Click-i-ty Clank

bigmarv_05 · 09-13-2009, 11:30 PM

Right. So I purchased an 08 xB in September 2007. About 4-6 weeks after driving off the lot I had to take it back in to have the TRD Lowering Springs and Sway Bar, amongst other things, installed. Approximately 3-4 weeks after that I began to notice a light, dull, clicking noise coming from the back end. I only heard it when the suspension was really flexing but I never gave it too much thought. Like an open sore though it festered into something that could be heard every time I rolled over the slightest bump and I could actually feel it when I went over speed bumps, valley gutters, or rolling off the rolled curb of my drive way. I took a look at the rear struts and noticed that the rear passenger side strut was actually loose on top. I could actually see the nut move. So I took it back to the dealer and told him that I needed it fixed. He said that the tech that worked on it obviously neglected to torque it down properly. That didn’t sit too well with me but it was fixed and I soon put the event behind me.
Well about a week ago I started hearing a light clank coming from the back end of my car. I thought that it might be the strut coming loose again but no dice. It was the same scenario as before though; I only heard it during the flexing of the suspension. Well a week goes by and the light clank grew into a loud clank and I could hear it even while driving down the road. I thought that maybe there might be something wrong with the sway bar but never crawled under the car to look. I took it into the dealer yesterday to have it looked at. It turns out that it was the sway bar. At first I was unsure how my sway bar could have come loose but then the tech told me that it had snapped, at the weld. How the hell that happens is beyond me. Then I had to go back and forth with three different people before I could get someone to tell me that it was covered under the warranty, which was a joke. If you buy a genuine TRD part, through the dealer, and have it installed by a “Certified Specialist”, AT THE DEALER, then the damn thing should be covered. All is well though, they finally decided that it was covered and now I’m just waiting for the new one to be shipped in, on Tuesday.

Todd2die4 · 09-14-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigmarv_05

If you buy a genuine TRD part, through the dealer, and have it installed by a “Certified Specialist”, AT THE DEALER, then the damn thing should be covered. All is well though, they finally decided that it was covered and now I’m just waiting for the new one to be shipped in, on Tuesday.

Agreed. I was shocked when i saw the pics, and at the story with the dealer. One reason i dont go to the stealership, too much money for labor, and often overlook many problems to arise and misdiagnose

bigmarv_05 · 09-14-2009, 12:42 AM

I know right!

I'm not as sacy when it comes to this stuff though so for individuals such as myself, we are limited you know.

Todd2die4 · 09-14-2009, 12:57 AM

yea, as a college student on a budget im limited too. i tried out a couple reference shops nearby and found one with experience that i trust for the price that is negotiable for me.

awinter · 09-14-2009, 05:09 AM

This isn't the first post on defective TRD sway bars for the Gen 2. Looks like they need to redesign this ish and quick.

ketchup_xb · 09-14-2009, 05:24 AM

ouch that thing snapped in half. cant it be re-welded?

kingburger · 09-14-2009, 11:02 PM

my buddy works as a mechanic in a dealer place and he's seen TRD sway bars snapped on the same location on different xb's. design fail on TRD if anything. TRD corp office should be informed of these defects. at least they should fix their welds.

SAKURA · 09-14-2009, 11:39 PM

here is a pdf install sheet of a trd rear sway bar. im looking at pic 3-3 and the mounting area for your trd and the trd on the pdf image is totally different......also it seems as thou the two sway bars are different. did trd switch product?

click here>>> TRD Rear Sway Bar Install

also found this here on CLUBxB, click here>>> XB2 TRD rear sway bar

btw, i also found pics of "redesigned" TRD rear sway bar. looks as thou you have the older inferior designed sway bar?
as you can see, mounting area has been changed/moved, also the mounting area on the sway bar is also changed.

kingburger · 09-15-2009, 12:25 AM

oh that's better. the welds are on two sides instead of just one.

