What exactly do sway bars do?

[TSXB]

Are they worth installing? I have a set laying in the basement and I'll get them installed if they actually have a function other than looking nice. Does it help control the car? Someone told me don't put them on because my car comes with it already. PS - I won them at a show last year and that's why I have them.

[PunkInDrublic]

They're probably the #1 most noticeable performance mod next to a turbo/supercharger.

In short they reduce the body roll of your car, tightening up your suspension and allowing you to corner faster/flatter.

Your car DOES come with them already, but these are made of better materials and are thicker.

[BoxinBuzz]

Nah, They don't do anything. I'll take them off your hands for ya..

lol. Put em on, It's worth it.

[TSXB]

Haha. My girlfriend kept telling me to sell them, but I was looking up prices and they aren't exactly cheap to get right? So I might as well put them to use if I can.

Where do I go to get them installed?? How much does it generally cost?

[Neothin]

i couldnt see a shop charging you more than 100 bucks to install them. if you want to try it yourself, i'm sure somewhere on this humongous site there's an xB swaybar DIY.

[TSXB]

I would never attempt that. You're lucky I figured out how to put my tail lights on. Going under a car is a completely different story haha! (It is underneath right?) *hides*

[Neothin]

yes, it's underneith the car :-P

i'd start calling around to local shops

[inversed]

just out of curiosity, what brand sways are they?

[Boxer_Rebellion]

Don't waste your time with the front sway bar. Just do the rear, and install it yourself (like 5-10 minutes.)

[vintage42]

Originally Posted by Neothin

i couldnt see a shop charging you more than 100 bucks to install them. if you want to try it yourself, i'm sure somewhere on this humongous site there's an xB swaybar DIY.

It is so simple that there might not need to be DIY. It is just a bent bar that is bolted into two existing holes at each end. Two tips:
1. It may be possible to install the bar with the car on the ground, but it is a lot easier with a low ramp like http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...e/IMG_1243.jpg
2. It is not possible to install the bolts unless both ends of the very heavy bar are supported close to their final position. In the absence of a helper to hold up the far end of the bar, if can get the car up high enough you might be able get enough of you under it to hold up the far end of the bar with a leg. Then the leg has to hold far end in place while you hold the near end and start the bolts on your end. Takes agility and strength. It is a lot easier just to strap the far end of the bar in place with a big plastic tie around the suspension beam, leaving you free to do lift and the bolts on your end.

[vintage42]

Originally Posted by TSXB

Are they worth installing? ... Does it help control the car? Someone told me don't put them on because my car comes with it already..

Rear sway bars resist the car's leaning by twisting. As the car leans to one side, one side of the rear suspension is compressed up and the other side drops down to keep the wheel on the road. A sway bar links both sides together and makes them twist the bar in opposite directions against each other, interferring with the lean.
Many cars come with thin sway bars, but they are to control lean, not to almost eliminate it. A sway bar to eliminate lean must be thicker, so heavier, and so more expensive than a stock sway bar.

[tanakasan]

Originally Posted by TSXB

I would never attempt that. You're lucky I figured out how to put my tail lights on. Going under a car is a completely different story haha! (It is underneath right?) *hides*

If you can do tail lights, YOU can put a REAR sway bar on!

Don't pay someone to do this, its EZ. Unless you have no tools AND zero ability. Its a 1 on a 1~10 EZ.

Link to DIY thread:
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/view...=59159&start=0

Its real easy-10 minutes...OK, fifteen or so. Use zip ties or boxes or the inside of the rim (see DIY) to hold up the far end as you work.

Get Progress/TRD/Whiteline (22mm) rear bar and keep front stock sway bar, its sufficient. Hotchkiss RSB is too small (13mm) diameter-sorry Hotchkiss owners.

[TSXB]

I think it's Hotchkis? It's red. I know that lol.

I'll read the DIY, let me see...

[tanakasan]

Good luck!

Best, easy handling mod out there for the $$. You have the hard part done, you already own the bar!

Hope its a TRD. They are red also. If its a F/R set, probably hotchkiss.

[TSXB]

Yeah it's Hotchkis. I remember looking it up and trying to remember how to spell it. lol

[tanakasan]

Definitely avoid installing the fronts then. I *hear* they are a **** to do.

Maybe sell and get one of the above rear only bars? Front is already sufficient. The rear is non existent and benefits from the 22mm~7/8" size. Just a thought.