I'm going to try and get to Import Pick n' Pull today to see if another Toyota has a shorter link. My Supra has a shorter link, but it's way too short. I'm hoping to find one about two inches shorter.

 

TRD struts, TVS1, Same problem. Centered and correctly mounted.
Keep me posted, too. Thanks

 

So this isn't a problem with TEIN coilovers and Hotchkis sways. It is a hotchkis front sway bar problem.

 

There's nothing '96 or earlier that is of any use. The MkI MR2 has links about the right length, but they are far too small in diameter. The tC links are pretty hefty at 10mm, the earlier links are barely 8mm. They look spindly next to each other, and they only have 8mm studs, the tC has 10mm.

Next best bet is to cut the OEM pieces, thread them left and right and put a turnbuckle on them. Oh, and I'd like to know if the rumors of breaking a 10mm rod can be substantiated. I have my doubts about it, but if there's someone who can say it happened to me, I'd like to know before I waste a bunch of time at the machine shop.

 

yikes, so the problems still persist

 

so i checked mine today after seeing this thread....

i have TRD springs/shocks
with both the front and rear bars on...

not a problem at all.. so it's gotta be your drop that is causing it...

i'll post pix tomorrow...

 

Problem is, there are some of us lowered with Hotchkis springs on stock struts (or TRD struts) and we're having the problem as well. My noise is as loud as its ever been now. I've already decided to pull the front sway off and replace it with the stock one again. I can't handle it any longer.

 

Maybe the Hotchkis springs or lowering more than about 2" is the problem??

 

Initially I thought it was the Tein mount being lower, but now it seems if there's enough drop, the bar is sitting at a bad angle compared to stock and it just doesn't have enough clearance.

I'd be happy if they just said, hey, you need new end links, we've built them, we should have included them but didn't anticipate this issue, so here they are at a bargain price.

Regardless, I plan to do an end link solution. I like the way the bar works on the car. I've even considered cutting the bar and welding on the OEM ends as a solution, but I think shortening the end link about 50mm or so should do the trick.

There's another thread about a recall. That would suck.

 

Do you think raising the car up will alleviate the problem enough until a solution is found?

 

It sounds reasonable. Strangely enough, it would lower the bar from where it sits now, and likely move it below the tie rod end. I hadn't really thought of it from that perspective. I guess I need to finish my Supra wheel bearings so I can get my tC back up on jackstands to measure and model this thing for the right solution.

 

Well Lance I for one appreciate the time and dedication you're putting into this. Perhaps for the time being I'll just live with the noise. I guess I was apprehensive about that because I didn't want the bar to damage anything by hitting it repeatedly.

It just seems kinda odd that this many people are having issues, but it isn't being addressed very directly. It shouldn't be left to those of us who purchased it to troubleshoot it -- I thought that was the manufacturer's responsibility.

 

I've been buying racecar parts for a long time. They never fit right, they're sold as is, and you always have something that they didn't figure on when they built it, even though you'd think lowering the car and installing the bars would be pretty common.

I've also asked Hotchkis privately and publicly if they've modeled the suspension to determine CG and roll center only to get no response. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I would probably have done this before I designed any suspension mods myself. I expected they would have anyway, it's not rocket science, but it is tedious.

Maybe they were in a rush to beat the competition to market? I don't know. I'm a little disappointed, but it's nothing I can't fix myself.

 

pix of my car with the bar on and the trd springs...

 

So to recap, it sounds as if I go ahead and install my TRD shocks with the TRD springs, my Hotchks sways won't rub since the springs don't drop the car low enough where there would be rubbing. If someone could just validate that for me so I don't spend more money on installation than necessary, I'd be a happy camper.

 

yeah the above is correct cuz i have the SAME set up on my car and as you can see from pix.. it is ALL GOOD!

and i auto-x that car appx 2-3 times a month so.. if it's still going strong.. you got nothing to worry about...

 

I dunno, personally I'd say it's hard to really give a definite answer whether they're gonna rub or not. Hotchkis springs don't lowe the car much lower than the TRD springs, and yet I still have rubbing and noises.

 

i have had mine on for a good 4-5 months.. while auto-xing the whole time...

maybe it's your install jaydub...

anyone have the numbers on each drop...
hotchkiss and trd?

all i know is.. everyhting is perfect on my car... interms of the bars.. no rubbing at all.. nothing... no paint chips anywhere near it...

 

My install has been checked and double checked by the shop foreman at the Scion dealership. Everything is within spec, everything is torqued properly. I have faith in their work, and I've been able to isolate the source of the noise to the Hotchkis bar because my car was previously lowered with stock swaybars, and the addition of the Hotchkis bar introduced the noise.

 

hotchkis drop
Front 1.7" (43mm) Drop 175 lbs/in (Stock 150 lbs/in)

Rear 1.97" (50mm) Drop 285 lb/in (245 lbs/in)

TRD Lowering Springs lower the tC approximately 1.25”, front and rear,

that is enough of a difference to cause your problem...