[David Ip]

To all experienced road course racers/lappers, I took my Fiesta ST to a lapping day for the second time last weekend. On this occasion I took it to a course that I am very familiar with. My findings are basically consistent with one of the reviews I read somewhere: The ST has a very sharp turn-in, but once turned in it has trouble generating enough grip to go through the corner at the speed that the turn-in would suggest it could.

I feel there is too much front roll that is stressing out the outside front tire.

I also drove my friend's brand new Focus ST and it exhibits much better roll stiffness and front end grip. But then that car has 235 front tires.

So my questions is, if I can only upgrade one thing, would stiffer anti-roll bars help more? Or should I look at stickier tires and leave the sway bars stock for the time being?

Thanks for sharing your experience/suggestions.

 

[D1JL]

Always tires first.

I now have both front and rear sway bars and coilovers.
I love the way my car handles on and off the track.


Dave

 

[David Ip]

Hey Dave, did you run stickier tires before your suspension mods? I worry that it will even create more roll with added grip.

PS - once you start modding one thing, the cycle starts and can't stop. (i.e. after intalling the MP215 kit, car no longer has sufficient traction coming out of 2nd gear corners) XD

 

[limbo]

What Dave said - start with tires.

 

[CarefreeAZ]

Always tires first.

I now have both front and rear sway bars and coilovers.
I love the way my car handles on and off the track.

Dave

Dave, you have some TB Performance products (as do I on my SES). How much do you think they contribute to lessening the front roll? My SES with Steeda and TB mods almost seems better than the stock ST.

 

[D1JL]

Dave, you have some TB Performance products (as do I on my SES). How much do you think they contribute to lessening the front roll? My SES with Steeda and TB mods almost seems better than the stock ST.

Yes, I have the TB Performance Stage 3 Kit.
I also have the Steeda Adjustable End Links.
I use Toyo R888s on the track.
I am also using a front sway bar from a 2011 Fiesta SES.
I just didn't think I needed to go into such detail.

This is the second setup.
The car now works terrific.

Hey Dave, did you run stickier tires before your suspension mods? I worry that it will even create more roll with added grip.

You need to start with the tires first to see what you need next.
Nothing works right without the tires.


Dave

 

[CarefreeAZ]

Yes, I have the TB Performance Stage 3 Kit. I also have the Steeda Adjustable End Links. I use Toyo R888s on the track. I am also using a front sway bar from a 2011 Fiesta SES. I just didn't think I needed to go into such detail. This is the second setup. The car now works terrific. You need to start with the tires first to see what you need next. Nothing works right without the tires.

Dave

Thanks, I've got to consider all the options. By the way, did you stiffen the rear beam on the ST? I'm running the Steeda piece on my SES.

 

[D1JL]

Thanks, I've got to consider all the options. By the way, did you stiffen the rear beam on the ST? I'm running the Steeda piece on my SES.

The Steeda rear sway bay is a good piece.
I had one on my SES.

I added more bar in the front so I needed to re-balance the car.


Dave

 

[AlanBDahl]

The Eibach bar stiffens the rear beam but it and similar bars aren't really sway bars as they stiffen the beam in all situations, not just when there is roll.

 

[D1JL]

The Eibach bar stiffens the rear beam but it and similar bars aren't really sway bars as they stiffen the beam in all situations, not just when there is roll.

OK,
You have lost me.
Why would you care if the beam is any stiffer except in a roll situation.
If the Eibach bar and others aren't really sway bars then what the hell are they?
Even Ford states that they stiffened the beam on the ST to accomplish the same thing.
On a Twist Beam suspension, that is how you add anti-sway, stiffen the beam.
What is your definition of a real sway bar?
Please confine your answer to the 2011-2014 Fiesta rear suspension.

And I am sure that we are all aware of shortening the name from "Anti-Sway Bar" to just "Sway Bar".


Dave

 

[Swoopdown]

What's the install like on the swaybars?

 

[AlanBDahl]

Not too bad, you don't even have to jack up the car if you have a pair of scissors jacks. The hardest part is getting the lower shock bolts loose as they are very tight from the factory, I needed an 18" breaker bar to get them loose the first time. Just jack up one side of the twist beam, remove the shock bolt, install the bar lightly tight and then repeat on the other side. Once the bar is in place center it and torque the mounts. Then reinstall the shock bolts and lower the jacks. Easy!

 

[Smokin]

Yes, I have the TB Performance Stage 3 Kit.
I also have the Steeda Adjustable End Links.
I use Toyo R888s on the track.
I am also using a front sway bar from a 2011 Fiesta SES.
I just didn't think I needed to go into such detail.

This is the second setup.
The car now works terrific.



You need to start with the tires first to see what you need next.
Nothing works right without the tires.


Dave

Could you send me the part# for the steeda end links? For the front sway bar right?

 

[D1JL]

Could you send me the part# for the steeda end links? For the front sway bar right?

The Steeda end links are on their site but listed as for just a non-ST.
I have used them on both an '11 SES and '14 ST.

The front Sway Bar I am now using on my ST is a genuine Ford part for a '11 SES.


Dave

 

[LT Berzerker]

The Steeda end links are on their site but listed as for just a non-ST.
I have used them on both an '11 SES and '14 ST.

The front Sway Bar I am now using on my ST is a genuine Ford part for a '11 SES.


Dave

What improvements have you noticed with the larger asb from the ses? How is the balance affected?

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Makemfast]

Hey Guys,
What Tires would you recommend over the OEM? Also would a suspension upgrade, like high end coilovers improve the cars ability to grip?

 

[Danielson]

Wouldn't something like TB stage 3 or 4 make sense as a starting point, before tires even? I'm sure the traction bar helps the front out, and it would be nice to get the car as stiff as possible before you start changing anything else. Just my thoughts. What do you think?