I'm looking at this strut bar:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=140127

Question I have is this. I notice that some strut bars are solid (Like DC's, for example) and do not have a bolt running through which I would think allows flex.

Now, is a fixed or solid strut bar better than one like above? Seems there are so dman many that you have everything from fixed to bolted and from tubed style to flat stock like above.

Any suggestions? I am simply dropped via springs with stock shocks and struts. I have terrible understeer and the car feels vague when cornered hard. I understand I need more than a strut bar and that my car isn't a performance machine, but seems a strut bar is a good start...

Suggestions?

 

i personally have the Hotchkis strut bar, and i guess it works pretty well and has a solid design. A lot of people do go with DC's strut bar, which would probably be another one of my choices. I also think bolts in the strut bar are sort of a bad idea, but that's just my thinking. Look into Cusco or TRD as well. i also have the cusco underframe brace, which has a noticeable improvement on handling.
good luck.

 

Before you invest in a strut bar, I would get a rear sway bar. I think it will help much more with your understeer condition. In fact you can get an excellent price from http://www.ptuning.com right now. Their special goes until 10.31.06. Just make sure to enter the "ptscionlife" discount code.

 

You are a GOD among men!!!!!!


I got his For $128 with the SL Discoound plus free shiping!! if you need this buy it NOW!!!! its totaly worth it!!!! No shiping cost and its on sale pluse we get the SL descount! This site seals this for $143.00 any other day of the week + S&H so for $128.00 plus FREE shiping you cant loos! i hope this helps as much as my DC tortone bar did when i instaled it back in the day.......

 

I recommend a Hotchkis front strut brace and a Progress anti-sway bar on the rear. A solid, reasonably priced combination. I run both and I am very pleased with the results.

 

all the front strut bars do little solid or three piece. but anything is better than nothing but it's still hardly better than nothing , lol.

 

i have to disagree i think the front strut bar makes a huge difference. i put the dcsports on a couple weeks ago. it reduces alot of flex and tightens up the handling and steering response. good bargain upgrade got mine for 100 bucks shipped.

 

mine has always felt the same. i've driven stock xb's back to back with mine with my scionfx bar and then back to back with my buds with a dcsports. you couldn't tell any difference. i think it's mental. our strut towers are butted right up against and are partly integral with the firewall.

 

i can guarantee its not mental because i take a certain route home several times a day and i corner the car pretty hard on a couple turns. before i put that bar on the tires chirped every time i went into those corners after i put it on it didnt chirp anymore.

 

good stuff. i still can't notice my car with and without it on , lol. now my bimmer and my supra? wow they needed it.

 

I have a good front strut bar and the progress rear sway and the rear bar made the only differance

 

Front strut bar, urethane front swaybar bushings and a rear swaybar (TRD, Progress of Whiteline) and you will be golden in the corners. Even on the steelies. Mine feels like a freakin go-kart.

 

I have a 3 piece front tie, and I'm glad I have it.
a) i believe it helps handling
b) i've seen several wrecks in which the tie bar stabilized the front end protecting the passy even more
c) the three piece is great, as much time as i spend under the hood - easy to pop out of the way, compared to a solid bar

 

I put a DC strut bar on at 500 miles. Immediately felt no difference.
Took it off at 5,000 miles because it interfered with service. Immediately felt no difference.
Sold it.
The rear sway bar was a different matter. At first I really felt how it reduced lean and improved steering, in hard cornering that happens even in suburban driving. So it is appreciated daily. After 9,000 miles I am so used to it that it is hard to remember how the car felt without it. All I can remember is there was a big change in taking hard turns.

 

here's an unrelated picture that shows why i believe the 3 piece strut bar is much more functional - had to remove it to pass a wire thru the firewall

 

I always go from the inside out on wires and use mechanics wire as a guide.

 

thanks for the threadjack, jethro.

 

What? Me? No Way

 

jeth - here's the thread that prompted that pic- sound off!

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...181&highlight=


edit:I'm so smart i forgot the link.

 

? ya lost me. I'm confusid