Notices
Scion xA/xB 1st-Gen Suspension & Handling Coilovers, Shocks, Airbags, Swaybars...

Strut bar, sway bar, and stressbar

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-16-2004, 01:43 AM
  #1  
Banned
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
DelMarVa
Thread Starter
 
BoomBox757's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Yorktown, VA
Posts: 1,962
Default Strut bar, sway bar, and stressbar

I don't know much about suspenssion. What do these bars do, and which one is best for cornering? would they work against each other of you got all of them?
BoomBox757 is offline  
Old 03-16-2004, 01:53 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
HotBox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 827
Default

im not big on suspension either but ima take a shot, no they wouldnt work against each other. these bars keep chassi flex to a minimum and help the car become more responsive and corner better. i have two of the bars you listen i just need the stress bar. i had my sways installed first it helped alot but not enough and after my strut was installed it felt more like what everyone said *riding on rails* hopes this helps some
HotBox is offline  
Old 03-16-2004, 02:28 AM
  #3  
Banned
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
DelMarVa
Thread Starter
 
BoomBox757's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Yorktown, VA
Posts: 1,962
Default

thanks it does :D
BoomBox757 is offline  
Old 03-16-2004, 04:20 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
jackmott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 358
Default Re: Strut bar, sway bar, and stressbar

Originally Posted by BlueBOX757
I don't know much about suspenssion. What do these bars do, and which one is best for cornering? would they work against each other of you got all of them?

strut bar ties the front strut towers together. The strut towers is the top mounting point for your front struts. If they move around, the tire moves around, and thats bad. I don't know if the stock strut towers move around at all or not, if they do, then a strut bar would help prevent some of that flex.

swaybars resist the rolling motion of the car. The will make the car roll dramatically less when cornering, which is good. They will also in some cases slightly reduce the grip as they get stiffer by increase weight transfer. They also make the suspension less independant as they get stiffer.

a strut bar you would likely notice no difference in handling.

stiffer swaybars would make the car feel DRAMATICALLY different.
jackmott is offline  
Old 03-16-2004, 09:50 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
kdanie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Petaluma, CA
Posts: 309
Default

No one has addressed the stress bar yet. I fabricated one for my Xa to brace the rear of the engine/suspension cradle to the subframe. I noticed a slightly more "planted" feel during extreem cornering but not much, certainly not worth the $150-$200 for a comercial lower stress bar. You can see what I fabricated at my website http://myspot.neteze.com/~kdanielson .

I think there is more to gain from a front subframe to engine/suspension cradle brace, the front of the car seems to be very unsupported to me. Next time I put my car on a drive on lift I will check it out and see what I can do to improve that situation.

I also feel the rear suspension needs some added support and have a plan for that already.

ken
kdanie is offline  
Old 03-16-2004, 09:53 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
dinkjs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Grapevine, Texas
Posts: 962
Default

On my eclipse with my strut tower bars they dont help in terms of handling but they take ALOT of vibration and movement out of the suspension when going over bumps or holes....makes your car feel more solid....and I like it
dinkjs is offline  
Old 03-16-2004, 10:48 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member

SL Member
Team ScioNRG
 
ahurdl01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Acton, MA
Posts: 335
Default

The suspension kinda hangs off the bottom of the car with the mounting points at the edges of the unibody (code for frame made of the body). The struts (front shocks, dampers) are mounted to the front independent suspension (independent means the wheels can move freely of each other) and the upper fixed point on these are at the edges of the unibody. Swaybars connect the left and right side suspension and balance forces. Basically, when you corner left, the car dives to the right front, but the sway bar pushes and trys to level it out without sacraficing much striaght like comfort. A stress bar will strengthen lower suspension and tighten up the lower frame, and a strut bar will tighten the upper suspension. You're ride quality will not be stiffined but the presicion of the handling will be, as the suspension doesnt have flex in the system. The sway bars will allow you to corner flatter. Basically, if you add all 3 items, the suspension will do its job better, and you should get much more precise handling.
ahurdl01 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gedster314
Regional - Pacific South
1
02-19-2021 07:51 PM
rvascion
Maintenance & Car Care
6
11-12-2020 03:23 AM
SloTC1
PPC: Engine / Drivetrain
14
08-16-2018 02:45 PM
kb1sxv
Scion xA/xB 1st-Gen Suspension & Handling
2
10-21-2015 05:00 PM
babyfac3pn01
PPC: Wanted
1
10-19-2015 07:24 AM



Quick Reply: Strut bar, sway bar, and stressbar



All times are GMT. The time now is 02:43 AM.