Nice Alex! I have this too, and freaking LOVE IT! I felt a huge improvement in high speed stability, cornering, and braking response. Thank you again for getting me on CUSCO's nuts lol. Keep up the great work brotha!
Thanks Fujibo! yeah I was surprised how much difference it made considering I already had the front one installed, like it made the front one even better!
I just did this (Progress bar, not Cusco) and the only thing that's missing from this video is the bottom plastic shields that need to be loosened to get access to the forward-most bolts at the top. The passenger side has a single 10mm bolt and the drivers side has a single 10mm bolt and a plastic pop-in fastener. Once they are removed, the shield can be pushed down enough to access everything. I also removed the drivers side wheel to be able to get the old bar out and the new bar in a bit easier.
Hi Bobed Mark! My E210 did not have any shields in the rear of the car where the bar is located at (same with other E210s I worked, haven't seen a shield back there, all bolts where accessible from the bottom of the car as seen in the video) sounds like your did, interesting... Cheers!
@@AlexAutoFunmy 2020 XSE CVT has the rear plastic shields he’s talking about. Makes the install take longer. My wife’s pissed at me now because I told her 20 minutes. Hour later she’s salty and making me sleep on the couch
@@parsineo Very interesting, I wonder if that was added in 2020 or is a regional add on (Sometimes car sold in specific areas have small differences to work best in their intended environment/destination or maybe specific to the XSE trim). Cheers!
all rotation forces are transmit through the outer edges of the bar...but a larger hollow bar will perform the same as a slightly smaller solid bar and weigh less too (think 1-3/8" hollow vs 1" solid); but your Cusco bar goes the opposite direction in that it has a bigger diameter and is solid. I'm sure the two-three pounds heavier isn't much, especially when we are talking the weight of the car. Funny, my WRX stock rear bar is only 19mm and the Cusco upgrade is 22mm
Hi SummerBRZ! great explanation, yeah 3 lbs. isn't bad at all, car feels much better overall (on a side now, nice BRZ man! I recently test drove one and I really liked it, I may have to add one to the channel!) Cheers from Calfornia 🍻
Hi jt mix! interesting, I didn't think of trying that since I went by the Cusco instructions but I think I know what you mean, I haven't had to use ramps in many years since I got the lift but I may have a pair laying around for the next install...
@@AlexAutoFun the droop puts tension on the bar. the bar itself is a spring resisting torsional twist. I learned that from working on my miata. it’s documented in the Racing Beat hollow bar that I use.
@@jtmix5545 Yep that is correct! the increased torsion on an aftermarket bar is what makes it work better than stock. I suspect the reason why the Cusco instructions don't mention for it the suspension to be loaded is that there is the possibility of getting a finger crushed or some injury if releasing the bar under pressure (I seen a fellow partially loose a finger on another suspension job since it was loaded! ouch) since then I always work with the car suspension unloaded, but like I tell people I'm just a dude in a garage with tools, I'm often wrong, don't follow what I say! stick to the service manual and your SAE training! LOL
If I decide to get a sway bar, do you recommend getting the rear first? I've read that rear sway bars are more beneficial to handling for FWD cars. I am also interested in the front strut bar but I'm not sure how beneficial it would be for me. My end goal is simply to increase the handling performance and reduce body roll so I can have more fun driving the car. I have no intention to go to a track and this would be my first modification.
Hi dang! I typically recommend doing both as a set. But it won't matter much which one you start with unless you are planning on doing only one of them. Which if you are, then you want to do the one will make the car behave the way your want it to (either front end or rear end happy) some people prefer a car that understeers (for street use) and others a car that oversteers (track oriented). Both of these conditions can be induced by installing only one bar (and made really noticeable if paired with alignment settings for the condition you are trying to induce) Hope this helps and thanks for watching bud!
Hi Joselito! The torque specs are included on the instruction manual that comes with the Bar. I have also placed them directly in the video along with the bolt and but sizes. Cheers!
Nice Alex! I have this too, and freaking LOVE IT! I felt a huge improvement in high speed stability, cornering, and braking response. Thank you again for getting me on CUSCO's nuts lol. Keep up the great work brotha!
Thanks Fujibo! yeah I was surprised how much difference it made considering I already had the front one installed, like it made the front one even better!
