Next Level Performance
September 9, 2026 • 9 min read
The best Nissan GT-R R35 sway bars are the single most cost-effective handling upgrade for the 2009–2021 GT-R, trading factory understeer for flat, neutral cornering on a car that weighs roughly 3,900 lb. Because the R35 carries about 54% of its mass over the nose, the stock anti-roll bars let the front tires wash out first. Swapping to stiffer, adjustable bars from Whiteline or Eibach lets you shift the roll-stiffness balance rearward and dial in exactly how much rotation you want — street, track, or wet. In this roundup we compare five proven anti-roll upgrades in stock at NLP Performance, from a complete front-and-rear kit to standalone bars and the heavy-duty endlinks that make them work.
Our Verdict
The Whiteline BNK008 front-and-rear sway bar kit is our top pick for the R35 GT-R.
It delivers a complete, matched front (33 mm, 2-position) and rear (20 mm, 3-position) solid spring-steel package — roughly +40% to +55% front roll stiffness over stock — with links, bushings, saddles, and lateral locks included, backed by a limited lifetime warranty. For owners who want the finest rear balance tuning or lighter tubular bars, the Eibach Anti-Roll-Kit with its 5-position rear is the standout alternative.
Shop Our Top Pick →Why Does the R35 GT-R Understeer From the Factory?
The R35 GT-R understeers from the factory because it is nose-heavy: the front-mounted 3.8L VR38DETT V6 gives it a weight distribution of roughly 54/46 front-to-rear, even with the dual-clutch transaxle mounted at the rear to claw back balance. With about 3,829–3,935 lb of curb weight (early 2009 CBA cars near 3,836 lb, later 2016+ cars near 3,935 lb), that forward bias means the front tires reach their grip limit first, pushing wide on turn-in and mid-corner.
The ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system continuously varies the front-to-rear torque split (sending up to about 50% forward, rear-biased by default), but it only manages traction and torque delivery — it cannot change the mechanical grip balance in a corner. That balance is set by springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars. This is why so many GT-R owners chase the factory push with a sway bar upgrade rather than a tune: the electronics move power, but the bars move the handling balance.
Commonly cited enthusiast figures put the OEM front bar near 34 mm (hollow/tubular) with a rate around 95 N/mm (541 lb/in) and a rear bar near 14 mm. Because the factory bars are hollow, a smaller-diameter solid aftermarket bar — such as Whiteline’s 33 mm solid front — can be significantly stiffer than the larger hollow OEM piece. Nissan does not publish exact bar diameters, so treat those numbers as widely referenced estimates.
How Anti-Roll Bars Transform GT-R Handling
An anti-roll bar (sway bar) is a torsion spring that ties the left and right wheels together, resisting body roll only when one wheel moves differently from the other. Stiffer bars keep the R35 flatter through a corner, which stabilizes camber and keeps the contact patch planted — without meaningfully hurting straight-line ride quality, because the bars barely engage over even bumps.
Why Bar Diameter Is the Headline Spec
For a solid bar, torsional stiffness scales with the fourth power of its diameter. That means small diameter changes produce large stiffness jumps: going from a 20 mm to a 22 mm bar is (22/20) to the fourth power, or about 1.46x — roughly 46% stiffer. It is why a 33 mm solid front bar transforms turn-in and why every millimeter matters when you compare products.
What Adjustable (Blade / Multi-Hole) Bars Do
Adjustable bars use multiple endlink mounting holes or a rotating blade to change the effective lever arm of the bar. A shorter lever arm makes the bar firmer; a longer arm makes it softer. Whiteline expresses this as an effective diameter — the BNR36XZ 20 mm rear bar, for example, delivers roughly 19 mm (soft), 20 mm (medium), and 21 mm (firm) effective settings. One bar, three rates, no new hardware.
Tuning the Understeer Out
Handling balance is governed by the ratio of front-to-rear roll stiffness, not absolute stiffness. Increasing front bar rate adds understeer and reduces front roll; increasing rear bar rate adds rotation and reduces understeer. On the nose-heavy GT-R the winning recipe is usually to keep the front moderate and run the rear bar in a stiffer setting to shift the balance rearward. That is exactly why adjustable rear bars — Whiteline’s 3-way and Eibach’s 5-way — are so valuable: you fine-tune the balance at the track without buying new parts.
