Not sure when or how it happened but I managed to snap my rear sway bar. It has 27k on it. I noticed a very odd pop from the rear. I took it to my muffler installer as I thought it might be something muffler related. Once in the air it was easy to see. I snap, clean break right at the bend just below the weld.

I drive the crapola out of mine, no turn to fast. Its the only real "speed" joy I get and with my setup, springs, front and rear sway and stabilzers, and fresh fat rubber I can grip pretty good on the ole high banks here in Houston. Maybe to much stress?

Funny thing is the other day while on the way to rehearse I spotted another Xb2 he was ridding high so when we dove into a big ole banked over pass he was spilling pretty bad, I was totally centered(the car clearly). It was amusing, those big 20's where everywhere. I got to our practice space and was finishing up on my pregame warmup and he drives up. OOOPS, I noted his paint job said howdy and all was cool.

Not sure if this is when I broke the bar, but I was doing WELL above the posted and hugging. Probably would have heard it. Oh well, covered under warranty. Part to be here tomorrow.




Yes I am the ahole in your rearview, now move on so I can catch the next slowest driver! Nothing personal.

Out

you have the 1st gen sway? try to call your dealer for replacement if you can.

Yep, they replaced it today, and it is different. I did not ask much as the technician said he thought I had hit the other one which caused it to break ............ either way its replaced and its the new one. Props to DonMcGill they stepped up and got it done no questions. Most probably because they are shell shocked from the recall. What a mad house, people freaking out by the camry load! WOW..

That's interesting, you actually broke the bar itself, not the weld. That isn't the usual problem attributed to the original bar so it really does sound like you simply overstressed it. It also suggests only some of the original bars have a weldment issue -- probably something to do with manufacture. Thanks for mentioning that, supports the idea that most original sway bars are just fine (unless you're driving :))!

Yes I am the ahole in your rearview, now move on so I can catch the next slowest driver! Nothing personal.

and i'm that moran who does the rolling road block so you can't pass and speed up if you try to pass

and i'm that moran who does the rolling road block so you can't pass and speed up if you try to pass

x2 :)

and i'm that moron who does the rolling road block so you can't pass and speed up if you try to pass
haha me too

Haha I love being that one!

I'm surprised that in this day & age of road rage shootings so many of you would choose to be the "moron", instead of letting the "ahole" pass you and get as far away as possible.

Personally I prefer not to have somebody sitting on my tail, it's just an accident waiting to happen that would probably end up taking me out too.

Not bashing, just saying... Of course my perspective may be a little different since I survived the regular, and quite fashionable, Los Angeles freeway shootings of the 1980's, when everybody assumed the drivers around them all had firearms.:gun:

threadjack over

Just to be clear, I dont try and start anything, I dont tail gate. But I do change lanes with a TURN SIGNAL rapidly, I do hit every corner as fast as the rubber will take it. I try not to get involved any any chaos. I have my permit but dont carry. Here in Houston you do have to be concerned about getting shot, but you can get shot walking your dog. It's pretty lawless here now that were a daul sanctuary city. Providing refuge for those who left New Orleans for cleaner government housing and better government cheese. And the limitless illegal aliens who line the streets. I digress...

Back the the bar, it was a total SNAP right below the weld. So if I hit it, the weld held. I have not clue what really happened. I do know you can tell A HUGE difference without it and with it. Not sure there is any difference in performance of the old vers new. I do know if your ridin high and you dont have both front and back your not going thru turns like a bat outa hell!

Hi, I am in the A.F. as an Aircraft Structural Maintainer. We bend tubing, and yes it does crack. No matter what it came out of tubes fail. When metal bends it weakens the origional structure, if bent incorrectly (i.e. mandrel too far back or forward) the metal will aquire stress concentrations that do not distribute stress evenly throughout the part. Also, incorrect heat treament can also lead to catastrophic failure. Long story short, bad metal, forming procedures, or both. I geuss the part could have been engineered improperly also. If the math was wrong then the wrong material or wall thickness of the tubing may have been used.