I just did this (Progress bar, not Cusco) and the only thing that's missing from this video is the bottom plastic shields that need to be loosened to get access to the forward-most bolts at the top. The passenger side has a single 10mm bolt and the drivers side has a single 10mm bolt and a plastic pop-in fastener. Once they are removed, the shield can be pushed down enough to access everything. I also removed the drivers side wheel to be able to get the old bar out and the new bar in a bit easier.
Hi Bobed Mark! My E210 did not have any shields in the rear of the car where the bar is located at (same with other E210s I worked, haven't seen a shield back there, all bolts where accessible from the bottom of the car as seen in the video) sounds like your did, interesting... Cheers!
@@AlexAutoFunmy 2020 XSE CVT has the rear plastic shields he’s talking about. Makes the install take longer. My wife’s pissed at me now because I told her 20 minutes. Hour later she’s salty and making me sleep on the couch
@@parsineo Very interesting, I wonder if that was added in 2020 or is a regional add on (Sometimes car sold in specific areas have small differences to work best in their intended environment/destination or maybe specific to the XSE trim). Cheers!
@@AlexAutoFun my guess is it’s due to the XSE trim or the fact that it’s a CVT.
all rotation forces are transmit through the outer edges of the bar...but a larger hollow bar will perform the same as a slightly smaller solid bar and weigh less too (think 1-3/8" hollow vs 1" solid); but your Cusco bar goes the opposite direction in that it has a bigger diameter and is solid. I'm sure the two-three pounds heavier isn't much, especially when we are talking the weight of the car. Funny, my WRX stock rear bar is only 19mm and the Cusco upgrade is 22mm
Hi SummerBRZ! great explanation, yeah 3 lbs. isn't bad at all, car feels much better overall (on a side now, nice BRZ man! I recently test drove one and I really liked it, I may have to add one to the channel!) Cheers from Calfornia 🍻
it’s easier to install and torque properly the bar when you ramp the rear wheels.
Hi jt mix! interesting, I didn't think of trying that since I went by the Cusco instructions but I think I know what you mean, I haven't had to use ramps in many years since I got the lift but I may have a pair laying around for the next install...
@@AlexAutoFun the droop puts tension on the bar. the bar itself is a spring resisting torsional twist. I learned that from working on my miata. it’s documented in the Racing Beat hollow bar that I use.
@@jtmix5545 Yep that is correct! the increased torsion on an aftermarket bar is what makes it work better than stock. I suspect the reason why the Cusco instructions don't mention for it the suspension to be loaded is that there is the possibility of getting a finger crushed or some injury if releasing the bar under pressure (I seen a fellow partially loose a finger on another suspension job since it was loaded! ouch) since then I always work with the car suspension unloaded, but like I tell people I'm just a dude in a garage with tools, I'm often wrong, don't follow what I say! stick to the service manual and your SAE training! LOL
If I decide to get a sway bar, do you recommend getting the rear first? I've read that rear sway bars are more beneficial to handling for FWD cars. I am also interested in the front strut bar but I'm not sure how beneficial it would be for me. My end goal is simply to increase the handling performance and reduce body roll so I can have more fun driving the car. I have no intention to go to a track and this would be my first modification.
Hi dang! I typically recommend doing both as a set. But it won't matter much which one you start with unless you are planning on doing only one of them. Which if you are, then you want to do the one will make the car behave the way your want it to (either front end or rear end happy) some people prefer a car that understeers (for street use) and others a car that oversteers (track oriented). Both of these conditions can be induced by installing only one bar (and made really noticeable if paired with alignment settings for the condition you are trying to induce) Hope this helps and thanks for watching bud!
@@AlexAutoFun Awesome. I appreciate the advice.
@@danq_ You're welcome!
@@danq_ You're welcome!
Hi Alex, what are the torque specs for the sway bar? I can't find the proper spec anywhere.
Hi Joselito! The torque specs are included on the instruction manual that comes with the Bar. I have also placed them directly in the video along with the bolt and but sizes. Cheers!
Of course, it's right there, clear as day! Thanks, Alex. Love your channel.
You're welcome and thank you Joselito!@@Singleharted1
Would this also fit the 2020 sedan se?
Hi V! correct, this fits both the hatchback and sedan. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
yes, i had same car and just installed very smooth turning !
@@haowang7347 Nice! yeah I really mine set, car feels substantially better!