XB2 TRD rear sway bar

ScionFred · 06-27-2007, 04:35 PM

I just installed the TRD rear sway bar on my XB2 and it seems like a complete waste of money. It attaches to the shock mounting bolts and sits inside the rigid rear axle beam inside rubber spacers. It seems to me that all it could possibly do is stiffen the rigid rear beam which probably doesn't flex much anyway.

IMO in order to really reduce body sway the bar should attach to the chassis and the ends of the axle beam. Unless I'm missing something, this TRD rear sway bar is more for show than go and it's not much show since it's mostly hidden unless you're under the car.

Anyway, at least I only paid $160 for it instead of the $250 my stealer wanted. My advice is to spend your money on something else. I can't even notice it's there.

ScionFred · 07-02-2007, 11:46 PM

Update: Maybe the sway bar helps a little bit afterall. I've had a few more days with it and it does seem to stiffen the rear a little bit. Better shocks would probably do more though.

ToyotaTech · 09-30-2007, 10:54 AM

from my experiance with the rear beam in stock form (on toyota veh, corolla etc) they do seem to flex a good bit i have replaced a few due to sagging mainly causing alighnment issues. i installed a trd rear axle stiffener on a xrs corolla and it seemed to help a good bit.

ScionFred · 10-01-2007, 07:37 PM

My bad. I jumped the gun based on the incorrect assumption that the rear beam was rigid instead of a torsion beam. Now that I've put some more miles on with the sway bar installed I can defintely feel a difference. The combination of springs, sway bar and strut brace have really tightened up the handling.

ModernDayDruid · 11-08-2007, 03:36 PM

I noticed the difference almost immediately on corners. I think the rear sway bar is one of the better mods you can do for the XB2.

TrevorS · 02-29-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScionFred

I just installed the TRD rear sway bar on my XB2 and it seems like a complete waste of money. It attaches to the shock mounting bolts and sits inside the rigid rear axle beam inside rubber spacers. It seems to me that all it could possibly do is stiffen the rigid rear beam which probably doesn't flex much anyway.

IMO in order to really reduce body sway the bar should attach to the chassis and the ends of the axle beam. Unless I'm missing something, this TRD rear sway bar is more for show than go and it's not much show since it's mostly hidden unless you're under the car.

Anyway, at least I only paid $160 for it instead of the $250 my stealer wanted. My advice is to spend your money on something else. I can't even notice it's there.

What the HELL are you talking about? The impact of the TRD rear sway bar is F---ing dramatic. Get out of your head and drive the car! Geeeez

! (This is me trying to be polite!)

Daarken · 03-01-2008, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorS

What the HELL are you talking about? The impact of the TRD rear sway bar is F---ing dramatic. Get out of your head and drive the car! Geeeez

! (This is me trying to be polite!)

Please read all posts before swinging the axe.

soberbill · 03-06-2008, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScionFred

The combination of springs, sway bar and strut brace have really tightened up the handling.

Hi,

Did you do all 3 of these at the same time? I've been thinking of making the strut brace & sway bar a mod very soon. I'm leary of the springs as I'm still leary of the car being so low to start with and the snow we get here in WI.

I'm wondering if just the strut brace & sway barby them selves will make the car even better handling.

oh boy....1/2 way there to my 10 posts! LOL

ScionFred · 03-07-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorS

What the HELL are you talking about? The impact of the TRD rear sway bar is F---ing dramatic. Get out of your head and drive the car! Geeeez

! (This is me trying to be polite!)

Try harder, you failed miserably.

Daarken · 03-07-2008, 11:53 PM

yes soberbill, you will notice a definate improvement immediately after you slap those puppies on.

soberbill · 03-10-2008, 10:17 AM

Daarken,

Are these upgrades something that can be done one at at a time?
If so, which do I do first, rear or front?

Oh boy....so close to my 10th post...

Bill

LooneyJ · 03-11-2008, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScionFred

I just installed the TRD rear sway bar on my XB2 and it seems like a complete waste of money. It attaches to the shock mounting bolts and sits inside the rigid rear axle beam inside rubber spacers. It seems to me that all it could possibly do is stiffen the rigid rear beam which probably doesn't flex much anyway.

