Installed the RSB - What a difference - Cautionary Tale

[mmcdonald]

So, I finally installed the beast. Take a look at the pics. What could be simpler, right?

Before (note 4 of the 8 bolts for this installation)


Compare RSB's (what a difference over stock)


After (fin-a-freakin-lee!)


See the top bolt there? I hate that one.

Took me 4 hours off and on, to do this install on a garage floor with no jacking. Jacking the back is problematic anyway since it puts stresses on the sway bar.

Cuss Rating: 4.5 Sailors.
Schwing Rating: 10 boners.

This mod is well worth the aggravation. What a difference. It is a completely different car, as other RSB/FSTB owners will attest. I put it on the middle setting, as did everyone else here. It is no problem to put it on the inner competition setting, so I'll do that for the Monday morning commute (Not really).

Seriously, I am speechless. It is now on rails, and the stock tires work. I will change them next Summer anyway.

Do this!

[mmcdonald]

There are only 3 words to describe this mod:

1. A
2. May
3. Zing!

Really folks, do this. It takes the car to a whole new class of vehicle. The turns are amazingly flat, and the car is just overall much more well behaved. And now the stock tires make a little more sense since they don't break loose on the turns (and I have tried accelerating down 270+ degree on ramps!)

Listne to me, I'm gushing.

[slingshot]

I agree. I'm now driving more aggressively and confidently on sharp turns and on-ramps since I had the RSB replaced. I am though starting to feel the limits of the stock tires. Beforehand I felt the limits of the stock RSB.

[mmcdonald]

slingshot, you must reeeeeally be feeling the difference over the stock sway bar on the SLE. Supposedly the Sport has a firmer suspension to start with. Plus you have a little more weight.

How has the ride been effected overall from the plusher ride of the SLE? On the Sport, it is much firmer, but that's what I was going for with the Sport anyway.

Do you think other SLE owners should do this mod if they are trying to preserve the softer ride?

[DocJohn]

slingshot, you must reeeeeally be feeling the difference over the stock sway bar on the SLE. Supposedly the Sport has a firmer suspension to start with. Plus you have a little more weight.

How has the ride been effected overall from the plusher ride of the SLE? On the Sport, it is much firmer, but that's what I was going for with the Sport anyway.

Do you think other SLE owners should do this mod if they are trying to preserve the softer ride?

I have the same mods as mmcdonald on my SLE and I can tell you there has been no significant increase in the firmness of the ride with the TRD bars (its very slightly firmer at the most). I also agree with everything mmcdonald has said about the improvement of the handling in turns... its a dramatic improvement.
Now if I could only get the dealership to REALLY FIX the left drift problem! After 3 attempts they made significant improvements to the problem, but its still not drift free, particularly in the left lane of the freeway.

[Jewls]

Would this help my little 4 banger any, or should I save my money?

[DocJohn]

Would this help my little 4 banger any, or should I save my money?

Sure it would help.
I4 or V6, I can't see any reason why it would not improve your handling about the same. But you have to judge if this is what you want to drop some money on.

[Shoe]

Cuss Rating: 4.5 Sailors.
Schwing Rating: 10 boners.

funny next time you install something run a tape recorder just for the laugh

shoe

[boaclub923]

VERY nice post~ luv it~

[cablemn]

FOUR HOURS!!!!! i hope thats because you were taking lots of pics.
i had that puppy on in 20 minutes tops. you must be very meticulous. why did it take you so long?

[slingshot]

The RSB had zero effect on the ride of my SLE when driving straight. I don't think it made any more improvement in turns than on an SE Sport with RSB. I haven't ever driven an SE Sport so can't comment on just how much firmer its ride is but I doubt it's a big difference.

As far as saying my car is now a sports car, that is just not true because it is still high above the ground so fast turns, though flatter, are still not totally flat like in a Porsche. Still no comparison with lean to that type of car. If you got lowering springs in addition to the RSB, you'd see AMAZING turns perhaps.

The bottom line is the RSB makes turns taken at fast speeds quite a bit flatter with less lean therefore greatly increasing your confidence driving aggressively (better fun factor) or in needed defensive moves. That is reason enough to get it. It does not by itself turn this car into handling like a low to the ground genuine sports car on turns.

[mmcdonald]

Yeah, a tape would have been funny.

I think it took so long because I couldn't really squeeze under the car, I was being meticulous, and I couldn't get that last freakin bolt in there. I hate that bolt.

Anywho, I agree that if I had lowering springs it would reeeeeally be something. But, then I'd have lowering springs and would have to explain that to the missus.

It is more competent, and the ride is pleasant enough all around. The scary understeer has become predictable oversteer, so that is nice.

I will be getting 225/55/17's when these tires go in the Spring, so that should do something for the wheel arches on the one hand, but add an extra centimeter of sidewall on the other. It will improve gas mileage though.