How well does this effect handling, and how easy is it to install?

I'm looking to get a DC Sports Strut Bar and the CA Floor Braces if it works well to upgrade my handling capabilities

I asked Donna about it a while ago and she said it's mostly for looks and would have minimal effect on handling, so I decided against it. I went with the Torque Forward rear stabilizer bar instead and couldn't be happier.

Where can i pick one of those up?

Nevermind :lol:

Got any pictures of yours installed, alleycat?

Where can i pick one of those up?

http://www.torqueforward.com/page2.html

$65 shipped. Honestly to me, it's the best handling improvement for the $$$.

Working on posting up pics as we speak...

My bar installed:

http://cobaltss.net/gallery/files/2/0/9/3/DSCN1392.JPG

FastSS06's bar installed:

http://cobaltss.net/gallery/files/2/0/9/3/DSCN1393.JPG

thee red one looks like its sitting alot lower to the ground

Nope, they're exactly the same. Maybe just because the pictures are taken at different angles?

so alleycat58 overall how would you describe the improvement in handling?

and how sturdy is the bar and mounting points?

so alleycat58 overall how would you describe the improvement in handling?

and how sturdy is the bar and mounting points?

It made the cornering a lot sharper/crisper. I did one auto-x with it and one without it this season. A lot of the sweeper turns and hairpins were a lot more manageable. There were places at the second auto-x (w/bar) where I was waiting for the car to want to push out and got absolutely nothing. It really helps in getting the back end around. It's definitely a more noticable difference than a strut bar alone.

As for the bar and mounting points, they both feel solid as rocks. The bar is a solid piece of steel, just like a strut bar. It mounts right at the bottom of the shocks, and as long as you get it tightened down it will be very sturdy, no rattling whatsoever. We even checked it after the event and it hadn't loosened itself up at all.

i work on cars every day and instal and design products etc i can tell you first hand that strut bars sway bars floor bars etc are good for hi speed cornering etc but for the daily driver they are not needed i would only recomend front and rear upper strut bars to save money if you want to improve your handling. But on 50+ cars i have installed them on i drove i say about 10 of those cars and my personal which has the whole set and unless your cornering at 40 mph you really wont notice a difference but hey if youre crazy enough like me get them take that sharp corner at 45 and when you dont sway much and your car handle it perfect and the rear dosent slide out then its money well spent but for daily driving not really needed

Thanks for the review, considering your autocross experience I respect your opinion. I guess I will add one to my shopping list. It will give me something to install while I have this huge gaping hole in my engine compartment.:lol:

i work on cars every day and instal and design products etc i can tell you first hand that strut bars sway bars floor bars etc are good for hi speed cornering etc but for the daily driver they are not needed i would only recomend front and rear upper strut bars to save money if you want to improve your handling. But on 50+ cars i have installed them on i drove i say about 10 of those cars and my personal which has the whole set and unless your cornering at 40 mph you really wont notice a difference but hey if youre crazy enough like me get them take that sharp corner at 45 and when you dont sway much and your car handle it perfect and the rear dosent slide out then its money well spent but for daily driving not really needed

This pretty much does the job of an upper strut bar without having to cut into our trunks.

As for needing/not needing it, I plan to be taking corners at up to 100+mph, I need everything I can get my hands on, LOL.

Thanks for the review, considering your autocross experience I respect your opinion. I guess I will add one to my shopping list. It will give me something to install while I have this huge gaping hole in my engine compartment.:lol:

It's $65 well spent. I seem to be one of the few Cobalt people that have one, but if you look over on some of the Redline forums, you'll see a LOT of people who have used them and love them.

i mean cornes as in our neighbors 25 mph speed limits let me know when you drive through my neighborhood haha but my civic has upper front rear strut and lower tie bars and bushing set and 130 135 on intertsate no sway the cobalt at 135 sway city

...... and unless your cornering at 40 mph you really wont notice a difference but hey if youre crazy enough like me get them take that sharp corner at 45 and when you dont sway much and your car handle it perfect and the rear dosent slide out then its money well spent ......
Isn't this how everyone drives everyday? I push all the corners thats why I bought this car and once it's back in one piece I will also head out to the autocross out here, now that I finally found where to join up.

yes most people i know do but then again i was born to street race but nice to know thers more like me and victory check your pm we got something for you to check out

Isn't this how everyone drives everyday? I push all the corners thats why I bought this car and once it's back in one piece I will also head out to the autocross out here, now that I finally found where to join up.


LOL, you definitely sound like me. Thank God I found auto-x and road racing. My license can't take too many more speeding tickets.

LOL, you definitely sound like me. Thank God I found auto-x and road racing. My license can't take too many more speeding tickets.
I know you mean, I have bounced back and forth between to provinces for mine when it seems a suspension was imminent. I took a race drivers training course and I qualified to get my novice licsense but you need a proper car to do the next 2 required races. Now that it seems I will need a cage in my car after this build (for the 1/4 mile track) I am hoping that cage will be sufficent to go on a road track. I have to check the rules.
I think my wifes favorite part of my car is the "O shit handle" because she is always holding on to it:lol: :lol:

hey my ss na didnt have the o shit handle i figured that out whne my wife was racing at 120 on a sharp curve