Well, I'm looking into stiffening up the car. I'm already set on stiffening up the rear suspension a bit for auto-x. I've done research into this, so no "search" replies plz.

Basically, I am either going to purchase a Progress rear sway bar or a Bwoody "rear strut brace". I'm no suspension guru... so any input on which one would most likely work better would be great. I know a lot of people are happy with the Progress sway bar.

I'm also open to other opinions not concerning these two products as well.

 

do both. you would be unstoppable

 

I have the progress bar and love it. I wish i had made it my first mod. Also like mkulrey13 said you can do both.

 

progress rear sway will be a more noticable difference

 

crossed my mind . not necessary unless i had "unstoppable" funds as well.

 

I have the Bwoody rear bar. in my opinion it doesn't handle exactly like having a rear sway bar but its pretty good. The bwoody was a good price tho when I got it so it works for me.

 

It depends on what you want to do. The sway bar will improve cornering and is just a bolt on. The strut brace is designed to allow you to adjust rear toe to change handling and will require some experimentation to get the best results. It would also help maintain toe under hard cornering even if you left the adjustment neutral. Unless you are racing, I think the sway bar would be a better bang for the buck.
Dennis

 

How difficult is installation for the Progress sway bar?

 

Very easy, Four bolts. If your skinny, you probably won't even have to jack the car up.
Dennis

 

why does no one know about the JPB rear strut tower bar?

I am pretty sure that you can't do both, they look like they use the same mounting points and I could believe that would cause some problems.

http://www.jbodyperformance.com/new/...catName=JP0998
^^ looks damn good to me. If only you didnt have to drill... (Im sure that it would be easy but it isnt a "bolt on" kit exactly.)

 

Cobalts don't have a rear strut. There is no strut tower to brace. J bodies use a sold axle and strut while Cobalt use a trailing arm twist beam and a shock absorber. Under extreme conditions reinforcing the rear of the body would help, but most of us will never drive hard enough to need it.
Dennis

 

the bar from JPB is supposed to act like a rear strut tower bar. I know there are no real mounting points, but it's obvious if you look at the product that it goes where the rear wheels go and drills into the steel in the trunk.

I could see it helping, i mean, if it at least reinforces the progress sway bar you should be able to tell a difference.

 

the bwoody bar is fully adjustable and the only bar you can get a true 4 wheel alighnment with, bwoody FTW!