So, my friend was supposed to come by the shop last night & help me install sway bars, but the owner kept him working late so he never showed. While I was waiting for him, I decided to get started on the front. I knew it was harder than the rear, but I thought I'd have help. Lemme tell you... that is NOT a one person job! Not to mention, the instructions from Hotchkis aren't exactly correct. They tell you the wrong size- 14mm when it's 17 or 19mm- and they forget some steps- like removing the bolts for the rear engine mount. And I don't see how this job is possible without tranny jacks.

But after much pulling & prying on my baby, the front sway bar is in! It was so late last night by the time I was finished & I was so tired & sore that I didn't get to the rear sway bar. Hopefully I'll have time to install it tonight & I'll be sure to take pictures when it's all done!

 

Can you tell me which bolts if you remember? I will get the instructions corrected. On most sport compact cars the install is about the same. A PAIN IN THE ___. I will look into some of the other things you mentioned. We have a TC here.

 

I'm glad even the manufacturer admits the install is a pain. That is the only reason that I haven't replaced my TRD rear bar with a Hotchkis pair.

 

If you dont want to install the sways yourself, you can always take them to a scion dealer and have them intall it, they'll charge you $50.

 

Dammit. My sways are scheduled to arrive on monday and I decided to take out the front stock sway and get the car ready for the hotchkis sway. I didn't realize you'd have to drop the engine cradle up until half way into the install...sh*t! Word of advice. Don't do it in your garage

 

Wes is correct, all FWD sways are a pain to install, why I am making my motor mounts, installing an LSD and clutch, coilovers, etec, etc, all at the same time

Really cool to come out and say it is a pain and that you want to know what needs to be corrected on the install guide.

If you can find a dealer willing to install a front bar for $50 do it!!!!!!

I have the two part eurathane ready for the motor mounts(by far the best way to cure axle hop;) coilovers will be here tomorrow, LSD should be here Monday, still working out the clutch plan as probably having a custom one made but they will do it fast for me, just need to get the sways on the way as well as the rear camber kit;););)

Rick

 

Thanks for posting Wes. Good to see a very reputable company concerned for their consumers. When I get my car back on the lift, I will make notes as to the discrepancies and let you know. Thanks!

 

You obviously missed what happened to my tC. This is my second tC because I took my first one in for warrany work and the dumbass technician wrecked my car with only 400 miles on it! I will never take my car to a dealership for service, not even my free oil changes.

 

What's an LSD...sorry for the noob question?

 

stands for limited slip differential

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm

 

Dude, ____ happens. Wouldn't you rather they test drive it instead not testing at all to see if the thing they just fixed was indeed fixed?

I understand your pain, but at least you got a new car...

 

Thanks beantown. I should've know that

 

How did your rear installation go?

I decided to start with the rear first, because I only had about 2 hours of sunlight today.

Fist off I am not a total noob, I have installed a suspension lift in my Jeep by myself before. But I am already stuck on something that should be so simple.

The mounting brackets are a pain too, since there is a slit that seperates them. I understand now that "A LOT" of lub in required the get the metal bracket to wrap around them.

However, in the rear there is a screw mountedon each sides mounting point to the frame that I cannot remove. The instructions say to use the included screw bolt and screw. But the directions say nothing about removing them.

Any advise on installing the brackets?

Thanks

 

Dude, they didn't fix anything. And they couldn't even do my alignment. I'd like to see someone smash the side of your car in and hear you say "It's ok. ____ happens"!

 

I'm doing it tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. And I'll try to take pics too.

But I love the difference the front bar has made so far. Can't wait to see how my tC does with the rear bar!

 

i didnt see how it was possible to install a sway bar in the front too. looks puzzling

 

Well, you're really just replacing the factory/stock sway bar that's already there.

 

My rear installation was very easy- it took me about 45 minutes to an hour to put it in. The "hardest" part was getting the new bar in place- it's little awkward because the Hotchkis bar is so much thicker than the stock. It takes a little going back and forth but nothing that bad at all. The install instructions were 100% correct and very easy.

Marshall- the bottom black screw does not need to be removed. You simply take the bottom nutt off, and leave the screw in place. Then take the top bolt out on each side and slide the stock bar off the screw. You replace the top bolt with the 8mm Allen head bolt and replace the bottom nut wih the new nut they give you.

It was actually very easy to get the bushings on. You just lube them up with the grease and pull them apart at the slit, slide the bar in where you have the slit pulled apart and push the bushing on.

Hotchkis- I will go though and let you know which bolt measurements were off on the front install.

Cheers to Hotchkis! These sway bars are sweet. My tC handles so much better now- much smoother in turns without the body roll. Even on the softest setting the roll is eliminated. I love my Hotchkis sway bars!

 

Question... is the Hotchkis front/rear set better than just the TRD rear sway? Why didn't TRD make a front sway bar?

 

The hotchkis front/rear sway is lightyears better than the TRD rear bar. The TRD bar gives you either 39% or 64% stiffer than the stock bar. The Hotchkis bar gives you ...

% Stiffer Than Stock
Front Bar - 40% / 68%
Rear Bar - 273% / 304% / 338%

As you can see, the Hotchkis bar is a lot stiffer. As far as why TRD didn't make a front bar, I dont know.