JBR Rear Sway Bar impressions

[BruhhWill]

Finally got around to installing the JBR Rear Sway Bar on my Mazdaspeed3. Install was a pain due to rusted and salted bolts (thank you, Virginia). Word of advice: PB Blaster and a Torque Wrench make a world of a difference, even on the endlink nuts.

Everything came packaged professionally, and James even threw in a free license plate bracket

Loving the build quality and the flawless fitment. No clunks/clanks thus far. Amazing how much larger the JBR Sway is compared to the stock sway bar. Almost dwarfs it in comparison.

As for it's affect on the car; major transformation towards the handling. I have the sway in the stiffest setting currently. The rear of the car literally follows the front now, with some aggressive sliding if provoked. Healthy oversteer to offset the understeer when plowing into a corner. Dare I say the rear feels more planted under heavy throttle in combination with the JBR Rear Motor Mount.

I'm pleasantly surprised. Reminds me of my old Mazda 3 setup, but better.

Thanks, James!

[Miah34]

Just orderd my rear sway bar, with the new brackets, and 70 rear motor mount.

[MOCO MS3]

Check out JBR's new brackets and Torsion RSB......those behomoths are bad ass!

[He Hate Me]

By torque wrench I'm hoping you meant breaker bar to loosen the nuts. Not good to loosen things with a torque wrench., for the torque wrenches sake.

[darkstar5440]

^^This lol, torque wrenches are designed to tighten fasteners

[BruhhWill]

I used what I had. It is what it is.

[darkstar5440]

Originally Posted by BruhhWill I used what I had. It is what it is.

Completely understandable, I've done worse with tools using them for what they weren't designed for. But by no means is this advice like you stated in the OP lol

[chaser27]

I'm not sure how you can ride around on full stiff. I didn't have trouble getting the back end out on the stock swaybar. I have mine set to medium and it's a world of difference though. Just be sure to go back and double check everything after the first 1-200 miles or so, make sure nothing starts coming loose.

[He Hate Me]

Better check that torque wrench for accuracy next before you tighten your lugs.

[darkstar5440]

I rock mine on the stiffest setting, don't be a pussy.

[Mattyhawk1]

Such a well made piece, had mine on for a year now. Only issues I have had are needing to regrease the bushings after 3 months, grease gun makes that easy. Price is right too.

I run mine on medium setting, but I also run 1* camber and 0* toe in back. With my SWAS disabled, full stiffest setting sends me into a spin, tough when running through a slalom when autox'in.

[BruhhWill]

I'm sure the torque wrench is fine. If it isn't, Harbor Freight isn't too far from where I live. I'm sure I'll manage.

The full stiff setting definitely leads to a lot more oversteer. I think the middle setting would be a great compromise for one seeking more balance. I prefer some oversteer. I went to the Luray Caverns over the weekend and had a chance to test out the setup. Extremely fun time. Those roads are dangerous for people who don't know how to drive well. The the rear sway gave the speed3 a very lively, grippy-slide feel. I enjoy it.

[Sinister_Speed3]

I run the middle setting now and really enjoy the balance for a dd ms3. It made a big difference and the corners even more fun.

[itzjustme407]

How much more stiff is the softest setting compared to stock?

[econman]

Originally Posted by itzjustme407 How much more stiff is the softest setting compared to stock?

Specifications Simulating 1" of body roll:
Stock Sway Bar setting:
MAZDASPEED 3 is 479 lbs/in
MAZDA 3 & 5 is 228 lbs/in

JBR 3-Way Adjustable Sway Bar Settings:
Stiff setting is 593 lbs/in
Stiffer Setting is 718 lbs/in
Stiffest Setting is 901 lbs/in


From Tru-Torsion.125 Rear Sway Bar - Black [MS3RSB-BLK] - $195.00 : James Barone Racing, Custom Fabrication

[Miah34]

Got my rear sway and motor mount installed on friday. All i can say is AMAZING. I am wondering why i waited so long to order them. I am running the middle stiffness on the sway and it feels planted. Thank you Jamie for the great products!

[TORQUERULES]

I really like my RSB, but it was not as dramatic a difference over stock as I thought it would be. It is a nice balance though.

I had some squeaking/clunking at first which i got a handle on I hope (fingers crossed). I do not like the quality of the bushing brackets though (from Prothane I believe). Has anyone upgraded to JBR's billet brackets?

