First Whiteline Front Sway Bar Install - Gen 2 (UPDATE Pg 2)

by **PXLpainter** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:00 am

Okay... we FINALLY Got the Whiteline bitch installed!!

***UPDATE: PICS INSTALLED HERE: http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=32765

Gotta tell you though, this is NOT a project for the faint of heart, and unless you are willing to either destroy your OEM front sway bar (cut it in half) or disconnect your sub-frame and lower the engine to wiggle it out with your struts removed, you WON'T get the MF out of there!

The shape of this beast is freaky too and you'll swear it isn't going to fit when you first slide it in there... but it will at ride-height.

Just know there are NO REAL INSTRUCTIONS on this pig so you're on your own. Everybody will have a different experience with their installation procedures so a DIY is not in order on this mod! We burned-up three drill bits trying to open up the holes for the linkages as well - so the production QC isn't that great IMO - but shows you how tough this unit really is! I't smaller and lighter than the OEM FSB so you really question yourself if you've done the right thing when you compare them side-by-side...

Okay... so was all the hassle worth it? :-?

FUK'N-A YEAH IT WAS!!! :up:

By the time we got it all back together, I was really hoping it would be worth the hassle, and by the time I was a 1/2 block into the test drive, I KNEW IT WAS!!

Can't really put it into words, but I've never driven a car this size (and weight) that handles like mine does now. There is absolutely NO PLAY in the steering wheel now. It's every bit as tight as my Bro's Porsche and more so than his 'Vette!

I swear it's like riding on rails - we couldn't barely even break the tires loose forcing a 180 - it just wanted to grip and TURN! If you've ever seen the original Batman movie where he takes the sharp 90º turn in the Batmobile, then THAT'S the effect this thing has now!

Mind you, this was the last suspension component I've added... I already have the TRD RSB & FSTB, as well as the TRD Springs & Sport Struts, and really tight road-gripping tires now. The ride is even stiffer now - could feel it more on the freeway coming home, but the steering is so responsive now, I really have to watch it making lane changes! LOL! :lol:

There's one corner that's marked 55 near my home as the freeway ends, and I took it last night at about 105 without any roll or fighting the steering wheel.

Outside of the RSB, I have to say, this was the single most effective mod we've done to the car's handling to date! :up:

I'll post pics when I get a chance this weekend...

*Special hugs and kisses to Milton for his help with this project too - LOL! :lol:

by **rohand** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:34 pm

See, it's reading posts like these that put me in debt...

. Man, that sounds great though. Congrats on the install. I will hopefully be able to order one soon. (Waiting on a few other upgrades to be completed first).

-Ro

by **sgunitkc** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 1:35 pm

nice jeff!
props to you and milt...
can't wait for the pics to see for it myself....heck i wanna see how it is riding in your car...one day...one day...

by **orlin03** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:20 pm

D*mn that pumped me up! Sounds like a very satisfied customer! So... are you using the original links or new ones? It sounded like new ones but I wasn't sure.

by **Down2TheC** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:34 pm

Rides like that Enzo in your sig, huh? Well I'm eager to see the pics so I can tell wtf you're talking about with the install.

by **Biggi_e** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:53 pm

i want to see! i hope your not exagerating! makes me want one

by **PoshPepper** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:25 pm

I want one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The half a block that I drove your car sold me on it!

Plus, I have my own personal installer over here... hee hee

by **crispone** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:27 pm

PXLpainter wrote:Okay... we FINALLY Got the Whiteline bitch installed!!

Gotta tell you though, this is NOT a project for the faint of heart, and unless you are willing to either destroy your OEM front sway bar (cut it in half) or disconnect your sub-frame and lower the engine to wiggle it out with your struts removed, you WON'T get the MF out of there!

The shape of this beast is freaky too and you'll swear it isn't going to fit when you first slide it in there... but it will at ride-height.

