tc sway bars question

[Manti7]

ok so like i was reading something on scionlife about swaybars, and i thought to myself, if i get a stiffer front sway bar, wont that make the car much more likely to understeer at higher speeds that with the less stiff one? which was proven to be true, when i asked a few mechanics and drivers and found out that its recommended to keep the stock, or for an even more experienced driver, to remove the front sway bar,and drive without it, allowing more independent suspension, so there would be less chance of understeer. but with the rear bar, it would be wise to get the stiffest rear sway bar i could find. now the question is, the thicker bars are hollow, and the thinner are not. how would the ridgidity of the bars be affected by the difference between a hollow or solid bar? for example, the hotchkis street sway bars are hollow, but the H&R sway bars are solid. the hotchkis rear is 27mm, and the H&R rear is 22mm. which would be the better bar? could not find any real info on the TRD rear sway bar. what do you guys/gals think?

[THansenite]

From what I have read, the Hotchkis bars are the best. I plan on getting a set for my car soon since I autocross and the understeer on our cars is horrible. The solid vs. hollow bars just have slightly different tortion characteristics that are a little beyond my understanding at the moment. However, I do know that by adding a really stiff rear bar, your car feels completely different when cornering.

[Manti7]

well thats what ive heard as well, but in my opinion, a hollow bar would have no where near the ridigidity of a solid bar, does that sound logical? ugh, i dont know what to order yet, so i am just waiting it out until i can find out some more info. tanabe needs to make a nice suspension setup for the tC already! haha, tanabe is #1!!!

[strike69]

its recommended to put both front and rear for the hotchkis set. I have it and if you only put in the back people say dues to the increased stiffness you'll be more prone to oversteer.

[Go4shoped]

if you leave the front sway out or stock and stiffen the rear, the chassis is more prone to twisting. You have to keep in mind that we dont have a metal roof.

And actually, with both sway bars on the hardest setting, the tc will oversteer if you are not accelerating during a high speed corner. Trust me on this one, i've almost lost my car because of it. If you lower your car, this might change. i'm not sure.

[Manti7]

well my car is on stechs, and it rides lowwwwwww. so, i guess id have to check it out on the autox track. but from more of the research i have read, it shows that a car with very little to no understeer tends to oversteer just about every corner. where as a car with the understeer requires you to slow down going into corners, to prevent this understeer but you can come rip roaring out of corners, accelarator to the floor if you correctly break and turn. i am probably going to get the hotchkis set, install the rear, drive with it, and if its too loose on the track, im gonna take 5 and skip a run and install the front, and see how that works. if theres no medium, ill sell the set and get a less stiff rear and try that, until i can get the car where i like it, thanks for the help guys :thanks:

[duckmonk]

hotchkis is amazing. i got some and felt the difference right away. do it.

[Go4shoped]

So you're planning on installing the front sway in a few minutes... RIIIIIGHT.


Good luck with that one, cuz its not gonna happen.

[Spock]

well my car is on stechs, and it rides lowwwwwww. so, i guess id have to check it out on the autox track.

Well if you are serious about autox you need to loose the stechs. They are too low and they are actually hurting your handling. The ideal suspension drop for handling is ~1.4".


i am probably going to get the hotchkis set, install the rear, drive with it, and if its too loose on the track, im gonna take 5 and skip a run and install the front, and see how that works.

LOL take 5....you have to remove the subframe up front to put the front sway on. Try take a few hours.

[Saint]

i personally have installed the front and rear hotchkis sway bar and have been more than happy with it... it is awesome for daily driving and in the corners the car handles like a dream... i am not sure about comparisons with other kits, but i am in love with mine... just MO and FYI.. good luck