[Easter Bunny]

Originally Posted by BruhhWill I'm sure the torque wrench is fine. If it isn't, Harbor Freight isn't too far from where I live. I'm sure I'll manage.

It's not broken its likely in need of a calibration. If harbor freight is that close go get a breaker bar.

[Yousuf]

Sorry to continue on the torque wrench thing, but I've always wondered can't you just put the torque wrench in the loosening setting, set the torque higher than what the bolt/nut is tightened to, and be pretty much okay?

[Easter Bunny]

Originally Posted by Yousuf Sorry to continue on the torque wrench thing, but I've always wondered can't you just put the torque wrench in the loosening setting, set the torque higher than what the bolt/nut is tightened to, and be pretty much okay?

you are supposed to calibrate a torque wrench regularly regardless of how it is used, so any additional usage, especially with the high torque applied when used as a breaker bar will just change the calibration faster. In a pinch would i use it once? Possibly, but honestly anyone who is going to do more to their car than change the oil should spend the money for a breaker bar.

We are talking about something that costs $13, how much does a good torque wrench cost?

1/2 in. Drive 25 in. Breaker Bar

[Yousuf]

Originally Posted by Easter Bunny you are supposed to calibrate a torque wrench regularly regardless of how it is used, so any additional usage, especially with the high torque applied when used as a breaker bar will just change the calibration faster. In a pinch would i use it once? Possibly, but honestly anyone who is going to do more to their car than change the oil should spend the money for a breaker bar. We are talking about something that costs $13, how much does a good torque wrench cost? 1/2 in. Drive 25 in. Breaker Bar

That's the same one I have, I don't get people being cheap when they've obviously afforded something much more expensive

[smoogs12]

Using a torque wrench a a breaker makes me cringe.

Also worth mentioning that you want to zero it out after each use. Furthermore, if its anything worth a shit, youll want to get it recalibrated once a year and avoid dropping it.

[TORQUERULES]

Anyone having squeaking bushings? I've taken them off and lubed twice with the sticky silicone that is always recommended for poly and the squeak comes back. It has been raining a lot here and now it is even worse although that stuff is supposed to be pretty much water proof. I can't get the bushings to take grease through the zerk. Not sure if it is my gun or the zerks.

Short of new bushings of a different brand, what have you guys done?

And it is not a clunk. Fixed that.

[JBR]

Squeaking is new.

[Crarrs]

Try adding some teflon tape to the bar where the bushing rides.

[TORQUERULES]

Originally Posted by jbarone Squeaking is new.

Its more of a scrunch, but it is definitely the poly bushings. Got them to take some grease. I'll see what it does tomorrow. I ordered the billet brackets. Not too fond of the metal ones. Deflect and bend easily.

Originally Posted by Crarrs Try adding some teflon tape to the bar where the bushing rides.

Hmmmmm, I'll try that this weekend.


Thanks!

[JBR]

Use lots of grease, don't be shy.

[Chief_Wiggum]

Originally Posted by jbarone Use lots of grease, don't be shy.

wait, what are we talking about here?

[TORQUERULES]

LOL

[BruhhWill]

Originally Posted by Crarrs Try adding some teflon tape to the bar where the bushing rides.

This is good advice. Motoiq uses Teflon Tape whenever they install sway bars as well to help with squeaks and such.

[TORQUERULES]

Just installed the JBR billet brackets and now I am getting popping noises. Gonna loosen, reposition, and torque everything one more time. If it doesn't stop, the stock bar is going on.

This bar and bracket combo is so nice, but the noise and my struggle to quiet it all is giving me fits.

[JBR]

End links are bad.

[TORQUERULES]

The car has 2,800 miles on it. It brand new and babied.

It was the last MS3 left in my area.

I'm not trashing the bar, just at my wits end with the noises.

[JBR]

Make sure its centered and greased good.

[TORQUERULES]

Today, not ONE noise. Not one. Of course there were two of us in the car last night. The new bushings and brackets just might have been settling in. I have no idea. I did notice that with the brackets set to where the bolts were centered in the slots, the "arms" of the sway bar had been slightly hitting the control arms. Possibly my sound. I moved the brackets all the way down. Re-torqued everything. No sounds. Fingers crossed.

Oh, and I greased the "s**t" out of the bushings. ;-)