The Best Nissan GT-R R35 Sway Bars & Handling Upgrades
Every product below is confirmed in stock at NLP Performance and fits the R35 GT-R. We lead with our top pick, the complete Whiteline kit, then cover the Eibach kit and the standalone bars and endlinks so you can build the exact setup your chassis and driving style call for.
1. Whiteline BNK008 Front & Rear Sway Bar Kit — Best Overall
The Whiteline BNK008 is the fastest way to fix R35 understeer in one part number. It pairs a 33 mm solid spring-steel front bar (2-position adjustable, roughly +40% soft to +55% firm over stock) with a 20 mm solid rear bar (3-position blade adjustable), and ships complete with two bars, four links, four bushings, two saddles, and four lateral locks that stop the bar from walking side-to-side. Whiteline rates the full install around 4 hours with no wheel alignment required.
Key Specifications — Whiteline BNK008
What We Like
- + Complete front and rear solution in one part number, with links, bushings, saddles, and lateral locks included
- + Solid spring-steel bars give the most roll stiffness per dollar (front approx +40% soft, +55% firm over stock)
- + Front 2-position and rear 3-position blade adjustability to tune understeer out at the track
Things to Consider
- – Front-bar fitment is chassis-code sensitive (CBA vs DBA) — confirm your year before ordering
- – Solid bars weigh more than tubular, and the included links are non-adjustable (many owners add the KLC173)
The BNK008 ships complete with bars, links, bushings, saddles, and lateral locks.
2. Eibach 6389.320 Anti-Roll-Kit (Front & Rear) — Best for Fine Tuning
Eibach’s Anti-Roll-Kit takes a different approach: lighter tubular bars, a 35 mm front (2-way adjustable) and a 16 mm rear (5-way adjustable). Independent rate testing has put the front bar around 171–184 N/mm versus the OE figure near 95 N/mm — roughly +80% to +94% more front roll stiffness. The headline feature is the 5-position rear, which gives you the finest balance adjustment in this roundup, all backed by Eibach’s USA manufacturing and 5-year warranty.
Eibach’s tubular bars save weight; the 5-way rear gives the finest balance tuning here.
What We Like
- + Lightweight tubular bars (35 mm front, 16 mm rear) with a big front rate jump (approx +80–94% over OE)
- + 5-position rear adjustability — the finest handling-balance tuning in this comparison
- + Made in the USA and backed by a 5-year warranty
Things to Consider
- – Adjustable heavy-duty endlinks are not included — pair with the Whiteline KLC173
- – Front bar is only 2-way adjustable versus the standalone Whiteline bars’ blade design
3. Whiteline BNF40Z Front 33 mm Adjustable Sway Bar
This is the standalone version of the front bar in the BNK008 kit — a 33 mm solid, 2-position blade-adjustable front bar (about 32.5 mm effective soft, 33.5 mm effective firm, roughly +40% to +55% over OEM). Choose it if you already run a rear bar you like and only want to attack front body roll, or want to build a front/rear combo across brands. Note it is tied to the earlier CBA (2009–2011) front geometry, so verify your chassis code.
The BNF40Z front bar offers soft and firm blade settings for turn-in tuning.
4. Whiteline BNR36XZ Rear 20 mm Blade-Adjustable Sway Bar
The rear bar is where you dial rotation into the GT-R, and the BNR36XZ is the tuner favorite: a 20 mm solid bar with three blade positions (roughly 19, 20, and 21 mm effective). It fits both CBA and DBA cars (2009–2021), ships with poly bushings, saddles, and lateral locks, and installs in about 2 hours with no alignment. Run it a notch firmer than your front bar to neutralize the factory push.
Three blade positions let you tune rear rotation without swapping the bar.
5. Whiteline KLC173 Rear Adjustable Endlinks — The Essential Companion
Endlinks transfer suspension travel into the bar, and worn or soft rubber links rob a new sway bar of its rate. The KLC173 uses adjustable-length steel-ball links (150–175 mm range) with 360-degree swivel heads and lightweight alloy bodies. Set the length at natural ride height so the bar runs with zero preload — preload makes a car handle differently left versus right. They are essential on lowered cars and a smart upgrade for any GT-R running a stiffer rear bar (the front equivalent is the KLC172).
