does anyone have the HOTCHKIS front upper strut brace for there TC?!

has anyone driven without it then with it?! does it feel any different or better?!

shoud i go search and buy one?! anywher for cheap!?

 

I have it and its tighten the steering and cornering considerably

 

I have no "before" apart from my test drive in a auto tC at slow speeds. The "after" is absolutely wonderful. For my $$, the tC needs suspension mods before anything else. It's all a question of taste, but I believe that your best $1000 in mods is probably going to go into springs, sway bar and strut tower bars. The suspension is quite refined and lithe for a FWD, but it suffers from quite a bit of body roll.

I have the TRD exhaust and wish I had the Springs instead, artistic and pavlovian responses aside (Louder exhaust = I am going faster!). As far as the strut bar specifically? It looks great, probably helps a bit, and isn't all that expensive.... I'd recommend it.

 

I did not drive with just a strut brace installed, but together with springs and rear sway bar the car feels much much better. I'd say do the whole thing - the strut bar by itself will have very little effect.

 

I ordered my tC with the strut bar installed so I have no idea what it feels like without, but I do know that with the strut bar alone I'm easily handling corners that would have made any other FWD I've driven (including my Celica) squeel going around. I'm planning on getting the TRD springs and sway bars shortly :D

 

I went from stock to Springs/Sway bar/Strut brace all at once...it felt like I drove a different car back home :D

 

it should with all that stuff on there......

 

anyone care to comment on how much "stiffer" the ride is with the trd springs, strut and sway bar installed? e.g., how much is ride "quality" affected (of course I realize that those installing everything may be more concerned with handling then ride quality but any comments you can provide are welcome).

 

I installed the trd springs and the car rides very much like the stock springs. Its only slighty stiffer barely even noticeable. I dont think the strut bar is going to affect your ride quality. All it does is prevent body flex by tying the two strut towers together.

 

thx guys. i gues ill get it wen i get my dampers in... since thats the best time to get it any ways frum everyone's experience.