IMO in order to really reduce body sway the bar should attach to the chassis and the ends of the axle beam. Unless I'm missing something, this TRD rear sway bar is more for show than go and it's not much show since it's mostly hidden unless you're under the car.

Anyway, at least I only paid $160 for it instead of the $250 my stealer wanted. My advice is to spend your money on something else. I can't even notice it's there.

Hey ScionFred,
You've had your rear swaybar about 9months now. How are you feeling about it these days? Glad or Mad you bought it??

rockthebeef · 03-12-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberbill

Daarken,

Are these upgrades something that can be done one at at a time?
If so, which do I do first, rear or front?

Oh boy....so close to my 10th post...

Bill

Bill, Maybe I can help... The front strut bar and rear sway bar can be done separately. They are two totally separate things. The front strut bar makes the front end more rigid - preventing unwanted chassis flex. From what I gather you may not even notice it unless you do some really aggressive driving. The rear sway bar actually changes the way your suspension works and should be fairly noticeable. There actually is already a stock sway bar in the front end.

I'd go for the rear sway bar first. It's cheaper and and should make more of a difference. I plan to pick one up soon. I might not ever get the front strut brace.

soberbill · 03-12-2008, 04:58 PM

Thx Rock!

LOL, I was just reading an e-mail from the scion saleman and 'poof' an message hit that this reply was there...

and...I should be at 10 posts now!

Yipee!

art_suckz · 03-12-2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockthebeef

There actually is already a stock sway bar in the front end.

I'd go for the rear sway bar first.

So are the trd front sways worth it at all? The stock sways arent adjustable right?

The xB has a ton of body roll in the turns to me... I had planned on front and rear sways as well as the strut bar. lowering it an inch if necessary.

Heck, sometimes i feel the body roll just changing lanes.

rockthebeef · 03-12-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by art_suckz

So are the trd front sways worth it at all? The stock sways arent adjustable right?

The xB has a ton of body roll in the turns to me... I had planned on front and rear sways as well as the strut bar. lowering it an inch if necessary.

Heck, sometimes i feel the body roll just changing lanes.

As far as I know, TRD only makes a front strut brace and rear sway bar. I would assume the rear sway is designed to compliment the stock front sway bar. There is a front/rear sway bar set by Hotchkis (and maybe other manufacturers too?). Those I would assume are designed to be used together.

Please take this info FWIW. I'm just another dude with an xB, but this is what I gather from reading up on this stuff.

by the way. I just lowered my xB on the Eibach Pro Kit. It's only a 1" front and 1.2" rear drop, but it has helped considerably with body roll. It's a VERY subtle drop so dips & speedbumps are practically a non-issue for me. My doors don't even hit curbs when parallel parking, although they come very close (.25" or so).

motowncali · 03-24-2008, 06:23 PM

Mine was lowered and has the ground effects kit on it from California Concepts and after driving it , I still had the dealer add the rear sway and front strut. I love the way this thing corners..... Now I am just getting gready, I want more power....

Mo

Lvbitwiz · 03-24-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motowncali

Mine was lowered and has the ground effects kit on it from California Concepts and after driving it , I still had the dealer add the rear sway and front strut. I love the way this thing corners..... Now I am just getting gready, I want more power....

Mo

break your piggy bank and ping Todd at TurboToyotas, he's got a kit

WUP · 03-26-2008, 10:37 AM

I have had the lower springs and sway bars on mine all wimter in Wisconsin. No problems in snow and handling is top notch. Planning to autocross this spring!

AAG · 04-02-2008, 11:51 AM

I did the TRD springs and sway (about 2 months apart) so I can give a pretty good review on them.

I first installed the TRD springs back in Feb and it helped greatly reduced the HORRIBLE body roll that it had stock. Cornering improved some what but it could still be better. I installed the TRD sway bar this past weekend, & it is a must have mod on the XB2(it really should have came off the assembly line installed). Really helped stiffen up the rear & taking corners is such a breeze now. I'm sure I could push it harder but the OEM tires are holding it back.

I also plan to do the TRD strut tower brace at some point, but I don't expect too much help in the handling dept from it.