Hotchkis v.s. Stillen Sway Bars?

CA3 · 01-06-2010, 12:07 PM

hey guys just needing a little help from the experts out there. I am about to purchase sway bars but I need to know what is better, Stillen or Hotchkis??? I have eibach pro-kit with the pro-kit alignment that just came in but i have no installed yet. I also ordered the Venaci VS124 20x9.5 front, 20x12 rear that should be in next month. Already installed is the stillen exhaust and g3 intakes and berks high flow cats. my question is, which sway bar kit is more efficient for daily driving and handling?? any advice would help. i thank you guys so much!

370z4Steve · 01-06-2010, 12:28 PM

look at some of the reviews others have posted regarding those brands you mention..the stillen will probably be the more economical of the 2 and probably more subtle in the effect it has on the handling dynamics of your car although alot have the hotchkis and have commented favorably on the change it makes...pick one...one thing about sways if too stiff on the front you may cause more understeer and if you too stiff on the rear you may cause more oversteer..so something to keep in mind especially if you tend to drive really hard or track the car.

FuszNissan · 01-06-2010, 01:55 PM

For DD I would recommend Stillen (2 way rear adjustable)
For Track I would go with Hotchkis.(3 way rear adjustable)

ZPirate · 01-07-2010, 09:29 PM

I have the Stillen sway bars on my car and I like them. I have them in the stiffest setting on the rear. They really tighten up the car.

TeamMancusoSW · 05-18-2011, 09:49 PM

Back from the dead.
Help me out with this I'm shopping sway bars this week. It's been one year since this thread started. I'm sure more people have these on their rides by now. Which do people prefer?

spearfish25 · 05-18-2011, 10:44 PM

I'm still very happy with my Hotchkis bars (front and rear). The car is very well balanced on the track and slaloms perfectly now.

ZForce · 05-19-2011, 01:08 AM

I think the consensus still stands, Stillen for DD street and Hotchkis if you track.

I have been enjoying my Stillen for over a year now, DD/street. Paired up with Swift springs and RE-11's the car performs very stable thru curves and switchbacks. Very well balanced, the more I gas it thru a curve the car squats even more and just wants more g force.

dwntwnall4u · 05-19-2011, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZForce

I think the consensus still stands, Stillen for DD street and Hotchkis if you track.

I have been enjoying my Stillen for over a year now, DD/street. Paired up with Swift springs and RE-11's the car performs very stable thru curves and switchbacks. Very well balanced, the more I gas it thru a curve the car squats even more and just wants more g force.

What are the settings of your Stillen sways?

ZForce · 05-20-2011, 02:08 AM

The stiffest setting

UNKNOWN_370 · 08-17-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZForce

The stiffest setting

How would you rate oversteer? If it applies to your setup?

dmatt · 08-17-2011, 11:44 AM

I have Hotchkis F/R on my Nismo. Its never seen the track <but> it sees a lot of high speed action on the mountain roads where I live. So far, great balance and a perfect match for the KW V3's.

wstar · 08-17-2011, 11:49 AM

With stock suspension setup (Sport, not Nismo) and 275/35R18 on 18x10 up front + 295/35R18 on 18x11 in the rear, Hotchkis with the rear set to the middle position is very close to neutral for me. Just a tiny hint of oversteer, which is just where I like it to be.

KamiSpeed · 08-17-2011, 02:21 PM

either way you go, you'll get a nice upgrade... but it all depends on how much stiffer you want to go, stillen is designed for more of a street setup while hotchkis can be street as its lowest setting but can be used for the track. Check out this video from hotchkis to get an idea of their setup:

Nissan 370Z Sway Bars: Stock Vs. Hotchkis - Car Videos on StreetFire

ZeeingAround · 08-18-2011, 12:51 PM

I was curious to see if CA3 got his wheels, but he has no pictures in his profile.

ZPirate · 08-18-2011, 02:25 PM

I've got a gently used set of Stillen sway bars with urethane bushings for sale over in the marketplace forum.

01-06-2010, 12:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
CA3 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: MISSISSIPPI Posts: 8 Drives: 09 370z tour/sprt Rep Power: 17	Hotchkis v.s. Stillen Sway Bars? hey guys just needing a little help from the experts out there. I am about to purchase sway bars but I need to know what is better, Stillen or Hotchkis??? I have eibach pro-kit with the pro-kit alignment that just came in but i have no installed yet. I also ordered the Venaci VS124 20x9.5 front, 20x12 rear that should be in next month. Already installed is the stillen exhaust and g3 intakes and berks high flow cats. my question is, which sway bar kit is more efficient for daily driving and handling?? any advice would help. i thank you guys so much!

