So i've got some money and I want to play with my suspension a bit. i'm considering the hotchkis spring and sways since they come as a kit. i called hotchkis and they said there is enough stock rear camber adjustment that i shouldn't need the camber kit. my question is what are the benefits of the hotchkis front sway versus the stock front sway? how will this affect my turn in? what setup would give me optimum handling. I don't race but i like to have fun on twisty roads. i would much rather have a well balanced car suspension wise that one that will fly down the straights. I'll tackle that later. i have about $450 to spend. Would it be better to get the springs and just a rear sway bar? suggestions would be helpful. i owned a stock 03 mazdaspeed protege and it handled pretty well. granted it has an lsd. i would like my tc to equal or surpass the msp if possible without going as far as busting open the tranny. i'm aware of how not having an lsd will affect me. thanks in advance

 

Honestly, if you're just wanting to spruce up a daily driver, you'd be just fine with the springs and only a rear sway. But I don't think you can get the Hotchkis rear sway alone, so you'd have to go with TRD or Progress (both of which are perfectly fine).

And they're right about the camber. Just get it aligned after you get everything installed and you're good to go.

And if you haven't read through it yet, this might help:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=105012

 

if i were you..and this were my daily driver, i wouldnt go with a front sway. the reason behind that is that hotckis didnt really put alot of time into their R & D so practically everone who has one complains that it doesnt fit right, or that it needs to be greased all the time. if your willing to put up wit that then its cool go ahead and get it.

but for daily driving, you would be fine with just the springs(hotckis is pretty nice) and a rear sway..i prefer the Progress, but TRD is fine as well.

later down the line you may wanna look into some Koni or TRD shocks, which will greatly improve the feel.

 

muchos gracias! that helps with my front sway decision. now i just have to decide on the springs. i may just do the trd rear and the some s-tech springs. i'm still deciding on the s-techs or the hotchkis...any suggestions with educated reasons as to why?

 

i suggest hotckis..it looks nice, and performs nice, plus hotchkis may as well be another branch of trd so you know itll work good

 

If you're just looking to inprove the handling for daily driving them the Hotchkis springs and TRD rear sway would do you just fine. There isn't anything wrong with the Hotchkis sway bars either. The only people who complain about them are the people who didn't install them properly. Any time you use polyurethane bushing you're going to have to keep them greased up. If you us a polygraphite lube you won't have to do it as often.

I don't think you'll need the front sway bar but it's always a good thing to have. I like the TRD springs but the Hotchkis give a little lower drop and the car sets almost perfect IMO.