View Full Version : anyone having problems with their strut bars?


l_Z_l
12-17-2004, 04:43 AM
has ne1 really taken a close look at their strut bar?

are there ne problems? like little peeling...finish cracking....nething in particular?

just a random question cuz some guy at a dealer ship said only reason trd would put a hold on an item (Hotchkis Strut Bar) would be quality issues....

thanks for your input guys...

sciontc_mich
12-17-2004, 06:01 AM
has ne1 really taken a close look at their strut bar?

are there ne problems? like little peeling...finish cracking....nething in particular?

just a random question cuz some guy at a dealer ship said only reason trd would put a hold on an item (Hotchkis Strut Bar) would be quality issues....

thanks for your input guys...

i would put much worth in a dealerships thoughts.. since they're always the last to know about anything!

But the reason there is a hold on the strut bars is because the demand was much higher than Scion expected. I talked to Scion corporate and they told me that they have removed it from the website because they have to fill the incoming shipments of the strut bar to those who have already ordered it. That's why it's not available. best thing to do is order one and wait in line. There isn't anything wrong with the bar at all. I got mine in august right when the hold began. Mine is completely fine, it's a brushed alumninum and looks great.

cinccycat
12-17-2004, 07:05 AM
I got the rear sway bar going on tommorrow, so I guess the hold is over.

tC_Dragon
12-17-2004, 07:20 AM
I got the rear sway bar going on tommorrow, so I guess the hold is over.


dooood read the thread more carefully, he said strut bar. Not rear anti-sway bar.

And for Z aka the other tc in my avatar... i'm not having any problems with my strut bar and if u want... u can take a look at it next time we chill. Peace... oh and don't get ur ___ kicked sparring tomorrow...

PS. Dood Jung, when r we gonna go paintballing? i got hte passes remember? maybe next saturday? or is that christmas? ____.. it is.. nevermind...

thelast60
12-18-2004, 06:26 PM
I have a problem with mine. Where my air filter and that lil section is, it hits my bar and makes a knocking noise...very annoying.

nycazn79
12-18-2004, 07:24 PM
The reason that the hotchiks strut bar is not currently being offered cause they are redesigning it. The bar is very close to (in some cases leaning against) the brake fluid reservoir. Although there has not been any problems from this occurrence, the bar is being redesigned to avoid any future liability problems. A recall for the ones out there already will probably not happen. This is according to Paul at www.mcgeorgeparts.com

sciontc_mich
12-18-2004, 09:08 PM
what about those of us that want the new updated part when it comes out? out of luck? i am leasing my tC (okay no flames on that one) and the strut bar is in the lease payments.. i think i might have a leg to stand on to argue getting the new updated part?

Fitty2005
12-19-2004, 02:25 AM
Ok I maybe a bit new to some of these parts.... and since no question is a dumb question ...

What are the benifits of adding a strut bar or sway bar, what is their functionality ...

Thanks for your help

sciontc_mich
12-19-2004, 04:45 AM
UPDATE: I checked the clearances on my strut bar.. it may come close to the brake reservoir but it has about and inch or so of clearance.. not touching at all.. even my civic's was that close to the reservoir (neuspeed strut bar).. maybe mine's already been redesigned.. there's plenty of clearance..

STRUT BAR..
for the newbie question.. a strut tower bar is a solid bar that connected the two strut towers.. the front end in a unibody type construction has the front end look like the letter U , which is a cradle that the engine sits in.. however.. when turning right or left.. the body will flex.. and the tops of that U are the strut towers.. that will flex up and cause a lack of chassis stiffness.. if you connected those two points you'd increase the stiffness or rigidity of the front end.. and hence a better steering feel..

the tC already has its strut towers connected to the firewall and a-pillars.. so most believe that a strut tower isn't needed.. but for me, i think that a strut tower bar on the tC just adds a little more rigidity to the chassis.. the steering is a little more sharp.. which works for me.. hope that explains what a strut tower bar is for you..

