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Thread: DIY: Installing a Daox rear sway bar

  1. #111
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    Quote Originally Posted by Top_Fuel View Post
    Not sure if everyone saw this, but this is what can happen if you stiffen up the torsion beam too much and transfer the load to the coil spring perch areas. I'd rather replace a sway bar every couple of years.
    That example has a lot going on there (different rear springs, rear sway bar, & wider wheels), too!



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  3. #112
    Quote Originally Posted by Mark View Post
    I bought my 2017 Mirage in October of that year. I bought a Daox's 1st edition sway bar in June of 2018, & I installed it right away. I noticed an immediate improvement in handling.

    My 1st sway bar failed this past winter. Thus, I got about 2.5 years out of mine (approximately 30,000+ miles). One side of the bar twisted off near the weld. I would say the weld held, but the bar itself failed. It would be like twisting a beer can in your hand, but imagine the force need to do that to steel pipe?

    I bought a second sway bar from Daox. It was his revised model, & his last one I believe. I already knew the revised model may fail some day, but I bought another one just the same. It was about -20F at the time. Thus, I waited a month or two install the second one. Most of all, I wanted to wash out the winter crude under the car before putting the second one on.

    I guess my point is that I have driven my Mirage quite a bit with & without the sway bar. It may not do as much for 2017+ Mirage, but I like the added stability of the rear sway bar when doing interstate driving (70+ mph). For me, I feel that's when the Mirage is the most out of its element. Doing 55-65 mph on country roads, the Mirage is a hoot to drive (with or without the sway bar). Going on the interstate @ 70-80 mph with lots of traffic (including semi-trucks), it's not as much fun. It surely can handle those speeds, but the Mirage is easily blown around. On windy days @ high speeds, that's when I appreciate the rear sway bar the most.

    I tend to blame the electric power steering on the Mirage, too. Power steering is great at lower speeds or for parking, but it's really not necessary once you are moving. That's especially true of small, lightweight cars with tiny tires.

    I tend to compare my Mirage to other small cars that drove in the past. I am an old geezer. I have to remind myself, however, the speed limits were much lower the first couple decades of my driving career. When I got my license, maximum speed limits were pretty much 55 mph everywhere. I wasn't driving my first car (1978 Honda Civic Wagon) @ 70+ mph hour. The speedometer on my old 1990 Ford Festiva maxed out @ 85 mph, because cars weren't expected to go that fast in the States when that car came out. Most cars & motorcycles commonly had 55 mph marked in some special way on their speedometers.

    Thus, the reality check for me is that I am pushing my Mirage a lot faster. When I hauled a small white-tail buck on top of my old Ford Festiva & drove back home (about 4.5 hours) many years ago, I wasn't going 70+ mph during part of the trip. By the way my roof caved in some. Thankfully, I own a trailer now. I think a deer on top a Mirage would cave in the roof, too! I can get to my parents in under 4 hours now, because speed limits have increased. Going through Green Bay to get to my parents was 55 mph the entire trip (except when going to through small towns). I drive 70-75 mph through the Fox Valley & Green Bay area now (traffic permitting).

    If the majority of my driving was 70+ interstate driving, I may not be content with a Mirage. I typically have to drive 1-2 hours (depending on the direction), however, to even reach an interstate highway with higher speeds.
    Yeah, I don't take mine on the highway really. The "freeway" on my commute has a 50mph limit. Usually do 55ish. I'm running the stock crappy tires on stock wheels and have no plan to change them until they're totally bald, then I have two more to burn off. If I were running on the highway a lot the first thing I'd do is get wider tires. 185's even on the stock rims makes a big difference in handling, it's not as twitchy and doesn't require steering corrections as much. And you don't feel all the little divots in the road.
    A sway bar would likely be rigged up as well. Airbags inside the coils or lowering springs that are stiffer would help too. Maybe I'll order up some eibach springs for mine?

    I was just thinking it might be easier to find a sway bar from a car that would only require some brackets to fit the Mirage. If you can find one with the proper dimensions it'd be a relatively simple install. Hardest part would be finding the proper bar and what it came from.
    I posted pics a while back of one fitted on a cavalier or cobalt like this
    Attachment 20988

    Could it be mounted to the "frame rails" of the car instead then run end links down to the lower shock bolt? kinda like this neon Attachment 20989
    Last edited by Fummins; 04-16-2021 at 08:23 PM.

