consider rear strut bar

[Tommyk]

I want to buy one because I read that it could improve cornering or just make turns handle better but will i notice any difference if I only get one for the rear?

[Hudson_Neon]

the rear suspension in our cars is pretty sloppy compared to many other cars. especially if you have a newer 2nd gen without a rear sway bar. anything that you add to the rear helps greatly

[NickKo]

I want to buy one because I read that it could improve cornering or just make turns handle better but will i notice any difference if I only get one for the rear?

Yes.
Many state that the rear strut bar, is the more important one.


Just be sure to get a GOOD one - The stiffer the bar, the better.


- Nick

[gcretro]

isn't the sway bar more important than a rear strut bar? exp if 2gn don't have one.

[NickKo]

isn't the sway bar more important than a rear strut bar? exp if 2gn don't have one.

Yes, it is.
But if you already have the sway bars, adding a good strut bar, makes the car handle even better still.


- Nick

[boostalot717]

Guys please don't forget that a if your looking to spend for aftermarket sway/strut bars you will get a much better feel from a set of good properly adjusted coilovers.

I look at it this way you could easily have 5-600 in a set of sway/ strut bars, and 750-up into a good set of coilovers.

[Hudson_Neon]

Guys please don't forget that a if your looking to spend for aftermarket sway/strut bars you will get a much better feel from a set of good properly adjusted coilovers.

I look at it this way you could easily have 5-600 in a set of sway/ strut bars, and 750-up into a good set of coilovers.

haha, maybe if you're buying the titanium mopar strut bars... the steel ones are $250 for a set. i do realize that there's crappy ones on the page as well. a note for the OP: if you're gonna buy a strut bar to stiffen up your car, don't buy one with heim joints on it. it makes no sense to buy something "designed" to stiffen up your car that has not 1, but 2 moving joints on it

http://www.modernperformance.com/catego ... _strutbars

[Donkeypuncher]

Yeah, if you buy top dollar brands retail it could be that much. A pt front sway (24-26mm) with addco rear (22mm) can be had for less than $200.

[gcretro]

I was looking around to get a stock rear sway bar from an 00, 001 or 02 Neon SXT. (For my 04 SE).

I don't know if the one from an SRT would be too thick to cause undesired handling.

[bluzfan92]

i was wondering on the strut bars on MP if the ones labeled for the 03-05 srt would work on an 01? and on the rear sway bar, how big is too big? im not doing any kind of AutoX or things like that, just like to show straight line racers whatsup

[NickKo]

i was wondering on the strut bars on MP if the ones labeled for the 03-05 srt would work on an 01? and on the rear sway bar, how big is too big? im not doing any kind of AutoX or things like that, just like to show straight line racers whatsup

1). I don't see why they wouldn't.

2 ). I wouldn't go too big on the rear sway bar..... UNLESS you have a beefy front bar to go along with it !!
Otherwise, you could end up with Oversteer and a tail-happy Neon, when you DON'T want it to happen.


- Nick

[gcretro]

Nikko,

So for an 04 Neon SE (stock), is putting on a rear sway bar from an SRT-4 a bad idea? i.e. too thick?

I am looking at stock OEM bars from an 00 to 02 Neon (non-set). What's a fair price on such a used bar? (so I have a reference when I visit the a you-pull -it yard here).

[Hudson_Neon]

no, it's not. actually the SRT rear sway is thinner than the R/T rear sway

[NickKo]

Nikko,

So for an 04 Neon SE (stock), is putting on a rear sway bar from an SRT-4 a bad idea? i.e. too thick?

I am looking at stock OEM bars from an 00 to 02 Neon (non-set). What's a fair price on such a used bar? (so I have a reference when I visit the a you-pull -it yard here).

Just to clarify.... I was talking about aftermarket rear bars, such as the Progress rear, 22mm.

If you get a 'set' / pair of bars from a 00-02 Neon (front and rear), you should be good to go.
Upgrade to some aftermarket Polyurethane bushings at the same time, and you'll be set.

QUESTION:
Do you already have the mounting tabs on the rear struts for the rear sway bar ??
If not, you will either have to fabricate your own tabs, OR change struts, too. ( R/T's, ACR's, and SRT-4's have rear struts with these 'mounting tabs' on them; as well as most 00-02 Neons.)

Keep in mind that Chrysler revised the rear spring rates on the 03-up Neons - They went to stiffer springs, and got rid of the rear bar on most Neons (except for R/T's).


I can't remember what I paid at the junkyard, the last time I removed a sway bar. It has been a while.
I don't recall it being expensive.... fairly cheap, actually.


- Nick

[occasional demons]

IIRC the bars are relatively cheap new from the dealer, provided you don't have one that rapes you.

[trojmn]

isn't the sway bar more important than a rear strut bar? exp if 2gn don't have one.

Yes, it is.
But if you already have the sway bars, adding a good strut bar, makes the car handle even better still.

- Nick

rear sway bar agreed... and first on the list. As for a rear Strut bar/brace making a difference or not here's my take.

Take a look at the inside of an OEM rear strut mount and how much movement there is. Dont worry about the body deflection an inperceptable amount AFTER the strut top deflects 3/4" in any direction. Secure the strut top first, then brace it if you must.



tro

[gcretro]

Nikko,

So for an 04 Neon SE (stock), is putting on a rear sway bar from an SRT-4 a bad idea? i.e. too thick?

I am looking at stock OEM bars from an 00 to 02 Neon (non-set). What's a fair price on such a used bar? (so I have a reference when I visit the a you-pull -it yard here).

Just to clarify.... I was talking about aftermarket rear bars, such as the Progress rear, 22mm.

If you get a 'set' / pair of bars from a 00-02 Neon (front and rear), you should be good to go.
Upgrade to some aftermarket Polyurethane bushings at the same time, and you'll be set.

QUESTION:
Do you already have the mounting tabs on the rear struts for the rear sway bar ??
If not, you will either have to fabricate your own tabs, OR change struts, too. ( R/T's, ACR's, and SRT-4's have rear struts with these 'mounting tabs' on them; as well as most 00-02 Neons.)

Keep in mind that Chrysler revised the rear spring rates on the 03-up Neons - They went to stiffer springs, and got rid of the rear bar on most Neons (except for R/T's).


I can't remember what I paid at the junkyard, the last time I removed a sway bar. It has been a while.
I don't recall it being expensive.... fairly cheap, actually.

- Nick

Yep - I am aware of the need for the custom brackets. true, the rear on my 04 Neon SE does feel stiff as far as spring rate.

I don't understand the need for a "pair". I was only planning to get the OEM rear sway bar from an 00 to 02 Neon from the bone yard (with the brackets to hold them on the frame). I wasn't planning to do anything with the existing front sway bar.

[NickKo]

true, the rear on my 04 Neon SE does feel stiff as far as spring rate.

I don't understand the need for a "pair". I was only planning to get the OEM rear sway bar from an 00 to 02 Neon from the bone yard (with the brackets to hold them on the frame). I wasn't planning to do anything with the existing front sway bar.

The PT Cruiser has front sway bars which are bigger, and they'll bolt right up to our 2nd gen Neons, like they grew there.

If you upgrade the rear, it is a good idea to upgrade the front bar as well, to keep handling more 'neutral' and 'balanced'.


- Nick