SWAY BAR
It ties the lower suspension pieces together with a bar that rotates when the suspension is being loaded/unloaded around a corner (turning).. this is what keeps the car "flat" and low levels of body lean.. the tires are kept planted on the ground resisting the kinetic energy to cause the tires to not maintain themselves even on the ground. hope that helps you with the definition of a sway bar.. others may have a different explanation (more in depth) on here..

spwolf
12-19-2004, 09:06 AM
i heard from my dealer that strut bars/tower braces are too strong for tC and are causing chasis to move at certain places, essentially causing damage to the chasis... I am calling Scion NOW!

spwolf
12-19-2004, 09:07 AM
:-)

sciontc_mich
12-19-2004, 09:11 AM
wow.. yeah let us know what scion tells you.. unless you're joking, then i'll have a good laugh :)

kyleb350
12-19-2004, 10:12 AM
Too strong? Doesn't that mean the parts are doing their job? lol

Wait, you ARE joking aren't you?

Fitty2005
12-20-2004, 03:36 AM
UPDATE: I checked the clearances on my strut bar.. it may come close to the brake reservoir but it has about and inch or so of clearance.. not touching at all.. even my civic's was that close to the reservoir (neuspeed strut bar).. maybe mine's already been redesigned.. there's plenty of clearance..

STRUT BAR..
for the newbie question.. a strut tower bar is a solid bar that connected the two strut towers.. the front end in a unibody type construction has the front end look like the letter U , which is a cradle that the engine sits in.. however.. when turning right or left.. the body will flex.. and the tops of that U are the strut towers.. that will flex up and cause a lack of chassis stiffness.. if you connected those two points you'd increase the stiffness or rigidity of the front end.. and hence a better steering feel..

the tC already has its strut towers connected to the firewall and a-pillars.. so most believe that a strut tower isn't needed.. but for me, i think that a strut tower bar on the tC just adds a little more rigidity to the chassis.. the steering is a little more sharp.. which works for me.. hope that explains what a strut tower bar is for you..

SWAY BAR
It ties the lower suspension pieces together with a bar that rotates when the suspension is being loaded/unloaded around a corner (turning).. this is what keeps the car "flat" and low levels of body lean.. the tires are kept planted on the ground resisting the kinetic energy to cause the tires to not maintain themselves even on the ground. hope that helps you with the definition of a sway bar.. others may have a different explanation (more in depth) on here..



Hey thanks alot, makes it clear as day...

our_tc
12-20-2004, 07:30 AM
I just got my TC this week and here's the story as told to me by the factory mechanic: They are re-engineering the bar beecause they have had some cases where the bar has cracked or snapped at the mid point. No flaming guys, just passing it on...

sciontc_mich
12-20-2004, 07:32 AM
hey fitty.. no problem.. glad i could explain it clearly :)

so hey if the bar breaks i guess that's covered under warranty, right? :lol: :wink:

our_tc
12-20-2004, 07:34 AM
maybe that's why they are taking them off...not worth the cost of replacing them?

sciontc_mich
12-20-2004, 07:37 AM
so the dealers are removing them and not replacing them with anything? if they do that, they can renegotiate my lease payments..

HOLLOWMANGT69
09-28-2007, 08:08 PM
Well with the recent release of the 08 scion tc i'm betting that TRD has redone there strut bars.

Aroddalobster
09-28-2007, 09:22 PM
Wow u brought a thread back to life from almost a 3 year coma.

Duartizzle
09-28-2007, 09:52 PM
haha yeah for sure. i was like "hold on strut bars? wtf?"

ippskidder
01-11-2008, 02:38 PM
I'm going to get a strut bar next paycheck, woooot.

Not sure which one.

I'm between hotchkis and dc sports.

I've heard dc sports is more rigid, but it might cause a problem because I have the ingalls stiffy, installed as well.

Anyone shed some light on this, and yessss i am using the SEARCH button. :P

phoenix_2o1_rising
01-21-2008, 10:37 PM
as for having the ingalls and c sports, all i did was put some washers on the driver side strut tower to even it out... with it torqued to spec. with the ingalls and dc sports, you will have 2 or 3 threads left sticking out the top, installation is very easy

BZinn1
01-22-2008, 01:01 AM
That was some deep reading........I gotta go to Bremerton and give him a smack now......LOL

Dondirtyj
01-24-2008, 02:28 AM
hold??? what??? ohh 4 years ago....duh!!!