01-06-2010, 01:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
FuszNissan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. Louis Posts: 14,275 Drives: Pure Sex Rep Power: 542	For DD I would recommend Stillen (2 way rear adjustable) For Track I would go with Hotchkis.(3 way rear adjustable) __________________ Mods: Too Many to list! LouFuszNissan ZDAYZ 2012

01-07-2010, 09:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
ZPirate Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 792 Drives: 09' 370Z & 03' 350Z Rep Power: 18	I have the Stillen sway bars on my car and I like them. I have them in the stiffest setting on the rear. They really tighten up the car. __________________ 2003 Daytona Blue 350Z Touring/Nismo 2009 Platinum Graphite 370Z Touring/Sport (Sold) 2009 BMW 135i/Dinan Stage 2 software upgrade/M3 suspension piecies/Koni Sports/ETS FMIC/Alufelgen SF-71 wheels

05-18-2011, 10:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	I'm still very happy with my Hotchkis bars (front and rear). The car is very well balanced on the track and slaloms perfectly now. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

05-19-2011, 01:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
ZForce A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 2,359 Drives: 09 370Z Tour + Sport Rep Power: 21	I think the consensus still stands, Stillen for DD street and Hotchkis if you track. I have been enjoying my Stillen for over a year now, DD/street. Paired up with Swift springs and RE-11's the car performs very stable thru curves and switchbacks. Very well balanced, the more I gas it thru a curve the car squats even more and just wants more g force. ortiz73ca likes this.

01-06-2010, 12:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
370z4Steve Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: west Posts: 231 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 672	look at some of the reviews others have posted regarding those brands you mention..the stillen will probably be the more economical of the 2 and probably more subtle in the effect it has on the handling dynamics of your car although alot have the hotchkis and have commented favorably on the change it makes...pick one...one thing about sways if too stiff on the front you may cause more understeer and if you too stiff on the rear you may cause more oversteer..so something to keep in mind especially if you tend to drive really hard or track the car.

05-18-2011, 09:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
TeamMancusoSW Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 24 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 14	Back from the dead. Help me out with this I'm shopping sway bars this week. It's been one year since this thread started. I'm sure more people have these on their rides by now. Which do people prefer?

05-20-2011, 02:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
ZForce A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 2,359 Drives: 09 370Z Tour + Sport Rep Power: 21	The stiffest setting

08-17-2011, 11:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
dmatt Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Hurricane, UT Posts: 217 Drives: 2016 370Z Nismo Tech Rep Power: 14	I have Hotchkis F/R on my Nismo. Its never seen the track <but> it sees a lot of high speed action on the mountain roads where I live. So far, great balance and a perfect match for the KW V3's. __________________ CURRENT - 2016 NISMO TECH \| PEARL WHITE \| MOWERAXLE \| GTR START \| K & N \| PAST - 2011 NISMO \| KW V3'S \| HOTCHKIS \| SPL \| AKRAPOVIC EVO CF \| VERTINI 19x9.5 & 19x11 \| HANKOOK V12'S 255/35 & 305/30 \| MOWERAXLE \|

08-17-2011, 11:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	With stock suspension setup (Sport, not Nismo) and 275/35R18 on 18x10 up front + 295/35R18 on 18x11 in the rear, Hotchkis with the rear set to the middle position is very close to neutral for me. Just a tiny hint of oversteer, which is just where I like it to be. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

08-17-2011, 02:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
KamiSpeed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 5,888 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 25	either way you go, you'll get a nice upgrade... but it all depends on how much stiffer you want to go, stillen is designed for more of a street setup while hotchkis can be street as its lowest setting but can be used for the track. Check out this video from hotchkis to get an idea of their setup: Nissan 370Z Sway Bars: Stock Vs. Hotchkis - Car Videos on StreetFire __________________ KAMISPEED \| SHOP 370Z PERFORMANCE PARTS & MODS \| SUPPORT@KAMISPEED.COM KAMI SPEED REVIEWS \| FINANCE YOUR PARTS WITH US \| MILITARY & FIRST RESPONDERS PRE-ORDER DEPOSIT PROGRAM \| HKS MASTER SELLER

08-18-2011, 12:51 PM	#14 (permalink)
ZeeingAround A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 6,365 Drives: 3500 NVP 370Z-sold! Rep Power: 86624	I was curious to see if CA3 got his wheels, but he has no pictures in his profile. __________________ Get some roosters for eggs and Bulls for milk . Then you will see that gender matters. Especially at milking time.

08-18-2011, 02:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
ZPirate Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 792 Drives: 09' 370Z & 03' 350Z Rep Power: 18	I've got a gently used set of Stillen sway bars with urethane bushings for sale over in the marketplace forum. __________________ 2003 Daytona Blue 350Z Touring/Nismo 2009 Platinum Graphite 370Z Touring/Sport (Sold) 2009 BMW 135i/Dinan Stage 2 software upgrade/M3 suspension piecies/Koni Sports/ETS FMIC/Alufelgen SF-71 wheels