Just recieved Progress Sway Bar in the Mail

[lukel90]

Well its here. i was getting a little worried that it wouldnt show up. this weekend is supposed to be nice so ill install it and tell you if its a worthy mod or not. For those that have the bar already, whay kind of lube(grease) did you all use for the bushings.

[Ex-Rolla]

looking forward to hearing what you think!

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Originally posted by lukel90


Well its here. i was getting a little worried that it wouldnt show up. this weekend is supposed to be nice so ill install it and tell you if its a worthy mod or not. For those that have the bar already, whay kind of lube(grease) did you all use for the bushings.

white lithium grease that comes in the tube. smear it where the bushing touches the bar and on the bar.

used it on the sway bar that i had on my maxima...same shit, different smell.

[lukel90]

i assume i can get this grease at the local canadian tire?

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Originally posted by lukel90


i assume i can get this grease at the local canadian tire?

yup, or even wal-mart. made by Permatex

White Lithium Grease - 44ml carded tube Part # 31845

[mEtH]

I was planning on getting that same sway bar but now I am seeing a slew of stuff coming out

http://www.mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=14575

[lukel90]

I noticed that as well, but all i have is the rear sway bar, if i wanna add any more braces its nice to know i now have options. But then again, having the stiffest possible car is not always better it terms of handling . Ill see what this sway bar does im installing it this sunday, its mid february and its gonna be plus 7 outside...i wish winter was over, but unfortunately i live in canada...

[mEtH]

Yah, definetely let us know how it feels.

ahhh crap thats gonna take this thread off subject.

[lukel90]

Well the bar is on. At first when it came it looked a lot smaller in size then i expected. But it fit in there perfectly. Turn in went from sloppy to OMG. IT really made that big of a difference. I used the hard setting, (for those unfamiliar, rear sway bars make FWD cars be more prone to oversteer if this is your first mod, take it to a autocross to get comfortable with it). But the bar is great. i get no squeeks or rattles like some people did, mine also came with lithium grease, although too small of a bottle, but it lubbed up one bushing fine. THe install took about 30 min, and im no mechanic. For those looking for looks, this bar is not for you, it really looks plain, you really cant see if you look from behind the car (i like it that way). But the handling did improve significantly. If you guys have any questions, feel free to ask.

PS. If you get this shipped from Ptuning.com like i did, make sure you tell them not to use UPS. I forgot and got nailed for 65 bucks shipping. the bar weighs 8lbs. I think in candian dollars it came to 165. Pricey, but well worth it.

[Ex-Rolla]

Nice.... Last car I had I upgraded the front/rear sway bars and made a huge difference... I\'ll definately be picking one of these up.

Thanks for the update!

[lukel90]

for those installing it, make sure you align the end links or it\'ll be a bitch to realign them. I cant say enough for this mod, well worth the money.

[Whos ur dadd]

Do you think there\'s any benefit to some of the thicker bars out there? Progress is 22mm right? I think the Eibachs were 25.

[lukel90]

i cant really tell you. 22mm seems to be good enough, im sure 25mm would be stiffer, but too stiff in the rear = oversteer. i would stay with the 22mm. but if someone has the 25mm, please post your results and what you think of it. i love this mod, i cant say that enough, it like im driving a whole new car..

[Whos ur dadd]

Originally posted by lukel90


PS. If you get this shipped from Ptuning.com like i did, make sure you tell them not to use UPS. I forgot and got nailed for 65 bucks shipping. the bar weighs 8lbs. I think in candian dollars it came to 165. Pricey, but well worth it.

I sent a message to ptuning asking if they\'d ship USPS. Waiting for the response. lukel90, was that $165 CAD including the $65 brokerage charge or excluding? The sway bar mod on the last car I had was great. I\'m sure this is one of the good things you can do to the 3 without any downside (other than cashola).

[lukel90]

Unfortunately this is is not including the damn UPS charge. It is a lot of money, but well worth it. i almost choked when i saw 65bucks shipping, i felt like freaking out on the delivery guy, but whatever. i installed the bar and all was forgiven

[Whos ur dadd]

lukel90,

If it makes ya feel any better, ptuning won\'t ship USPS:

\"Dear Nathan,

According to Progress, this bar will work on all Mazda 3 models.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to ship products to Canada via USPS.
Shipping to Canada via USPS is not currently an automated processed offered
by US Postal. We literally would have to hire a courier to pickup the
package and go to a local post office, and wait in line to send out a
package. As you can see, this is not a cheap method of shipping for us.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Performance Tuning
www.ptuning.com
\"Low Price Guarantee\"\"

I\'m going to try to find another source for the Progress bar. I remember paying UPS a Cdn$40 customs brokerage charge for a USD$30 grill. Ain\'t happenin this time round!!!

