Experience with UUC Sway Bars

[UdubBadger]

Hmm difficult decision since I don't want to get the Hotchkis ones and realize that they're way too stiff for street driving.

I think that would be more directed to the springs/struts on the car, the sways will just keep the car more planted while cornering if I'm not mistaken

[Rovert]

I have UUC's in my car.... I took a picture when the rear was being installed:



Before installation I took my favorite corner that I know very very well and this was my stock sway bar:


After installation this was the result:


Just look at the max lateral. I take the corner to close to the traction circle where understeer sets in slightly.

Day to day the feeling isn't as much as I thought though. I think thicker would be more noticeable. The OEM ZHP sways are the same as my friend's ZSP sways. Really the ZHP isn't that much more special. LOL.

Bumps and road irregularities are not anymore harsh with UUCs than OEM. The shocks still move up and down separately. Although a tad more movement from one side may be transmitted from a minor energy transfer across the sway bar...the cornering is still flatter. What you will feel is under hard cornering, the car will slide more flat...instead of roll to one side before tires lose grip. Thicker sways allow you to change direction faster without upsetting the balance of the car as fast as thinner sways. Thinner sways will generally give you better grip through a single corner.

[johnrando]

I have UUC's in my car.... I took a picture when the rear was being installed:



Before installation I took my favorite corner that I know very very well and this was my stock sway bar:


After installation this was the result:


Just look at the max lateral. I take the corner to close to the traction circle where understeer sets in slightly.

Day to day the feeling isn't as much as I thought though. I think thicker would be more noticeable. The OEM ZHP sways are the same as my friend's ZSP sways. Really the ZHP isn't that much more special. LOL.

Bumps and road irregularities are not anymore harsh with UUCs than OEM. The shocks still move up and down separately. Although a tad more movement from one side may be transmitted from a minor energy transfer across the sway bar...the cornering is still flatter. What you will feel is under hard cornering, the car will slide more flat...instead of roll to one side before tires lose grip. Thicker sways allow you to change direction faster without upsetting the balance of the car as fast as thinner sways. Thinner sways will generally give you better grip through a single corner.

Great info Trevor. To be clear, this was only with the rear sway bay and not the front?

[Rovert]

I had the front installed too. I was just too slow to take pics...lol.

[Rovert]

If I had to do it all over again I think I'd choose thicker bars. Although UUC is thicker than stock and does give you less roll in corners, it's not dramatic enough for me in how I drive. I still think there is too much roll and the chassis feels nowhere near stiff enough to start lifting corners on tight corners. I got the UUCs because I found them for $100 on craigslist...lol. I know Hotchkis Sway Bars are hallow but they're much thicker and reviews seem fantastic. I'd get those next.