Rear Swaybar, Again

  Watch the video above and you can see the steel rear swaybar mounting bracket flex under load.  Some research shows that this flex is a common problem when using these universal brackets and they are prone to break or tear when using high rate swaybars combined with aggressive driving.  Stronger aftermarket brackets are available in various designs and materials and I chose to buy a pair of heavy duty billet aluminum brackets from James Barone Racing.  Prothane 1 1/4" urethane bushings are included for use with a planned Speedway bar and I also picked up a pair of 27mm bushings to use with my current Hotchkis swaybar.

Extreme example of what can happen.

The subframe mounting surface for the swaybar brackets is not completely flat and I also need to add more space for shaft collar clearance so I got an ASR rear subframe brace to help the situation.  The ASR brace is a 3/8" flat aluminum transverse plate that sandwiches between the rear subframe and swaybar brackets.  Mostly bling but very popular in the Honda world and widely available at reasonable prices.

Must be defective?  The brackets hang over the edge by at least 1/4", so I swap it out for a different one.

Nope.  Only the oem bracket is flush with the brace, but even that one the bushing still hangs over the edge.

My original idea was to simply cut and drill some scrap aluminum to make the spacers but I thought the ASR brace would be a better fit.  It does look good and offers a little strength to the mounting surface, but please...   Back to Plan A.  I will need to add another 1/8" spacer when using clamping collars with a 32mm bar.

So why not just buck up and buy the complete ASR 32mm swaybar kit instead of messing around with these odd brackets, braces, bushings, etc ?

I am not convinced that the swaybar arms provided with the kit will clear the RSX lower control arms when installed on a lowered vehicle. I have noticed notched swaybar arms and lower control arm interference when using this bar design and with all the misinformation on the internet forums and crappy parts available I cannot take the chance on buying a $600 swaybar and not being able to get a refund or return when it doesn't do what I want or meet my expectations.  And if I need a different sized center section I am out another $125+. It is also advertised to pretty much not fit with any full length exhaust which means more money to modify the tailpipe, which I already have modified to clear my current Hotchkis bar.  Also, the arm endlink holes are positioned in a way that requires endlink length adjustments when arm hole changes are made. (See Karcepts for an example of how to do it better.)

Now I don't necessarily want more rear bar stiffness, but I like the Speedway modular design's wide range of adjustability and ease of use. Similar to the front swaybar I built, I am slowly piecing together a rear swaybar that will use the existing subframe bracket mounts. Will need to have custom shaped arms with enough curve to safely clear the LCA.  If I can ditch the rear muffler section a trunk mount swaybar would be easier because the arms could be straight and attach to the backside of the LCAs.