http://www.dcsports.com/productSubCatImages/52_1_f.jpg
http://www.dcsports.com/productSubCatImages/52_2_f.jpg
http://www.dcsports.com/product_suspension.asp
The DC carbon steel one

versus

http://www.aprperformance.com/images/products/AS-520024.jpg
http://www.aprperformance.com/images/gallery/Scion_Bar_Detail_Bb_Logo.jpg
http://www.aprperformance.com/proddesc.php?catID=7&subcatID=21&productcategoryID=67
APR Performance


Does anyone have any experiences with these? Opinions on which I should get? :nails:

Steel vs. aluminum. Aluminum is lighter but steel is stronger.
I feel better having a secured peice of steel between me and the crumple zone.

Interesting comparison. The DC bar is of a one-piece, non-adjustable design, with two mounting points per side, in steel. The APR one is adjustable (that's a minus), three mounting points per side (that's a plus), in aluminum (I'd have to say that's a minus). Tally everying up, and the DC bar comes out the winner.

In all seriousness though, the fact that the DC bar is one-piece, and made of steel, should be reason enough. I'm no automotive engineer, but those adjustable bars can probably flex and twist at those adjusting points. Kinda defeats the whole purpose of having one in the first place, don't cha think?!

Results are going to be the same with either bar so your decision comes down to looks. Pick whatever looks the best to you.

Moved to CC... :lalala:

i'd go with the dc one... i have it on my box and like it a lot.

Agreed: The DC model is rigid by steel, brute resistance and internal bracing.

That aluminum bar is defective in mechanical design on this key point:
http://www.aprperformance.com/images/products/AS-520024.jpg
Note that the force on the three point mount is a thrust on only ONE of the three tower studs. The other two get a rotating force; as if to spin the tower so to speak.


-these bars all work "fine" I suppose but neither of them would be my first choice-
DC is ultra rigid by material stiffness. Tanabe's Sustec bar is a tension rod working to the same end result, from an opposite and superior philosophy.

I have personal experience with the DC2 CS and so far it has been an excellent product. The thing is built like a rock and it looks really good under any hood. Not bad for $89.00 :bow:

how about the TRD strut bar?

get the cusco carbon fiber strut bar!

Actually socalxb, the DC Sports strut bar is connected by the 3 shock tower bolts. Just thought id clear that up.

I_Don't_Know

Yeah, I realize that, because I have one on my car. But the one in the picture only has two mounting points, so my comparison was limited to what CKGUY914 posted. I've seen other STB's that only have two mounting points, so I thought maybe there was more than one model of DC STB for the xB...

ahh, gotcha. but yeah, personally, if i saw that one with only 2 points, id steer away from it since you can get ones with all 3. but, i also think that its more subtle then having a shiny one, and i like subtleness (i dont know if thats a word or not) But, to me, unless you have other chrome/aluminum components in your engine compartment, it will look kinda wierd.

I agree that the aluminum bar has a defective design. Go with the DC one.

:come: :come: :come: DC!!!!! :bow: aluminum :no:

I am having a hard time finding a DC one for xB that has 3 mounting points, so far all the ones I've seen only have 2 points.

Hotchkis all the way... just b/c the scion dealers offer it and I think there's a good reason why they choose Hotchkis over the rest.

i would save your money and get somethign else. the struts are so close to the firewall on our cars theres NO way they will flex. spend the money on an under chassis brace or progress rear sway bar for noticeable handling gains. the strut bars for the xB are only for looks.

IMO, the differences between the various designs and materials is negligible. This is another mod item that is probably more effective on other vehicle designs. The towers in the xB are so close to the firewall that there's not as much flex as some vehicle designs have. It's worthwhile for the help in steering precision and in appearance, but I seriously doubt that anyone could tell a difference performance-wise from one to another. The advantages/disadvantages are more theoretical than actual.

A good way to get an idea of what the STB does:

Take two pencils/pens and hold them standing up an inch apart. Hold them in the middle. Now lean them to one side or the other like they are the strut towers and the car is cornering. Notice how they may not always be parallel. Now hold them by the middle but with your other hand, hold the tops of both of them. Now when you lean them, they are more rigid and stay parallel. That's like the STB, does that make sense? The movement on the bar is such that whether the bar is steel or alum shouldn't matter. In fact, that's why I think the adjustables are preferable.

Toyota doesn't always pick "The Best" product, there are many other factors included.

The way I see it, I don't like the idea of introducing a rigid piece of steel in a place that is designed to crumple and absorb force. Everyone's got their theories and every accident is different, so who knows...

BTW, I've got the Megan Racing STB.

Nice bar, Great price on eBay, several colors to choose from.

http://images.andale.com/f2/111/109/12114780/1112564207616_MRFUSX04B.gif

I am having a hard time finding a DC one for xB that has 3 mounting points, so far all the ones I've seen only have 2 points.

I've noticed that most pictures of the DC one on online store websites have only two mounting points... but then again most pictures on online store website are totally generic pictures, not the actual application itself. So they might all be using a generic picture of a DC strut tower bar that happens to have 2 mounting points, while the real item has 3. Or am I just wrong? Can anyone confirm if there are 2 bolt and 3 bolt versions?

the dc strut bar has three mounting points not two like some of the pictures, those are just examples, i have the dc and you just cant beat the price

i have the dc and you just cant beat the price

The Megan's run around $40, does that beat it?

You know the the strut towerbar is more for show it's not like you really need it . go for what you think looks best under your hood.