Tanabe Sustec Under Braces Installed (Pics & Review)
10-14-2007, 05:04 PM
#1
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Location: Glendale, CA
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Tanabe Sustec Under Braces Installed (Pics & Review)
Freshly installed.
It will take some seat time before I can give a valid opinion on performance.
The quality of these braces is outstanding.
These braces are INCREDIBLY light! I'm holding this one up with the TIP of my pinky.
I installed at night, so I'll get some better pics soon.
-Pete
It will take some seat time before I can give a valid opinion on performance.
The quality of these braces is outstanding.
These braces are INCREDIBLY light! I'm holding this one up with the TIP of my pinky.
I installed at night, so I'll get some better pics soon.
-Pete
10-16-2007, 05:22 PM
#6
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For the average Scion enthusiast, I think these ($400) bars are a waste of money. Nobody will ever see them under your car, and unless you do a lot of spirited driving, you may not even notice any change in the handling.
For those who slalom/track or want to optimize the handling of the car - these bars are extemely important. I didn't know this before I started testing the new bars.
My suspension is very stiff: JIC FLTA2 coilovers (set stiff), Hodgkis front sway w/poly bushings, two Hodgkis solid 12mm rear sway bars, Energy end links, front camber bolts, rear camber shims, wheel spacers.
The car also has 225/45-16 Yoko A048 race tires with a tread wear rating of 60. These tires add much more stress to the car than the suspension with street tires.
Before I put the braces on, I could feel the subframe of the car flexing a lot. Even with all the suspension parts, the car had a kind of mushy, wiggley feel - especially when cornering at the limit, when hitting bumps while cornering, or just rough roads in general.
The Tanabe braces made a huge difference on my car. It feels like the car is on a much more stable platform. The most important thing is that the braces help the suspension work like it's supposed to. I also have better control and confidence when driving at the limit.
The rear brace is now the lowest part under the car, and is about 1-1.5 inches lower than anything else - therefore, I predict damage to the rear brace in the near future. I just hope it doesn't mess up my subframe when it happens.
-Pete
For those who slalom/track or want to optimize the handling of the car - these bars are extemely important. I didn't know this before I started testing the new bars.
My suspension is very stiff: JIC FLTA2 coilovers (set stiff), Hodgkis front sway w/poly bushings, two Hodgkis solid 12mm rear sway bars, Energy end links, front camber bolts, rear camber shims, wheel spacers.
The car also has 225/45-16 Yoko A048 race tires with a tread wear rating of 60. These tires add much more stress to the car than the suspension with street tires.
Before I put the braces on, I could feel the subframe of the car flexing a lot. Even with all the suspension parts, the car had a kind of mushy, wiggley feel - especially when cornering at the limit, when hitting bumps while cornering, or just rough roads in general.
The Tanabe braces made a huge difference on my car. It feels like the car is on a much more stable platform. The most important thing is that the braces help the suspension work like it's supposed to. I also have better control and confidence when driving at the limit.
The rear brace is now the lowest part under the car, and is about 1-1.5 inches lower than anything else - therefore, I predict damage to the rear brace in the near future. I just hope it doesn't mess up my subframe when it happens.
-Pete
10-17-2007, 04:51 AM
#7
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Hey Pete great write up. I was going to get the front brace, but now you got me interested in the rear brace too.
I too am riding on coilovers and was wondering how low your car is now. I would be really worried about scraping or worse. Right now, my car sometimes bottoms-out going over speed bumps at a snails pace.
Are the braces hitting or scraping at all?
Thanks
I too am riding on coilovers and was wondering how low your car is now. I would be really worried about scraping or worse. Right now, my car sometimes bottoms-out going over speed bumps at a snails pace.
Are the braces hitting or scraping at all?
Thanks
10-26-2007, 03:43 AM
#14
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you have an xA or an xB?? From the picture i can see an xA, but didn't know tanabe made these braces for the xA. Im not sure if your familiar with or ever felt a TRD rear frame brace, but i would like to know if its any better or practically the same thing?? I race my car and race it HARD, and i know the GT Spec Front brace i have installed is starting to show the wear and tear, along with the rear TRD. Im considering switching out for these tanabe's if you think its worth it...
In my experience, the front frame brace is the one that constantly bottoms out on speed bumps, i hardly ever feel the TRD rear brace (unless of course im racing
). Give me some feedback and let me know if its worth it!
In my experience, the front frame brace is the one that constantly bottoms out on speed bumps, i hardly ever feel the TRD rear brace (unless of course im racing
). Give me some feedback and let me know if its worth it!
10-29-2007, 09:42 PM
#17
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Posts: 13,963
not to sure about the rear brace but the front will fit fine
i'm pretty sure that the rear brace will come up short to fit properly unless you drill some holes in the subframe where the cross brace is at by the exhaust pipe
i'm pretty sure that the rear brace will come up short to fit properly unless you drill some holes in the subframe where the cross brace is at by the exhaust pipe
11-05-2007, 04:38 PM
#19
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13
Wow, that looks incredible. If youre rear bar were to scrape (I doubt it because I always scraper in the front) it would not do damage to the subframe because it is made of aluminum which is softer than the steel frame. Therefor the bar would just bend.
