mazdaspeedwest

I'm thinking of producing a limited quantity of lower tie bars for both front and rear for the 1st gen Pro's. I'm looking to see what kind of interest is out there, so let me know guys!!!

Price will be in the area of $80-$100 per bar...

I will be making the front prototype this week and will have pics posted as soon as i do.

temrich

Darryl,

Count me in, front and rear.

Also, check out my reply to the rear sway bar bushing thread on 1st Gen, I got a question for you.

tom

mazdaspeedwest

I found a shop locally to do the prototype on the front bar. Once that is done and fitment is good, production will start and we will measure up for the rear and prototype that etc...

I should have the front prototype by Wednesday next week. It will be a 1" thick bar and have smooth mandrel bends.

Prices should be around $85 for the front and $55 for the rear. Kit price would be around $125. Use of the factory bolts will be retained, so it will be a direct bolt-on.

So far, the bars will come primer black, but powder coating will be availble as well.

As soon as i have the prototype in hand, i will post pics.

mazdaspeedwest

Right, so if you get them from me, you get both front AND rear for $125 (projected price)

Davard

They tie the lower ends of the suspension together, much the same way that the upper strut bars tie the upper ends together.

How this helps in the front is more obvious: The fronts of the lower control arms are just kinda hanging out in the air, so that bumps pull and push on the lower mounting points. How this affects the suspension is that you get toe changes and sometimes camber/caster changes.

Tying the fronts together helps prevent these unwanted changes. Why doesn't the factory do this. One- few people drive hard enough to notice the effects. Second--most powertrains are lifted from the bottom, and any structure tying the front LCAs together would tend to hinder that.

Now the rear bar is more of a mystery to me. I haven't quite figured out how it can be as big a benefit as the front bar, since both parallel links attach to the same crossmember. Yes, the rears are cantilevered out from their attachment points, to putting the bolts in double shear would eliminate any possible toe changes due to crossmember flex, but I tend to think that there is more play in the bushings than there is in the crossmember. Just IMHO.

mazdaspeedwest

I just got a call from the shop and i should have the front prototype in hand tomorrow afternoon. I'll post pics as soon as i get it.

mazdaspeedwest

I went and picked up the bar after work tonight and snapped a few pics. I am VERY pleased with how it turned out. The welds are very professional and the mandrel bends make it look real nice too.

The bar is made of 1" thick 4130 Chromoly, the end links are mild steel with welded on machine washers. It's a very rigid construction and quite lightweight too, you'll be suprised how little it weighs. I have a few pics of it side by side with the Corksport front bar....there is quite a difference in both size and construction.

By using the 4130 chromoly the price went up slightly, not much don't worry. But i feel this is well worth it for what you get. I haven't checked on fit yet, but it's mount hole measurements are identical to the CS bar, so i have no doubts.

I am soooooo amped on these man, they look great, weight next to nothing, don't cost an arm and a leg and will surely help improve the handling of the car, which is the whole point in the first place!

I will now be taking orders. As i mentioned, the prices changed a bit, front bar is $95 and rear bar is $60, both as a kit, are $140. Basically, only $15 more than i expected, which is still a great deal. Those of you who replied here, please drop me a quick email and i will send along payment info and ETA on when they will be shipped. I would really like to get them all done in one shot, so please don't back out now. I estimate, once i have all the orders in (about a week) i'll have the rear bar prototyped, pics uploaded and able to ship with the front as a kit. But i need the orders now, so i can reserve the time and get them done in a timely fashion.

I have also quickly added these and more to my site, click the link in my signature.

Ok enough blab, on to the pics............

mazdaspeedwest

Here are a few shots of the front bar installed on my car. My site has some info on a few issues and full size pics. Rear bar goes in for prototype on Monday, shipping should start by early/mid the following week. So less than 2 weeks. I estimate shipping to be only about $10 as they are real lightweight.

Thanks to everybody for helping make this happen

mazdaspeedwest

Hey Folks,

Well the rear bar prototype will be ready Friday. I will further test the bars under race conditions on Sunday and report back....i have a good feeling about them I have placed an initial order of 15 kits, but fall a bit short on the deposit required by the shop. So i'll need payment as soon as you can in order to start production.

Please send your mailing address and payment preference ASAP to we can get these made as fast as possible. I will accept Checks, Money Orders and Credit Cards thru Paypal.

Once again, my thanks to you all to make this happen.

mazdaspeedwest

Thanks Jesse!!

We spoke earlier, but wanted a public thank you on file

Eric F

Darryl, congrats on the tie bars. The picture of the front bar looks great. If they were available for the 3rd gen, I'd be in. It's nice to see someone take the iniative to get a part made from our group, especially one of the quality you have. It's easily apparent it's better quailty than the bar from Corksport just from the pictures. Hopefully, you'll get a lot of support from the first gen owners. If you can get some made for the 3rd gen count me in.

mazdaspeedwest

Thanks alot Eric...it's alot of work, organizing and emails...but it's not really work is it.....

I'd be happy to make some for the 3rd gens and P5s, if only somebody would contact me and stop by with their car, i could measure it up and have em made just as easy....If nobody steps up, i may just head over to the dealer and crawl under a few cars on the lot with my tape measure...as i'm sure there would be a fair amount of support from 3rd gen/P5 owners.

Identity_X

I give you credit for making the bars man......good job......looks kick ***.....

I wish I can get them, but unfortunately I am really short on $$$
right now........hell......i am always short........

sorry that I can't support you by buying, but that's what lack of cash does .....

again.........good effort.........keep it up bro !

mazdaspeedwest

Thanks dude!

Eric F

If I wasn't over 2000 miles away, I'd gladly use my car for fitment of the 3rd gen bars. Darryl, I forget, how many bars are you looking to make? How many need to be paid for in advance to get started? Keep us informed, if you don't get enough prepaid orders from first gen owners, maybe some of us other Protege owners could help out until more 1st genners can come up with the money. Identity_X, where are you located in the Chicago area?