparison to the stock RSB, it's just fucking huge. The bushing blocks are incredible too.



I installed the bar that night and set it up in the middle stiffness setting using MOOG RSB links. Install was a breeze, out with old, in with the new, just a few bolts and it's done.

A few days later I went my local road course in Grand Bend and had waaaaaay too much fun. I had a nearly new set of BF Goodrich Gforce TA tires and totally fried them. This bar provided so much extra grip in the corners it's crazy, it totally fixed my understeer problem. Using the middle setting it provides an almost perfect balance, understeer is nearly gone without being so stiff the rear end wants to come around all the time.


Tires were toast but I really didn't care, I was having way too much fun.


Mid summer the game changed, I bought a dedicated set of rims and slicks for the track.


The RSB really squeezes all available traction from the tires, It was actually surprising how hard I could corner. At the track I was faster than cars that I should never be able to beat.

In conclusion, if your looking to track your car this really is a must have part. The amount of difference it makes is really quite staggering for a single part upgrade.

10/10, absolutely awesome upgrade

[nilashish]

Funny I was actually looking for reviews on this bar today itself...how is it when you are driving normally on the road? any liftoff snap-oversteer issues?

[brandon3212]

Originally Posted by nilashish Funny I was actually looking for reviews on this bar toady itself...how is it when you are driving normally on the road? any liftoff snap-oversteer issues?

For daily driving every day its fine, it actually makes the car handle much better in heavy rain I found since it forced the front tires into the pavement in cornering.

I only have experienced snap oversteer ONCE in over 8 track days with it. It was on a shitty, old, slippery concrete runway course. I was coming into a corner too hot and the rear started stepping out, I tried to correct and and flipped the other way so damn fast I was hopeless to react. Partly my fault and partly the nasty track.

On a paved course its MUCH more forgiving

[JBR]

Love the write up, thank you!!

Have you been on the slicks yet? The grip....oh the grip.

[havocforming]

Thanks for the write up. I have really been wondering about these new bars. Also glad to hear it isn't total overkill for a daily driver.

[MOCO MS3]

I have tested Jamie's Bar @ Mid-Ohio and it exceeded all of my expectations. It should be noted that the same bar was used @ Road Atlanta by All Out Motorpsorts with great feedback from both drivers. I am looking forward to running this bar on more tracks here in the Mid-West and in the South East as well.

The bar with the upgraded JBR Motor Mounts, makes the car feel 1000% Grounded and the as the OP stated above, the car rotates and I never noticed any understeer at all! The All Out #85 Speed 3, had the same set up @ Road Atlanta and they team could not stop raving about the entire JBR Set up, neither can I!

[brandon3212]

Originally Posted by jbarone Love the write up, thank you!! Have you been on the slicks yet? The grip....oh the grip.

Ya, I used my old slicks all season with this RSB, really loving the grip. It honestly takes a well driven Porsche 911 to keep up. My setup really excels on the tight tracks.

[kbz0129]

Great write up, this makes me want one!

[macdiesel]

Might have to ditch my progress bar for the jbr. Those brackets are fucking insane

[tikous360]

Great Review.
Thanks

[Raider]

The handling issues also can be helped with side molding removal. Seriously makes the car top-heavy.

Remove em. For Jesis.

[brandon3212]

Just thought I'd throw it out there, this bar seems make make my car handle a little bit better through thick slush and snow. I was worried that it would cause allot of oversteer in the winter but it does the exact opposite, love this piece.

[nilashish]

so you are running this bar throughout the year? or only at the track?

[brandon3212]

Originally Posted by nilashish so you are running this bar throughout the year? or only at the track?

Year round

[radbrad]

Brandon, do you keep it on the same setting? Middle all year around? Or do you change it?

[brandon3212]

Originally Posted by radbrad Brandon, do you keep it on the same setting? Middle all year around? Or do you change it?

I'm running it in the middle setting with great success on/off the track, rain and now snow.

I personally feel that the softest setting would lean too much towards understeer. The middle setting is a perfect balance of everything depending on surface. The only time I could see the stiffest setting being beneficial would be on a extremely tight autoX course where low speed rotation is needed.

[nilashish]

Thats encouraging since London gets tonnes of snow...I feel like the 0.125 RSB on the stiffest setting isnt enough to kill the understeer on this car...may have to get this RSB