Yes I do enjoy thinking about this stuff, ask Tomas. :)

Back the the bar, it was a total SNAP right below the weld. So if I hit it, the weld held. I have not clue what really happened. I do know you can tell A HUGE difference without it and with it. Not sure there is any difference in performance of the old vers new. I do know if your ridin high and you dont have both front and back your not going thru turns like a bat outa hell!
The xB2 comes with the front sway bar already installed -- but yes, the corner lean is sad (even at low speed) without adding the rear sway bar. Still, it needs lowering springs as well to fully solve the problem :)! Pretty certain the bar design change was purely to install links to eliminate torque stress on the welded bar flanges. I really wouldn't expect a driving performance change.

oh so the 2010 xbs have a front sway bar already? sweet i didn't know i had one.

oh so the 2010 xbs have a front sway bar already? sweet i didn't know i had one.
So did your 2008, it's always been OEM on the 2nd-Gen xB.

oh so the 2010 xbs have a front sway bar already? sweet i didn't know i had one.
As CIONIDE said, yes -- all xB2 have a front sway bar. FWIW -- it seems like the TRD rear sway bar is intended to complement the OE front. From my own experience, the TRD rear sway bar simply belongs :)!

I wouldn't describe the lean behavior without the rear sway bar as bad, rather as conventional. Lean with the rear installed makes it much nicer :)!

As CIONIDE said, yes -- all xB2 have a front sway bar. FWIW -- it seems like the TRD rear sway bar is intended to complement the OE front. From my own experience, the TRD rear sway bar simply belongs :)!

I wouldn't describe the lean behavior without the rear sway bar as bad, rather as conventional. Lean with the rear installed makes it much nicer :)!
sweet. next mod! seeing as i don't have 2k for a full suspension kit. i was thinking of maybe seeing if there was a way to lower the back down. might help in the corners.

sweet. next mod! seeing as i don't have 2k for a full suspension kit. i was thinking of maybe seeing if there was a way to lower the back down. might help in the corners.
A quality set of lowering springs, and either the TRD rear sway bar or a set of Hotchkis front & rear bars (stiffer combo than the TRD rear bar along with the stock front for not much more $$), would all cost +/- $500 total for the parts.

A quality set of lowering springs, and either the TRD rear sway bar or a set of Hotchkis front & rear bars (stiffer combo than the TRD rear bar along with the stock front for not much more $$), would all cost +/- $500 total for the parts.
diy possible? or maybe enlist the help of a friend?

ooo what about there stage 1 tvs?? that looks to have springs and and the bars.

diy possible? or maybe enlist the help of a friend?

ooo what about there stage 1 tvs?? that looks to have springs and and the bars.
Yea, DIY is no problem, just takes some effort and some rental spring compressors. Plenty of info here, just search. The Hotchkis TVS is nice, as long as you want that much drop from the springs. Check out the suspension sticky for drop specs:
http://scionlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157339

Hit me up on PM if you want to discuss.

BTW, did you get the HK hang mans doll for the rear yet?

Im actually ordering the hello kitty thing this week before the car show lol. actually can u pm me that convo? i have no idea where that ebay link went.

Im actually ordering the hello kitty thing this week before the car show lol. actually can u pm me that convo? i have no idea where that ebay link went.
Neither do I, just do an eBay search for hello kitty doll and find the one you like. Also check where it comes from. If it's China or Honk Kong, it will take forever to arrive and might cost more to ship than the doll itself.

Now you just need to make a little noose to hang her from.

My TRD rear sway bar broke the tab on the left side and TRD isn't covering it since I just turned 43k mikes on my '08. Bought the rear sway and front brace when I Bought the car and had the dealer install. Basically since TRD didn't actually make the sway bar, It was sourced through a 3rd party, they aren't replacing them even though they have since redesigned and given the new sway bar a different number. Not very Happy with TRD at this point for sure.

Almost 3 years on mine and no issues *knocks on wood*. Luckily my bro can weld so I have that covered if it ever breaks.

^^ same here ^^

Man, it was fun reading this thread again -- been a while :)! I don't push my 2008 and the suspension feels great (original TRD sway bar, Tanabe tower brace, Eibach Prokit springs).