[Whos ur dadd]

Spoke too soon. Here\'s another e-mail just received:

\"Dear Nathan,

We just been notified by a US Postal representative on our automated system
that it will accept Canada shipment.
Shipping cost to ship item PT62.1125 to Canada via USPS EMS is $34 USD.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Performance Tuning
www.ptuning.com
\"Low Price Guarantee\"\"

[lukel90]

Mine wasnt deliverd by US postal service or maybe it was, it said UPS. anyhow they charged me 65 canadian bucks for shipping or it could have been customs. but anyhow. the bar is great..

[Whos ur dadd]

Okay, last Q luke:

Was there the 15% tax on top of it all? Performance Improvements in Ontario can get the bar, but it will be $205.99 (presumably before tax). So, if you paid tax on top, then it just makes sense for me to buy from the Canadian supplier and avoid the hassle of cross border stuff.

Can\'t wait for this mod!!!

[lukel90]

No man....i paid 190 canadian total. i have the print out here. oh wait...190+65= 255...i guess it comes out to about the same,,dont worry about the questions man, i dont mind at all. you\'ll love the bar.

[bubba1983]

sent my first email to ptuning, still waiting for a reply...this bar is mine!!

[swales]

I picked one up for $175cdn taxes in, from a shop in Mtl :D

[Whos ur dadd]

Originally posted by swales


I picked one up for $175cdn taxes in, from a shop in Mtl :D

You fugger!!! That\'s an amazing price. Got the name of the shop?

[swales]

Originally posted by Whos ur dadd



Originally posted by swales


I picked one up for $175cdn taxes in, from a shop in Mtl :D

You fugger!!! That\'s an amazing price. Got the name of the shop?

Yep, it\'s Trac Racing in Saint-Eustache, QC (about 30min from Mtl).

[Ex-Rolla]

^^^^---- Nice.... I\'ve been wanting to go to Montreal for a while now... A little detour on the way wouldn\'t hurt.


\"Mark prints this page\"

[lukel90]

you wont regret this bar bubba..it makes the car so much more lively in a good way. the wheel is so much more responsive.

[bubba1983]

lol nice,now i jus godda figure out instalation...should couple nice with the eibach\'s in the spring when i ptu them all on!

[lukel90]

im waiting to buy the eibachs, where did you order yours bubba. i need a good suplier, (preferably canadian). How much did they run you? You know just the basic questions?

[bubba1983]

get them from CVRmotorsports (www.cvrmotorsports.com) e-mail off to kevin first, explaning him your from canada and u want to avoid the border fee\'s and such...he has a guy who comes across the border every now and then that goes to london! THey cost me $259 Canadian to my door, no extra fee\'s no duties no nothing, just $259. CVR also can bring across HAWK and Magnaflow products across the border the same as Eibach products, and i would also assume Vibrant too. Their very prompt on their customer support, quick return time for e-mails, and Very informative to deal with. I Recommend you get them from CVR motorsports....so drop Kevin an E-mail!

[bubba1983]

sway bar installed....time to tear it up

[BETRTHNU]

This Thread is Useless without pics. :D

[bubba1983]

i got no hosting!!

[PlatMS6]

http://imageshack.us

its free plus u can also show thumbnails in threads that are then linked to the full size pic...this is the best sugggestion u can get :p

[mEtH]

what is there to see? Its a 22mm Bar :sarc

[MAZDA Kitten]

Any local places that sell it for $175?

[bubba1983]

http://img128.exs.cx/img128/2131/picture1299fr.jpg

not the new one installed, but if you want a do it yourself...this is what u need to know, the bolt on the right, and the bushings, just take those off...there will be a plate in the centre of the car that u can\'t miss and bamn, just direct bolt on...

[bubba1983]

http://img128.exs.cx/img128/1799/bar3fi.jpg

this is the oem bar and the new bar...comparison shot

[wtom]

Bubba, do those two \"brackets\" on the stock bar bolt onto the car body at all? Seeing from your first pic, the bracket (left side of pic) is not bolted onto the car?

[bubba1983]

they bolt onto the car, i jsut had the bolts off at the time!

[wtom]

Originally posted by bubba1983


they bolt onto the car, i jsut had the bolts off at the time!

OK so the Progress then does not bolt to the car except at the ends?

[Ex-Rolla]

Originally posted by wtom



Originally posted by bubba1983


they bolt onto the car, i jsut had the bolts off at the time!

OK so the Progress then does not bolt to the car except at the ends?

They do bolt to the car... the pic that bubba showed had the bolts Off at that time, but otherwise would be bolted on. Once the sway bar is installed, you would have to either reuse the same brackets with some new bushing, or usually the sway bar would come with a new set of brackets and bushing.

Ex

[bubba1983]

of course it bolts onto the car, how else is is suppose to function!!

the bolts were off at the time, and also they bolt onto the endlnks (at the right of the picture)