S2000 snap oversteer 

On most cars, the fastest setups are neutral balanced with predictable breakaway.  Just like several other systems on the S2000, normal theory does not apply.  The S2000 is known for having snap oversteer just beyond the limit, as the rear end lets go without any warning.  Sadly, this tendency has totaled too many S2000s.  A big contribution to the S2000 snap oversteer is the rear toe in change through its compression arc.  This is way you don’t want to set up your car too low, without changing the rear geometry as it will increase snap oversteer.  The best way to reduce snap oversteer is to set up the S2000 to push or understeer. 

OEM S2000 sway bar ratings 

The largest influence on handling balance are sway bars.  Suspension spring rates and valving do influence balance but are more fine tuning.  Sway bars dictate the overall balance of the car.  Interestingly, the OEM sway bars promote more oversteer as throughout most of the S2000 life cycle, the rear sway bar is stiffer than the front.  Not until the very end of the S2000 life cycle and the track focused CR do we see Honda shift to a stiffer front sway bar.  Honda is known to improve is sports cars throughout their lifecycles, so there was clearly a correction here. 

Interestingly, many aftermarket Sway bars all enhanced the original OEM trend of stiffer rear sway bar.  It seems like there was not much R&D here, just simply make both the front and rear stiffer and call it better, when in reality, they made the balance worse. 

S2000 proven sway bar formula 

What has proven to work on hundreds of S2000s, enabling more track and autoX regional and national championships are adjustable, ultra stiff (2-3X vs OEM) front sway bar combined with a softer (40-60% vs OEM) rear bar.  This aggressive push set up, eliminates the S2000 snap oversteer supports driver confidence when pushing the car close to the limit and even allows to go safely beyond the limit without endangering the driver or the car as front-end plow is safer and controllable than rear end spin.  A push set up also works best with non-staggered and ultrawide front tires that maximize braking and turn in. 

Some racers run no rear sway bar, which is better than the too stiff OEM rears, but not ideal.  Some have also run a softer Miata rear bar, but it is not adjustable to optimize the balance for each particular car.  There are several good options on the market that can deliver an adjustable 2-3X Ultra-stiff front end, and we do recommend both, however we felt there was an opportunity to make some improvements and offer more choice. 

Tubular sway bars 

The primary improvement we made is delivering and adjustable ultra stiff front and softer rear sway bar is via an OEM like tubular bar, significantly reducing manufacturing cost.  Plus, the the OEM like bends provide better clearances around other components. 

URGE designs front sway bar and billet mounts (pre-production testing model) 

URGE designs rear sway bar and billet mounts (pre-production testing model) 

Adjustable to dial in your set up 

Adjustable tubular sway bars typically support 2 or 3 holes, while some spline bar systems do offer more holes, more is not always better as you can chase time over adjusting.  URGE designs Push sway bars offers just right adjustability with 4 holes each front and rear to enabling 16 combinations of balance ranging from 827 to 369% front to rear stiffness ratios, more than enough adjustment to set-up any S2000. 

URGE designs push sway bar stiffness ratings 

Best value, significant handling upgrade 

In our opinion, suspension, sway bars and wider, lighter wheels all have considerable gains in improving the S2000 handling.  Ohlins DFVs or TTX suspension controls the car, reduces body roll and fine tunes balance.  Helium Grip wheels, maximizes grip and reduces rotational weight with a static weight equivalent of 50-100+ lbs weight savings.  Push sway bars, transform the S2000 balance enabling confidence up and beyond the S2000 limit while significantly reducing body role.  Each of these handling upgrades shaves seconds off lap times, with all 3 potentially shaving 5-10 seconds off per lap.  Now that we have brought ultra-stiff front bars and ultra soft rear sway bars to market for around $1000 vs $1800 to $2000+ and great suspension and lightweight wide wheels start at $2000+ and can rise to over $5000 each, URGE designs Push sway bars easily become the best value, significant handling upgrade on the market.