Review of Cusco lower arm bar Type 2

[WFalicoff]

We bought the Cusco front lower arm bar type 2 from juicedhybrid.com (the tower strut is on order from Japan). I was impressed with the quality of the part. The instructions were basic and Cusco (through the efforts of juicedhybrid) translated the Japanese to English. I decided to let my local Honda dealer install the part (no torque specifications so better to it leave to experts). They had no toruble installing the part and no modifications to cover/pan was required. They charged me $62 for the install. Ok now that the background is completed here are my impressions of what the part does for the car.

First, you should know that we already had installed a ProgressTech 19mm sway bar on the 2010 I2. This part creates more oversteer in the handling. Also we have Nokian WRg2 tires on the car (185x60R15). So the car already handles better than stock.

Well I was surprised how much the type 2 had on the feel and handling of the car. My wife, who is not very sensitive to the handling of the car, commented as she drove it first back from the deal. (Note that I never told her what the part would do.) I quote "the steering is much tighter. The car feels more stable." Well I was looking forward to testing it myself (it is her car), so I took it out on a test drive. 125 miles later I came to a single word conclusion. "Wow". The undercarriage of the car is much more stable going over bumpy roads and things like railroad tracks. It used to rattle in some conditions. Now the car feels like a bigger and more stable one but with tighter steering and handling. It does IMO create a bit of understeer, which in combination with the rear sway bar works just fine. I would say that for those who want more oversteer you probably don't want this part installed without a rear sway bar (Cusco and Progresstech both make one). Also the good news is the car now tracks at highway speed straight as an arrow. There is a new solidity to the ride especially at speed up to 35 mph. It feels like a car the Honda should have built. The steering is ultra responsive at high speed. Simply no lag. I compared it to my 2009 Subaru Impreza and the Subie felt very sluggish in comparison, with a definite lag in steering.

I pushed the car at fairly high speeds coming off freeway ramps. If still felt like it was either neutral or had some oversteer depending on my driving technique. Now I am not a professional driver and really would feel uncomfortable pushing the car to its limits in such urban settings, so I leave it to better drivers to give an expert opinion. However, I can say without hesitation that this part, which cost $200 plus installation, was worth every penny. It really transformed the car, which is now a joy to drive. I can't wait to see what the front strut tower will do. I would be surprised, however, if it would have such a major impact as does this simple upgrade.

By the way, the part works on several other Hondas including the CR-Z and the newer and older FIT. So apparently the suspensions of these cars have much in common.

There is one strange thing I must end my report with. I have made this 125 mile trip before. The I2 typically gets around 49-50 mpg on this drive from Santa Clarita (North of LA) to Wesminster (Orange County, CA) and back. This is all freeway driving with hilly conditions in the North. Usually on the trip back my mileage goes down in the low 40s due to the elevation increase. Not this time. The car got 54 mpg at 65 mph (b reading)--58 going South and 50 coming back. I was really puzzled by this and came up with the only explanation that the car tires were more worn down from my wife's long drives up in Oregon (she was up taking care of my grandchild for the past few months). But then I saw that the tread on the tires was still 7/32", not too much wear. I began to think that maybe the straight tracking of the tight steering had an effect on mpg. Also I thought the car does not bounce as much over the rough LA freeways roads. Frankly I even floated this theory to my colleagues at work. They told me my idea was crazy. I am still not a believer that such a change could effect MPG so dramatically. My wife takes the car on its usual 650 mile trip up to Oregon on Sunday. If it goes up on such a long trip then something strange is afoot. Even if the 5 pound part lowered mpg it is, in my opinion, worth it for the improvement in ride and handling.

[Frosty101]

Very exciting stuff and thanks for sharing Falicoff. I just place my order last night after reading your review, so I am looking forward to experience it. I also want to get a rear anti-sway bar, but I checked on Progresstech but it don't have Insight listed in the drop down menu under Honda - only Accord, Civic, and Fit. How did you manage to get your from Progresstech? Also let us know how much different it feels after you install the strut tower bar. Thanks.

[WFalicoff]

The one from Progress Tech is listed as the rear sway bar for the 2009/10 FIT. This "fits" the I2 perfectly. It may be the same part as the the PT rear sway bar for the CR-Z. However, I would go with the one for the FIT (not the earlier FIT but the one for 2009/10) or the Cusco 16mm bar. Although I don't know how it will behave compared to the heavier gauge one from PT. Again as I said in my post, I have no idea what the Cusco front lower arm bar Type 2 will do on its own, without the rear sway bar installed.

