View Full Version : Best suspension mod?


Sprockett
10-30-2004, 06:46 PM
I have an xA with the optional TRD springs/struts and the front strut bar. I still notice a lot of body roll, and I really like my cars to handle well...so I was wondering what the best suspension mod I could do to make the car handle a lot better (like brand/everything)....I really appreciate any help you guys could give me. I am thinking like a sway bar kit, but I don't know which is the best...

Thanks again

Tyler

hotbox05
10-30-2004, 08:48 PM
rear add on bar . and under braces rock too.

its_ikon
10-30-2004, 09:20 PM
front and rear sway bar should do the trick very nicely. you have the basics already done.

Sprockett
10-30-2004, 09:52 PM
Would you recommend Cusco, Hotchkiss or Progress?

hotbox05
10-30-2004, 10:19 PM
cusco is the ____ but most people have been giving rave reviews with a hotchkis front and progress rear.

10-31-2004, 06:35 AM
yeah the trd springs are cool, but the RS*R springs are really made for less body roll and comfortable ride. Also the hotchkis sways are great and I just added the JIC under car brace type2. I also have 18s on the car, so I have no body roll at all!! :shock: :D

its_ikon
10-31-2004, 04:47 PM
Would you recommend Cusco, Hotchkiss or Progress?

i would go with hotchkis. they are track proven just like most of their components.

woof
10-31-2004, 05:21 PM
Thr Progess Tech rear bar should do nicely. It's the only suspension mod I have on my box and it really improves the feel and roll. It's an add-on and only costs $150 delivered. (22mm)

10-31-2004, 07:57 PM
Thr Progess Tech rear bar should do nicely. It's the only suspension mod I have on my box and it really improves the feel and roll. It's an add-on and only costs $150 delivered. (22mm)

yeah I can't justify 150.00 for a rear bar and than the hochtkis sway-bar set-up is about 20to30 bucks more. Just my opinion.

hotbox05
10-31-2004, 10:14 PM
gabe make a bar. just use 3/8" square bar and yeah bend it and then weld on some tabs for the connectors. c-mon man. ya know ya want to.

11-01-2004, 04:21 AM
gabe make a bar. just use 3/8" square bar and yeah bend it and then weld on some tabs for the connectors. c-mon man. ya know ya want to.

:lol: Thought about it, but I knew that no one would want a BBQ grill handle for a sway bar. :D

squirrel
11-01-2004, 05:37 AM
I have an xA with the optional TRD springs/struts and the front strut bar. I still notice a lot of body roll, and I really like my cars to handle well...so I was wondering what the best suspension mod I could do to make the car handle a lot better (like brand/everything)....I really appreciate any help you guys could give me. I am thinking like a sway bar kit, but I don't know which is the best...

Since you ready have the TRD shocks and springs, I would go w/ the Hotchkis sway bar set. If you plan on auto-xing, or come from a roadrace type background, you may also want to add the Progress rear bar.

If its just one mod, then I'd go w/ the Hotchkis bars.

Jeff_Chicago
11-01-2004, 06:14 PM
Airride! Nuff said.

11-01-2004, 06:56 PM
Airride! Nuff said.
for body roll problems, I don't think the bags will help. But dude, bags are still sick. :D

LeeD
11-02-2004, 08:27 AM
A more neutral balance will give you more cornering adhesion because your working all 4 tires.

These cars are front wheel drive. They are heavily front weight biased. What you need to do is change the balance.

If you seriously want to get your car to handle better, get only the rear swaybar.

If you really don't car about max handling performance and just want to increase the list of mods on your car, get front and rear, but it won't improve the balance.

If you REALLY want to improve the balance, get an adjustable front sway bar, and a MUCH THICKER(than the Progressive) adjustable sway bar for the rear. Unfortunately, none of these exist as far as I know.

Also as far as I know, none of these are even adjustable (correction: I learned some are adjustable...), so these really are only for the street and not for any competitive autoxing or track. If you trully want to be the fastest, get the rear only. If you want to be the coolest, get both.

Trying not to toot my own horn, but I've autox'd for a number of years, driven cars on the track for 8+yrs, and have been succesful driving and setuping up suspension at a competitive level. I've played around with swaybars alot when I autoxed, trying to find that extra .2sec or .4sec. Trust me, it's faster.

If you think I'm wrong, then tell me that you've G-tech'd it and what your lap time differences were, or your autox session time differences were. "Seat of the pants" performance doesn't win races.

Minsk99
11-02-2004, 09:30 PM
I had the Hotchkis set for both the front and rear for a few months and then switched the rear one for the Progress. I would recommend going just Progress in the back if your main concern is getting rid of some understeer. If you got the $ then put the Hotchkis in the front as well and you will alleviate some roll in the front (but perhaps have a little more understeer then if you left the stock one in). Anyway, I'm really happy with my setup as is. I also have the Hotchkis strut tower bar, JIC type II under-frame brace and the Circuit Sports rear sub frame brace. Of all these I would say the Progress bar in the rear gave me the best performance gains in therms of suspension.

I also just got the TRD rear under-frame brace for the Echo and am going to probably have it welded in place. I'll let you know how it goes.

squirrel
11-02-2004, 10:46 PM
I had the Hotchkis set for both the front and rear for a few months and then switched the rear one for the Progress. I would recommend going just Progress in the back if your main concern is getting rid of some understeer. If you got the $ then put the Hotchkis in the front as well and you will alleviate some roll in the front (but perhaps have a little more understeer then if you left the stock one in). Anyway, I'm really happy with my setup as is. I also have the Hotchkis strut tower bar, JIC type II under-frame brace and the Circuit Sports rear sub frame brace. Of all these I would say the Progress bar in the rear gave me the best performance gains in therms of suspension.

I also just got the TRD rear under-frame brace for the Echo and am going to probably have it welded in place. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ok, who has the spy camera in my garage!?!

Another person with whom we think alike.

Lip
11-04-2004, 05:21 PM
Circuit Sports rear sub frame brace

can you 2 tell me where the heck i can find that brace. i don't see it anywhere. I'm basically looking for either the cusco or the jic 2's front and that rear brace but to no avail

Minsk99
11-04-2004, 09:36 PM
Circuit Sports rear sub frame brace

can you 2 tell me where the heck i can find that brace. i don't see it anywhere. I'm basically looking for either the cusco or the jic 2's front and that rear brace but to no avail
Sent you a PM.