TRD sway bars good enough?

[sportscarguy]

i have an v6 se sport and looking to get TRD front and rear sway bars. Is this mod good enough? if i get sway bars and TRD lowering springs am i going see a huge difference over just getting the sway bars?

[slingshot]

For performance differences, the RSB will make the largest difference, followed by the lowering springs, and lastly by the FSB. I just have the RSB only and I've seen a big difference when making fast turns. Try the sway bars and see if that satisfies you. If not, lower it and maybe get larger tires. Everyone has their own satisfaction level in performance.

[thealkimo]

i say lowering will have a more drastic impact having a lower center of gravity is most important in terms of overall handling IMO, plus your car will have a more aggressive looking stance

[Swiftoy]

TRD does not make a front sway bar. Rear only. They do make an upgraded front strut tower bar which resides in the engine bay.

Swiftoy

[mmcdonald]

Whatever you do, make sure you match the Rear Sway Bar WITH the Front Strut Tower Brace. If you only install one or the other, you will notice the other end of the car getting sloppy.

I installed the FSTB first, and the rear felt very loose, until I installed the RSB, and then it felt balanced. Another poster installed the RSB first and noticed the front end was very sloppy.

Overall the improvement is very noticeable and probably is all most drivers need.

If you like the look of the lowering springs, then get those after the RSB/FSTB combo. I say this because you can install the RSB/FSTB on your own, but the shop that does the springs will want to have them installed so they can really set up the suspension. Maybe not a big issue, but could be.

If you just lower it, you will spend a lot of cash, and may not see the improvements you would if you got the RSB/FSTB first. Lowering will help in the cornering definitely, but it can still swing out on the stock pieces since they are way insufficient.

See my posts on the installation of these items with pics and you will see the difference.

HTH

[Swiftoy]

You will not gain any significant improvement by swithing to the TRD strut tower bar it is more of an asthetics thing, it's function over the stock bar is minimal at best, save your money for something else. Lower the car and put the sway bar in and right to the stiffest setting and you will be pleased with the handling compared to stock.

Swiftoy

[cablemn]

You will not gain any significant improvement by swithing to the TRD strut tower bar it is more of an asthetics thing, it's function over the stock bar is minimal at best, save your money for something else. Lower the car and put the sway bar in and right to the stiffest setting and you will be pleased with the handling compared to stock.

Swiftoy

I said the same thing in a similar thread recently and most guys with the trd strut brace disagreed saying trd is way better because of how it is constructed. That the stock one is stamped steel and looks like it would fail. I found that hard to believe. Now from an aesthetic point of view thw trd brace is way more cool looking i will admit. So if money aint no thang then go for the trd for the look.

[Swiftoy]

My question would have been tell me how the bar will fail. All it is, is a brace to stiffen the chassis.

Swiftoy

[redsle]

Well I read everything I could on the board about what the difference is between the factory FSB and the TRD one. And from I can get it's a 50-50 here on Solaraguy on weather the TRD functionaly is better or the same. Now looks wise there is no contest. So I called Toyota to get a real answer from them, I was told from the Toyota people, that the only reason to change the FSB (other then the TRD looks really good) would be if you were installing a SuperCharger, other then that is no difference nor will the TRD one last or be any better then the factory one. Now I know some of you guys think the factory one will fail and not provide the same amount of support in a year or so. But sorry I have been a Toyota owner for over 20 years, and it is not like Toyota to install something like that from the factory. I truely doubt that the TRD FSB will last any longer or perfrom any difference then the factory one. Just mine and Toyota's 2 cents.

[trdkamuri51o]

there is no trd front swaybar for the gen1

the gains will really shine through when you take that corner about 5-10mph faster.

[cablemn]

Well I read everything I could on the board about what the difference is between the factory FSB and the TRD one. And from I can get it's a 50-50 here on Solaraguy on weather the TRD functionaly is better or the same. Now looks wise there is no contest. So I called Toyota to get a real answer from them, I was told from the Toyota people, that the only reason to change the FSB (other then the TRD looks really good) would be if you were installing a SuperCharger, other then that is no difference nor will the TRD one last or be any better then the factory one. Now I know some of you guys think the factory one will fail and not provide the same amount of support in a year or so. But sorry I have been a Toyota owner for over 20 years, and it is not like Toyota to install something like that from the factory. I truely doubt that the TRD FSB will last any longer or perfrom any difference then the factory one. Just mine and Toyota's 2 cents.

I said the same thing about the strut brace a long time ago. If its aestetics your looking for just paint the strut brace red yourself and put a trd sticker on it. The trd is a complete waste of $180. The solara sport suspension is a very nice balance of ride comfort and handling. You have to ask yourself which is the most important thing your looking for in your cars suspension. If most of your driving is to and from work, wouldnt you want something comfortable? Especially driving to work in the snow with a lowered car. Been there, done that, dont want to do it again. I would like my solara to handle like a corvette...but its a solara. If i have to lower it and make it ride like a truck to squeeze out another few tenths of a G then forget it. It gets to a point where its not practical anymore. If you wanna race car go buy one cause this aint no race car. When i buy a car i figure out what im buying it for and purchase accordingly. I wanted something with style that handled nicely and rode nicely. Sure i tweaked the suspension slightly but i always try and keep in mind that i cant turn the car into something its not. Not hatin, just my opinion.
I'm keeping my solara but for the boy racer in me im getting a vette for the weekends.

[slingshot]

Especially driving to work in the snow with a lowered car. Been there, done that, dont want to do it again. I would like my solara to handle like a corvette...but its a solara. If i have to lower it and make it ride like a truck to squeeze out another few tenths of a G then forget it. It gets to a point where its not practical anymore.

Good point about the snow. I was wondering the same thing the other day when after driving through the snow, I noticed the snow all clogging up the wheel well and rubbing against the tire. With a lowered car, that would happen alot sooner, right? Anyone got a lowered car in the snow belt and notice any different performance?

Also, I have the RSB without the front strut tower and notice no looseness in the front. I don't recall many at all ever saying that either.

[Nutty101]

Especially driving to work in the snow with a lowered car. Been there, done that, dont want to do it again. I would like my solara to handle like a corvette...but its a solara. If i have to lower it and make it ride like a truck to squeeze out another few tenths of a G then forget it. It gets to a point where its not practical anymore.

Good point about the snow. I was wondering the same thing the other day when after driving through the snow, I noticed the snow all clogging up the wheel well and rubbing against the tire. With a lowered car, that would happen alot sooner, right? Anyone got a lowered car in the snow belt and notice any different performance?

Also, I have the RSB without the front strut tower and notice no looseness in the front. I don't recall many at all ever saying that either.

Yeah, I have had my fog lights busted twice now because im low and the snow tends to get pushed up into them. The tirewell isn't a huge issue because it rubs off if there is to much anyway. Though I will say without the ABS or track on the car. It really showed a huge problem for me once i was lowered. Before it was not to bad. I should re-install that stuff but oh well.