GT-R R35 Sway Bar Comparison Chart
Here is how the five upgrades stack up on the specs that decide handling balance — bar diameters, adjustability, and material — with live pricing from NLP Performance.
| Kit | Bars (F / R) | Adjustability | Material | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiteline BNK008 Front & Rear KitTop Pick | 33 mm / 20 mm | 2-way F / 3-way R | Solid steel | $858.17 |
| Eibach Anti-Roll-Kit | 35 mm / 16 mm | 2-way F / 5-way R | Tubular | $568.00 |
| Whiteline BNF40Z Front Bar | 33 mm front | 2-way blade | Solid steel | $391.68 |
| Whiteline BNR36XZ Rear Bar | 20 mm rear | 3-way blade | Solid steel | $250.19 |
| Whiteline KLC173 Endlinks | Rear links | 150–175 mm adj. | Alloy / steel | $129.31 |
Complete the Handling Setup
Sway bars fix body roll, but the R35’s understeer also lives in the front suspension geometry. Two Whiteline bushing kits pair perfectly with the bars above and are in stock at NLP Performance. The KCA402 Front Anti-Lift/Caster Kit adds static caster and firms up the front lower control-arm geometry for sharper turn-in and better traction under power and braking. The KCA403 Front Camber Adjust Kit adds up to plus or minus 0.5 degrees of front camber for tire tuning or to correct camber on lowered cars. If you only want to attack front roll, the Eibach 6389.310 35 mm front-only Anti-Roll-Kit (around $299) is the lighter standalone option. Browse the full range in our sway bars collection and suspension collection.
Installation, Fitment & CBA vs DBA
Sway bars are one of the most DIY-friendly R35 upgrades. Plan on roughly 2 hours per bar or about 4 hours for a full front-and-rear kit with a lift or jack stands and basic metric hand tools; the rear often needs heat-shield or undertray clearance, so budget extra time. Whiteline confirms that sway bars alone do not require a wheel alignment — but if you also fit caster or camber bushings, or the car is lowered, get one.
The most important fitment note is chassis code. CBA-R35 covers 2009–2011 and DBA-R35 covers 2012 and up. The DBA update revised the front suspension leverage ratio, switched to quicker aluminum free-piston dampers, and increased front caster from about 5.5 to 6.0 degrees. Because of that changed front geometry, front bars are chassis-code sensitive: the classic BNK008 kit and BNF40Z bar are tied to the earlier CBA application, while Whiteline’s BNK020 kit is cataloged for 2012–2024 DBA cars. Rear bars such as the BNR36XZ carry across both. Always confirm your chassis code before ordering the front bar, and set adjustable endlinks at natural ride height to avoid preload.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do sway bars reduce body roll on a GT-R?
Yes — stiffer anti-roll bars are the most cost-effective way to cut body roll on the roughly 3,900 lb R35, keeping it flatter through corners with only a mild ride-quality penalty because the bars barely engage over even bumps.
Will a bigger rear sway bar cause oversteer on a GT-R?
A stiffer rear bar adds rear roll stiffness and rotation, which dials out the GT-R’s factory understeer; taken too far it can induce lift-throttle or power oversteer, which is exactly why adjustable rear bars like the Whiteline 3-way and Eibach 5-way are preferred.
Are adjustable sway bars worth it on a GT-R?
Yes — 2-to-5 position adjustment lets you tune the understeer/oversteer balance for street, track, or wet conditions without buying new parts, which is why the Whiteline BNK008 (3-way rear) and Eibach kit (5-way rear) are the enthusiast go-to.
Do I need new endlinks with GT-R sway bars?
The Whiteline BNK008 kit includes basic links, but heavy-duty adjustable endlinks such as the KLC173 are strongly recommended so you can set the bar with zero preload and avoid clunks and uneven side-to-side handling, especially on lowered cars.
Whiteline vs Eibach sway bars for a GT-R — which is better?
Whiteline uses heavier solid bars (33 mm front / 20 mm rear, 3-way) and includes links, giving maximum stiffness and value; Eibach uses lighter tubular bars (35 mm front / 16 mm rear) with a 5-way rear for finer balance tuning — choose Whiteline for value and stiffness, Eibach for weight savings and adjustability.
Do sway bars affect ride quality?
Only mildly — because anti-roll bars engage mainly in cornering and one-wheel bumps, stiffer bars barely change straight-line ride comfort, though very firm settings can add some head-toss over single-wheel impacts.
Will GT-R sway bars fit both CBA and DBA cars?
Rear bars such as the Whiteline BNR36XZ fit 2009–2021, but front-bar fitment is chassis-code sensitive: CBA (2009–2011) and DBA (2012 and up) use different front applications (BNK008/BNF40Z versus BNK020), so confirm your chassis code before buying the front bar.
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