SAKURA · 09-15-2009, 12:39 AM

not only that but theres actually a "bracket w/ neoprene bushing" to attach the sway bar to the swing arm.

to me, it seems that the "bracket" has too much play to be had and not sure if this new design will benefit the rear.....

bigmarv_05 · 09-16-2009, 12:22 AM

[quote=SAKURA;524171]here is a pdf install sheet of a trd rear sway bar. im looking at pic 3-3 and the mounting area for your trd and the trd on the pdf image is totally different......also it seems as thou the two sway bars are different. did trd switch product?

click here>>> TRD Rear Sway Bar Install

also found this here on CLUBxB, click here>>> XB2 TRD rear sway bar

btw, i also found pics of "redesigned" TRD rear sway bar. looks as thou you have the older inferior designed sway bar?
as you can see, mounting area has been changed/moved, also the mounting area on the sway bar is also changed.
QUOTE]

Nice find my friend. And yes the picture from 3-3 is different because it is the new one. The one that I had I purchased at the same time of the box...sep. 07.

I dropped by the dealer after class to get the new one put on. When the tech asked me what number he could reach me at, I said that I was just going to wait here. He looked at me as if I was sick in the head or something. I informed him that I knew the physical labor would take a couple of hours but I had no other option. I really was there for only 2 hours. I can't help but think that they may have moved my car through before others because I (the customer) was waiting on site. Maybe, maybe not; the important thing is that the problem is gone. One of the techs brought the bar out for me to look at.

And here is the new one.

I wasn't expecting a different bar, nor did I know that TRD had redesigned it, so I had to check.

kingburger · 09-16-2009, 01:08 AM

so then, any difference of feel?

Maurice · 09-18-2009, 05:15 PM

Yeah. Notice any improvement?

elusive_xb · 09-18-2009, 05:24 PM

this exact same thing happened to me

i took it to the dealer and they gave me a way thicker/better welded one

grafik · 10-11-2009, 05:11 AM

i have the same problem i installed the Hotchkis Sway Bars Kit with the Front Strut Brace...but when im turning i hear a little clank and my ride is not smooth at all i mean my girl drives a nissan sentra and whenever i drive her car its like brand new and hers an 08sentra and mines an 09xb i have 19's and little tires this is my first ride with thin tires is this is how its suppose to feel? it seems everything i go over i can feel even driving on a straight road? any suggestions? need help

bigmarv_05 · 10-11-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grafik

i have the same problem i installed the Hotchkis Sway Bars Kit with the Front Strut Brace...but when im turning i hear a little clank and my ride is not smooth at all i mean my girl drives a nissan sentra and whenever i drive her car its like brand new and hers an 08sentra and mines an 09xb i have 19's and little tires this is my first ride with thin tires is this is how its suppose to feel? it seems everything i go over i can feel even driving on a straight road? any suggestions? need help

Welcome to the world of low profile tires! It's the sacrafice that we make for looking good. Have have a budy that builds hit rods in is free time and one of his favorite things to say is "style always comes before comfort.". Although, he's the kind of. Guy that would use a milk crate as a seat if it ment making room for a bigger tranny!

-as far as noticing a difference in the two bars I'm sorry to say that I can't. I, however, am no longer afraid to fly around a corner if that helps?

GregS · 10-11-2009, 10:58 AM

The Hotchkis set-up consists of larger bars than the TRD set-up so it will be stiffer and adding the front strut brace will add to that as well. This will make it much stiffer when turning and give you a more controlled feel. It will add a little more stiffness to the ride but your big added to the harsher ride is the low profile tire and larger wheels. There is much less air in the tire to cushion impacts from the road.

As for the clank when turning you need to go through and check all of your mounting points for the sway bars and strut bar. More than likely you have a bolt that is slightly loose and needs to be re-torced. Pretty standard actually, you really should always re-torc the bolts for any suspension add-ons about a week afterward once they have settled in because they can loosen up slightly.

grafik · 10-15-2009, 06:34 AM

thanks for all the info!!!now another question:does anybody know how to stop getting caught by chp or local police from tint i live in california and i have 5 all the way around except the two front windows i have 25 and want to make it 5 but already got pulled over twice... the chp told me i would have to have a note from a doctor saying the sun is too bright and i needed it when im driving....any ideas thought?