Just installed the read sway bar. Two days ago, I installed the strut tower brace.

The box handles much much better now Less body roll and I'm able to take and maintain a tighter line into turns.

If I had to choose only one item between the tower brace vs. sway bar, I'd probably go with the tower brace.

Next bolt-on will be the springs.

 

Just wondering but why would you choose the tower brace over the sway bar? The sway bar is way more beneficial then the tower brace.

What springs are you installing? I did the TRDs and they are perfect IMO. Just the right stance and it helped alot with the body roll & now I can actually speed up in the turn. Before it was just scary taking a really sharp turn.

 

he did both.

I got a sway on my tC and its got to be by far one of the best mods I have for my car.

 

I agree. I would definitely choose the rear over the front bar, both xB and tC. Less weight in the rear.

 

I'm going to chime in and also concur with the rear-sway being far more beneficial than the strut-bar. Currently I have the TRD springs & rear-sway working together (no strut-bar, but I had one on my previous ride). I installed the rear-sway first, and WOWOWOWOW... totally stiffened up the rear-chassis and allowed the rear end to come around easier in turns. Once I threw on the TRD springs, the body roll significantly dropped, and I was REALLY able to push it through turns. At this point, I honestly don't even care about the strut bar... I don't really know how much benefit it would provide.

 

Perhaps it's because I installed the tower brace first, but I felt like it helped AIM the box better than stock. After a couple of days, I added the rear sway bar it makes the rear less squirmy and brought it inline.

If I had installed the rear sway bar before the front tower brace, I may have a different opinion. Anybody installed it in this sequence?

To me, imho I'd prefer to have more control in the front than in the rear....but now that I have both I really like it with both bars.

I ordered the NF210's but I am still wavering between the TRD springs & shock combo.

My options are:
a) NF210 springs + Stock shocks
b) TRD springs + Stock shocks
c) TRD springs + TRD shocks
d) NF210 springs + TRD shocks

decisions, decisions.

 

I have your option B installed right now & I don't know if its just in my head but it feels alot more bouncy than prior. Anybody who's done the TRD springs/stock shocks combo have this problem?

Might sound like an idiot, but could I have possibly installed one backwards?

 

rear sway ftw. my xa handles 100 times better with it

 

On a FWD vehicle in concept a RSB should help more. In my own experience it has as well. Yet to do it to the xB though, but it's on my to do list.

 

Well sure it's going to be bouncier... you upped your spring rate pretty significantly (meaning there's less give).

 

Yea I know it was going to be more but not this much. From what I had read from other reviews it was slightly more & stiffer. So if I get the TRD shocks will it bounce less?

 

That's why I was thinking of just getting the Tanabe NF210's with the stock shocks.

 

I have the TRD front, rear, shocks and springs. I feel like the ride is actually more smooth. While the spring rates of the springs is higher, the shocks are more forgiving than stock, and makes the ride much more smooth. hope that helps

 

With the NF210's my xB rides more like a performance sedan with independent suspension than a truck with a solid rear axle. The daily driver ride is still compliant, but the body roll in turns is GREATLY reduced. I went with the Tanabe's because I expected the higher spring rate of the TRD's to ride a little choppier (and it sounds like they do). Since the drop isn't as drastic as DF's, I'm living with the stock struts/shocks right now, but will probably get the TRD's later. I anticipate putting on the TRD rear sway bar, and then the front strut tie bar, to tighten things up a little more, without making it choppy.

 

Are the NF's stiffer than the stock springs?

Do you think that adding the TRD shocks would make it ride mushy like an old LTD station wagon?

 

I feel that adding the front and rear bars actually reduced the pogo effect? Any others feel the same way?

 

The NF's are stiffer by no more than 5% (as per Tanabe), while the TRD's are about 10% stiffer. The more significant point is that the stock springs are NOT progressive, which is what makes them ride so bouncy & choppy.

I would say that it is time to stop your internal dialog now , and put on the NF's when they arrive.

YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!

I had all the same concerns you do, and love 'em.