finagle69

iTrader: (3)

Hotchkis are only larger b/c they are hollow. Stillens are solid throughout.

As to which ones are better.. who knows. I have the Stillen set and bought a replacement set of Energy Suspension urethane bushings. I love the way it handles now.

Kidcane

iTrader: (7)

Its a bar and it is under the car. Who cares what color it is and thicker and hollow does not = better. Both are good. Pick the one that is in your budget or is a brand you prefer. There is nothing wrong with either.

QuickSilver08

If only your logic applied to exhaust systems and other parts as well we could probably have cheaper parts all around.

Forgive the questions from the sway bar rookie but are there different sizes to choose from depending on how hard you push your car? I know to big can be as bad as to small.

finagle69

iTrader: (3)

There are only 2 sets on the market at present. Stillen's and Hotchkis'. They are a one-size-only product from each shop.

I don't know if anyone on this forum has had both, so probably no one can offer a comparison.

Stillen's set offers adjustable fronts and rears regarding stiffness, where Hotchkis' offers adjustability only in the rear.

JLai

Correct. That's because they were designed that way -->

JLai

I don't think that's true. I only see 1 hole in the front...aka Stillen's is non-adjustable in the front -->


Differences
Hotchkis:
- comes with bushings/lube
- hollow
- larger
- stiffer
- rear is 3 way adjustable
- more expensive

Stillen:
- does not come with bushings/lube
- solid
- smaller
- not as stiff
- rear is 2 way adjustable
- cheaper

sbmwg37s

iTrader: (1)

I always have doubts if they have done enough R&D..
Stiffer sway bars can make you feel better becaues it change the way the car behaves.

If you look at Hotchkis, the front is 200% stiffer.
The stiffer, the more traction you will lose compensating for less body roll.
This effect becomes greater on streets than tracks because the streets are not even.
So, such a huge increase in front stiffness will lead to understeer on streets.
That's something you should look at when considering sway bars.

finagle69

iTrader: (3)

ah, i stand corrected. it's been a while since i put them on. thanks!

xevious10

Totally agree

ECain18

iTrader: (15)

Found this on Stillens/Hotchkis Websites for some of their sway bar info:

Stillen:
Front & Rear Kit
Non-Adjustable Front (29% Stiffer)
3-Way Adjustable Rear (37-70% Stiffer)
(Except AWD Models)

Hotchkis:
Specs:
Front Sway Bar 35mm (Ø1-3/8") Hollow
+230% Stiffer than Stock G37
+205% Stiffer than stock G37S
+230% Stiffer than stock G37S

Rear Sway Bar 27mm (Ø1.063") Hollow 3 Way Adjustable
+120, 175, 250% Stiffer than Stock G37,
+5, 30, 65% Stiffer than stock G37S
+50, 90, 145% Stiffer than stock G35S

So Quote:
Originally Posted by sbmwg37s
I always have doubts if they have done enough R&D..
Stiffer sway bars can make you feel better becaues it change the way the car behaves.

If you look at Hotchkis, the front is 200% stiffer.
The stiffer, the more traction you will lose compensating for less body roll.
This effect becomes greater on streets than tracks because the streets are not even.
So, such a huge increase in front stiffness will lead to understeer on streets.
That's something you should look at when considering sway bars.

If i drive in PA (where the roads are unquestionably bad in some areas) should I look at getting the stillen or would hotchkis still be ok according to the above postings?

D'oh

I have Hotchkiss on my 350Z. They are 3 way adjustable on the Z for both front and rear, and have performed very well for ~100,000 miles. However, there are some things to consider:

1. The stiffer the bar, the more that end will tend to slide. Stiffer in front leads to more understeer, while stiffer in rear leads to more oversteer. Typically you want to be stiffer in rear than front since the stock car tends to understeer (not 100% sure if G is that way).

2. The stiffer the bar, the more your ride will suffer. You get better cornering and possibly better balance on smooth surfaces, but on bumpy corners the car can become unsettled if the sway bars are overly stiff.

3. Other parts of the car may not be able to handle the extra load from a stiffer bar. In my Z, after 100,000 miles, both of the rear end link mounting brackets fractured. These are the steel brackets that attach the end links to the suspension. They are only $15.00 or so each, but the car was designed with the stock components in mind, so aftermarket ones always have the potential to cause damage to related components that maybe weren't anticipated to be problem areas initially.

4. Based on the specs above, it looks to me like Hotchkis is evenly balanced for a stock G37, but possibly too stiff in front for a G37S or G35S. The Stillen looks a bit better balanced, but certainly not as significant a difference. If you live with bumpy roads, and don't track often, I'd probably go for the Stillen. I do prefer the overall design of the Hotchkis since they are hollow and lighter and come with more components. The very stiff front makes me a bit nervous though. Maybe you could just install the rear and put it on the lowest or middle setting if you wanted to gain oversteer without compromising the front grip or ride too much.

And just for reference, I looked up the Hotchkis Z sways, and I'm running ~22% stiffer in front and 125% stiffer in the rear.

-D'oh

marty315

iTrader: (1)

Anyone have any links for the best prices on the Stillen Sway bars?

LightsOut

iTrader: (7)

I'll be getting the hotchkis sways and I'll be setting the rear in the middle.

stryker2

I have the front and rear Hotchkis sway bars on my 08 Sport coupe, with the rear on the stiffest setting, and the car's back end is giving up traction too easily around corners. Cornering quickly is my handling priority, and my car is street driven only. Will adjusting the rear bar to the middle setting (+90% stiffer than stock) be the answer, or should I dial it all the way to the least stiff (still +50% over stock) to achieve the best result? And toward that goal, is the Hotchkis bar on the front helping matters, or would I be better served by going back to the stock front?

Another issue is that the Hotchkis front bar is doing a lot of groaning and creaking over speed bumps, dips, etc.. I had the bushings re-lubed and the noises lessened for a while, but they're back now. I'm wondering if another shot of grease will do it, or whether this is just an issue with poly bushings that I have to learn to live with for higher performance. It wasn't making these noises when I first had it installed.

sbmwg37s

iTrader: (1)

Set it to the middle, it will bring some tractions back.
I recommend not to set it all the way to the stiffest especially on streets.