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE wussie cvt edition. 1.2 automatic: 37.7 mpg (US) ... 16.0 km/L ... 6.2 L/100 km ... 45.3 mpg (Imp)


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  5. #113
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    I have been looking and think the 1st gen RX7 bar might work with some custom brackets since it has a narrower track and aftermarket adjustable bars are available. I converted my DA integra to a DC chassis bar with some custom brackets and hardware. The DA mounted toward the rear bumper to the frame rails and I want to get under the mirage and see if something like that would be possible.

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  7. #114
    Senior Member AtomicPunk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AtomicPunk View Post
    I have gotten 16 months and 33k miles (and counting) so far out of mine. I mostly drive freeway, not alot of hard cornering, so maybe that extends the lifespan. Best investment I made, as I would have sold the car without it. The stock floaty ride was unacceptable, as every passing semi set off waves of undulating suspension. I hope you can make an upgrade sometime, Daox. I'll be first in line whenever this one fails.
    Spoke too soon. Time of death, 19 months. To be fair, I think I broke it at the right side weld going over a rough railroad crossing too fast with a bit of weight in the trunk. Tore up the front bumper, too, but thats going to insurance. I was pleased the time I got out of it, and will try an Ultra Racing bar next. Unless Daox has a redesign coming soon...?

  8. #115
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    Update: looks like ultra racing has move the bar from under the car to in the trunk. Rust issues? Anyone have experience with one of these new models?

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    Quote Originally Posted by AtomicPunk View Post
    Update: looks like ultra racing has move the bar from under the car to in the trunk. Rust issues? Anyone have experience with one of these new models?
    Ultra Racing still makes a rear sway bar that would install in the same area as Daox's rear sway bar.

    It's called the ULTRA RACING - 19MM SOLID REAR SWAY BAR - UR-AR19-422

    https://nextgentuning.com/products/u...ar-ur-ar19-422

    The extra bar you are referring to is the ULTRA RACING - 2-POINT REAR TORSION BRACE - UR-RT2-2028

    https://nextgentuning.com/products/u...ce-ur-rt2-2028

  10. #117
    Senior Member AtomicPunk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark View Post
    Ultra Racing still makes a rear sway bar that would install in the same area as Daox's rear sway bar.

    It's called the ULTRA RACING - 19MM SOLID REAR SWAY BAR - UR-AR19-422

    https://nextgentuning.com/products/u...ar-ur-ar19-422

    The extra bar you are referring to is the ULTRA RACING - 2-POINT REAR TORSION BRACE - UR-RT2-2028

    https://nextgentuning.com/products/u...ce-ur-rt2-2028

    When I fill in the info to "check fit", it says it doesn't fit the 2017 Mirage G4...site error?

  11. #118
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    Quote Originally Posted by AtomicPunk View Post
    When I fill in the info to "check fit", it says it doesn't fit the 2017 Mirage G4...site error?
    I searched for a 2017 Mirage rear sway bar.

    If the same Daox sway bar fit a G4 & a Mirage, I would think the Ultra Racing one would fit both, too?

  12. #119
    Senior Member AtomicPunk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark View Post
    I searched for a 2017 Mirage rear sway bar.

    If the same Daox sway bar fit a G4 & a Mirage, I would think the Ultra Racing one would fit both, too?
    We're on 2 different sites. Check out Ultra Racing (manufacturer) site. Its not there. But I will buy from Next-gen Tuning or EBay. Has to be a reason Ultra doesnt show it on their site.

  13. #120
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    Quote Originally Posted by AtomicPunk View Post
    We're on 2 different sites. Check out Ultra Racing (manufacturer) site. Its not there. But I will buy from Next-gen Tuning or EBay. Has to be a reason Ultra doesnt show it on their site.
    The parts exist. I was just pointing out the fact that they offer different sway bars. If you read their website, their factory has been hit hard by COViD this summer. That may explain the lack of parts available @ the moment.



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