I expect that the strut tower won't arrive in the US until late June. Most likely we will install this sometime in July and August as my wife is still helping in Oregon with my young grandson. After that I am hoping there will be some shock/strut options on the market, such as the ones from Koni(yellow). We also may install a new muffler/exhaust system such as the one from Tanabe.

[WFalicoff]

By the way any forum member of insight central who buys parts from juicedhybrid for the I2 gets a further 5% discount from them by using the promo code IC2011. Of course the Cusco parts are available from a wide range of dealers in the US, as is the PT part (you can also buy it directly from PT). Personally I have been very pleased with the customer service of juicedhybrid, who have spent a considerable amount of time looking into the Cusco parts (getting English translations done, etc) for the I2.

[WFalicoff]

An update on the mpg with the lower arm bar. My wife just completed the 650 mile trip to Oregon from Southern California. She got the same mpg as usual (45 mpg) on this trip going at speeds of 75mph with high cross winds most of the way. The car was loaded up with stuff for our second apartment. So at least we can say the 5 pound bar does not hurt mpg.

I will keep everyone informed when the strut tower arrives and is installed.

[RedrumedInsight]

Great review... adding it to the to do list!

[Cobb]

Id be all over this but my emergency project is making an 88 dodge wagoner b250 drivable again and installing a wheelchair lift to drive my dad around who is now confined to a wheelchair. Took 6 hours to remove the first row of seats as they were never removed and fused to the floor. Took a sawzaw and removed in several pieces. Got almost 3 grand in it in parts and lots of sweat and its almost done. Got a nice aluminum wheelchair lift from ebay for 500 bucks and a wheelchair tie down kit new for 300.

I bet even the type 1 bar would work well too for those with a limited budget. Its amazing how much manufactures let cars flex and move in regular operation.

[WFalicoff]

Cobb,

Sorry to hear abut your father. I know several wheel chair-bound people over the years. One was Mike Dempsey who passed away about a year ago. He was perhaps the greatest wheel chair table tennis champion in the history of the sport and also the most optimistic smiling fellow I ever met. He taught me how one can overcome the physical limitations he lived with his whole life. Everyone who knew him felt the same way about him. Apparently, he died in the middle of a laugh. After he died I was talking with one of his closer friends and he said: "Do you know what the net worth of Mike?". "No I replied". "He was a billionaire". Now that is truly a special guy. He never let on to his fortune. Just one of the guys at the local table tennis club.

I received the Cusco strut tower and it looks easy to install. I am waiting to hear back from Cusco on the torque settings on the bolts.Although, I could make an educated guess as to what they should be set to for the M6 and M8 bolts, and the 3/8" diameter B grade bolts that stops the bar from rotating at two point along its length. The car unfortunately is up in Oregon again so I will have to wait until my wife returns.

I was quite surprised at the improvement in the car from the Type 2. I may decide to go with the front sway bar next. But am concerned it will introduce too much under steer. I am also hoping that Koni, Bilstein etc., will make some struts/shocks for the I2. I really don't want to go the route of lowering the car with the springs as mugen, Eibach, Tanabe, springs etc, all lower the car at least an inch.

By the way the main reason I went with the Type 2 lower arm bar over the Type 1 is that the type 1 requires you cut two slots out of a pan cover.

By the way do you have any feel for how much your straight tail pipe modifications improves mpg or acceleration?

[Frosty101]

I called my dealer, and they would not install the Lower Arm Bar for me. Their reason was that they don't install any 3rd party enhancing upgrade. Would be good if anyone on this forum could share the torque setting info, so I can install myself and have a local shop help me with that.

My budget is a little tight, so I plan to install one upgrade at a time. My next purchase would be the rear anti-sway bar from ProgressTech.

[WFalicoff]

Frosty,

First contact Cusco USA at 714-907-0033. Perhaps they will offer some guidelines.

If this doesn't work, use a torque ranch to loosen the bolts and note down the torque needed to break them loose. Also you can check this against known torque values for that diameter bolt with that grade of material. Usually there is a mark on the head which indicates the type of metal that is used. With that information plus the diameter of the shaft and the number of threads per inch you can determine the required torque. Usually it is set at 75% of max for the bolt. (This info is available on the web.) For example, I researched the bolts for my strut tower and came up with the following:

M6 hex head (assumed grade 8. 8 lb.ft. M8 hex head (assumed grade 8. 20 lb. ft.
3/8" shaft bolt B grade 17 lb.ft.

Also please tell me where you live as I have the list of Cusco installation dealers in the US. Perhaps there is one near you. These companies know how to and will install the parts.