Had a couple questions about inmproving my sedans handling and under a budget. I began doing research as some of you have too. But as with anything I have some questions hopefuly you guys can answer.
sway bar information
SPI: F: 18mm R: None These sedans should have came with a rear sway. But Ford decided not to. I am aware that the zx3/5 (00-02) rear sway bar has R:20mmAnd will fit the sedans missing sway. How does this improve the handling any difference in sway or whatnot. I dont expect it to be ready for SCCA auto-x but I mean is it considerably better in handlind than before?
Yup, SPI sedans have no rear sway bars, and from what I've gathered, they also don't have mounting points for rear sway bars. So if you are adding a sway bar be prepared for a good deal of work. As for upgrading from no sway bar to the 20mm sway bar. The rear will stiffen up, and roll will reduce a little, the major difference for you will be that the car will lose some understeer, but this is like saying a glass of water out of a river makes the river less. You are still going to have a lot of understeer, it will just be less than what you had without the sway bar.
I think early models still retained the mounting points. I think I heard of a person or two with a 2000/2001 that easily put the sway bar on. Its always been later year cars that had issues.
If you can do it, its a worth while mod, since the sway bar is cheap from Ford. Hell, I even have one I can sell you.
Crawl inber the car and see if there are 2 bolt holes on each side of the flat metal just in front of the gas tank.
If you have the holes with threads in them your good to go. Just get any ZTS,ZX3,ZX5, or SVT sway bar and handeling should improve. I have never driven a focus w/o a rear sway so I have no clue as to how much it will improve.
And like EGZ I have one also for sale but he offered first. I have a front and rear from the AEM focus that was out in 00 or 01.
damn was under my Focus today too. should have taken a look for the holes and if fabrication needed to be made. i will look sometime tomorrow, thanks for all the suggestion and tips. they were very helpful.
