i was wondering if the rear sway bar would really do anything since we have a solid rear axle on our boxes...so i bought the hotchkis set, more so for the front bar, and like i thought i couldnt really tell too much of a difference if anything. cuz the only thing that would stop the body roll on a solid rear axle is the springs, and shocks...what do you guys think? i know theres a lot of you guys out there with a lot of knowledge, so please enlighten me. thanks a lot

 

Simple answer, yes. Rear sway add-on is one of the best mods you can do for the xB and xB2. I believe the TRD is the best out there for the xB2, but I could be wrong. Someone else can help you there, but I highly recommend the rear sway add-on.

imo: the xB2 is not a box, just saying.

 

I installed the Hotchkis set on my xB. When I did the front there was a little bit of difference, but not as much as I would have hoped. I think its because you're just replacing a sway bar as opposed to adding a sway bar. Then I installed the rear sway bar and man did it ever make a difference. Complete night and day for me when I installed it...much better overall handling.

The thing about beam rear axles is that when you put a swaybar on it you're effectively just increasing spring rate (atleast that's my understanding of it). So when you say "the only thing that would stop the body roll on a solid rear axle is the springs, and shocks..." you're basically getting what you say you need from the installation of the rear sway bar.

Again this is just my understanding of how it works for the xB and could be way off base...

 

hmm, alright, well maybe its cuz i only put on the rear and not the front, the front just got put on two minutes ago, along with sportline springs, so ill see how it is in an hour or so. thanks for the input guys.

 

Honestly if you really research the rear sway bar. The best solid rear sway bar is from http://www.progressauto.com/. Hotchkis sway bar is hallow bar and doesnt really do the job. But I installed the progress rear sway and there is a considerable change in body role and turning is alot sharper.

 

alright, sounds good, but your in a gen1 and they dont make a bar for our box.

 

The rear sway bar makes a HUGE difference on the xb2. Well worth the affordable price (well the 1st gen trd xb2 sway bar was...)

 

IMO it has helped alot... I am on Tanabe DF's and they did a lot, but the sway has really grounded it well...

 

I have the TRD sway bar on my xb2. LOVE it.. the handling increase was definitely noticeable!!

 

after i got the front put on also its more noticeable i think, she handles like a wet dream, now i just gotta get rid of these ____ falken tires.

 

Tires will also help you out a lot. I just got rid of the stock tires on my xB and got lighter wheels with some summer tires and just wow...so much more grip its insane.

 

poop falkens??? what kind do you have? i have some zx and i love them...

 

ze512. sorry but they suck bad. terrible in the dry, even worse in the rain. what model do you have?

 

I have the Falken ZE912's, they have been great so far.

 

i think im gonna go with some kumho shoes next...they have really good ratings

 

yeah...I have had Kumhos on another car....great value. When my Falkens wear out, I might go that route too.

 

I have the TRD rear sway bar AND the TRD front strut tie bar. they are BOTH great investments. HOWEVER, My rear sway bar just snapped in half at the driver's side mount. *see attached photo*
I just went to the dealership, and since I bought my xb2 used W/ the sway bar already installed.. they DO NOT have any records of it being installed by the dealership. SO, I'm F****D. it's been almost 2 years now, I DON'T "RACE" my car, or take corners fast. it's a friggin family car.. but they said that they would "look" at it this afternoon. we'll see what happens. Other than that MINOR *HA* problem the sway bar and front strut tie bar work great. AAnd I heard that they did some improvements to the TRD rear sway bar...

 

You guys seem to run budget economy tires for spirited driving. What's going on here?

 

Ive always cheaped out on tires in the past and yesterday I coughed up some coin for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S plus. I hope the saying "you get what you pay for" is true when it comes to tires.

 

best bang for your buck