Just know there are NO REAL INSTRUCTIONS on this pig so you're on your own. Everybody will have a different experience with their installation procedures so a DIY is not in order on this mod! We burned-up three drill bits trying to open up the holes for the linkages as well - so the production QC isn't that great IMO - but shows you how tough this unit really is! I't smaller and lighter than the OEM FSB so you really question yourself if you've done the right thing when you compare them side-by-side...

Okay... so was all the hassle worth it?

FUK'N-A YEAH IT WAS!!!

By the time we got it all back together, I was really hoping it would be worth the hassle, and by the time I was a 1/2 block into the test drive, I KNEW IT WAS!!

Can't really put it into words, but I've never driven a car this size (and weight) that handles like mine does now. There is absolutely NO PLAY in the steering wheel now. It's every bit as tight as my Bro's Porsche and more so than his 'Vette!

I swear it's like riding on rails - we couldn't barely even break the tires loose forcing a 180 - it just wanted to grip and TURN! If you've ever seen the original Batman movie where he takes the sharp 90º turn in the Batmobile, then THAT'S the effect this thing has now!

Mind you, this was the last suspension component I've added... I already have the TRD RSB & FSTB, as well as the TRD Springs & Sport Struts, and really tight road-gripping tires now. The ride is even stiffer now - could feel it more on the freeway coming home, but the steering is so responsive now, I really have to watch it making lane changes! LOL!

There's one corner that's marked 55 near my home as the freeway ends, and I took it last night at about 105 without any roll or fighting the steering wheel.

Outside of the RSB, I have to say, this was the single most effective mod we've done to the car's handling to date! I'll post pics when I get a chance this weekend...

*Special hugs and kisses to Milton for his help with this project too - LOL!

LIKE I SAID A MONTH AGO....

WOW! I'm INTERESTED in the front sway bar! I put a front sway bar from Suspension Techniques on my '84 Supra... along with a TOKIKO full strut/shock kit with drop springs, including the REAR sway bar... and the damn thing rode and tracked like a GO-KART! (I wouldn't want THAT much STIFFNESS/HARSHNESS on my Solara, though... but the RIGIDITY would be welcome...)

So, about 2 Ben Franklin's for "springing" the front end, eh...? Might be worth a try...

BTW, FRONT sway bars are MUCH MORE COMPLICATED to install on many cars. You have to "WEAVE" them into existing chassis/suspension components, potentially doing some DISASSEMBLY to INSTALL the new bar. It COULD COST you quite a bit more than the PART ITSELF! (Just be aware!)

Regarding the Strut Tower Bar vs the SWAY BAR.... I would say the Strut Tower Bar is more like a "rigid member" to "lock-in" the top of the engine bay and reduce FLEX... in the chassis, particularly related to TORQUE STEER, etc... whereas the SWAY BAR is a "SPRING", generating torsional "compensation" to distribute "twist" through the chassis and maintain better TRANSFER of forces that help PLANT your rubber more evenly under varied conditions while cornering, etc...

The FRONT STRUT TOWER BAR DOES make a difference... and I wouldn't be without one, bang for buck... (It will definitely help keep the front end of the car from flexing nearly as much... and even helps with torque steer on launch.)

-crisp

^^^ WHAT DID I TELL YA, JEFF!!!??? :wink:

-crisp

by **Astro** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:29 pm

That's cool, I love mine! Congrats one being the 1st!!!!!!

by **PXLpainter** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:38 pm

Thanks guys - for those of you coming to the show on Sat you can take a peek under the car. Maybe I should get a mirror to put under the front? :-?

At least I painted it red before we installed it so it will show up a little if you're looking for it!

Mike - just picture jacking up your car and disconnecting the FSB - then crawl under the car with a grinder and cutoff wheel and cut that bastard in half. Pull out both sides and wiggle in the new one.

Had we known it would have been as much of a beotch as it was, we would have totally approached it differently from the beginning!!

IT'S STILL NOT A PIECE OF CAKE - so don't think you can just whip this project out like tossing on an RSB or FSTB - LOL! :lol: