Which worth getting? I have herd good and bad things about both, how the Hotchkis bars are weak and a pain to put in (ive got a mechanic, so that does not matter much), but I also herd that the Strut bar is only for looks and does not help to ride.. I am getting Tein S springs to go with it and just want to optomize the ride without getting new shox/coliver system.

There was a thred in the tC forum, but got off topic and did not find the info I was after
Thanks
-nt

 

IMO, you should be the progress rear sway bar. It's heavier, more expensive but works better than hotchkis. You should see more improve from it than the front strut bar.

 

i have the hotchkis front strut bar/brace (the one that goes ontop in the engine compartment).. granted i didnt do alot..ok any... research in different brands typs. ect... but it improved the handling a lot... dont feel like rolling over when goin around corners at any decent speed...
never tried a front or rear sway bar so cant say how much better it may or may not be... but imo the front strut bar does wonders for the xB's handling...

 

That even looks heavy. Thank you very much for you advice, I really will consider it.

Thanks
-nt

 

Do you all see what I mean, both of thses comments sound really good. I may have to get both :twisted: .

-nt

 

I had an ebay rear strut bar in my civic and could feel the difference. I am going to get one for my xb.
Joe

 

Leave the front bar alone and get the Progress rear bar, i did and i love it, all curves in my driving where i live, 168 corners to the nearest wally world.hope this helps. I also have Tein s-Techs, but still on stock goodboots with 15" factory alloys.

 

Thanks, Hopefully I will be getting a wheel/tire combo to go along with the set up. 168 corners!!!! :twisted:

Camos kicks a$$ btw
-nt

 

I installed a strut bar first and noticed little if any difference. Possibly worse! It looked cool though. The XB really understeers a lot and the strut bar did little to help. I recently installed a Progressive rear "sway" bar and that has really made a difference. Way more neutral. Understeer is gone. I haven't tried to push the car to the limits or test nasty panic situations to see if the car oversteers into a spin, but it surely feels a lot better through the corners. A guaranteed smile on your face. :D

 

I'm interested here, but foolishly uninformed. I got my xB last week and was thinking of adding to it to improve the handling -- especially around tight corners (this car is fun to drive, I never want to slow down). Two questions:

1) What is the difference b/t the strut and the sway bar? I actually thought they were the same until reading this post.

2) It sounds like the consensus is that the rear sway is the most useful for tightening the ride, correct? Any pics available of your bar installed for the novice trying to grow?

Peace. Yes, yes....

 

Ok, here's my 2 cents or so in the matter.

Personally, strut tower braces on the xB are for looks. Why? Because the strut owers are welded to and part of the firewall. Its already rigid for the most part. Anyone who says they noticed a difference most have supernatrual powers or something.

As far as sway bars and rear axle beam stiffeners, I would go w/ the Cusco front sway bar and Progress rear bar. While the Hotckis set is nice and the front sway bar helps, the rear "sway"/rear beam axle stiffener does very little.

Why spend the money on the Hotchkis set when you can get the Cusco front sway bar and Progress rear axle stiffner. I would rather spend the money that way instead of spending it on the Hotchkis set-up and not using the rear piece.

This applies to those who drive somewhat aggressively, and plans on running some auto-x's or track time. If you plan driving aggressively, I would also add camber to at least the front tires also.

Like I said, just my 2 cents as I am no expert when it comes to suspensions, and those who are will soon chime in.

 

yep the progress is the way to go!!!

 

they dont call me fuji for nothing

i HAVE noticed a difference with my strut bar. at the highway ramps in and out at crazy turns better handling..everything.. i have noticed it. i think thats why i feel safer in the snow also.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
if you can "feel" it working and it makes you feel safer in the snow , if you can feel it working in the snow you are drivin too fast lol , too fast for teh snow at least , lol

 

Like i said earlier, I may have to get both

-nt

 

I would recomend the swaybar over the strut bar. Better differences with the swaybar any time. Just becareful when installing it. Its not a piece of cake for the front swaybar.

 

Also, what I forgot to mention as well as the others is this. A beefier front sway bar added to our front wheels drive cars will ADD understeer, where a beefier rear bar will decrease understeer. Its best to go w/ the rear first.

 

been on the site for two years and guys, you need to lighten up. hotchkis front, rear sways and springs kit, all in one setup. you cant beat it. there appears to be a lot of confusion. ive got hotchkis and 90% of the sway is gone. its incredible.
a beefier front COULD add understeer, but in my xb and anyone i've ever spoken they haven't. your xb already has made into it a rear sway, albeit a ____ty one, but you definately do need a rear sway. in the long run its gonna be "cheaper" if you do both front and rear. if that doesnt help to you 100% i would be surprised. then if you had the cash i would do the strut. for me its more of a mod than any thing else to be looked at. does it help, yea sure, but minimal compared to the sways.

 

jocdoc, I have/had the Hotchkis "sway bar" set-up on my xB and replaced the rear axle beam stiffner w/ the Progress bar. It greatly reduce understeer, and the Progress bar is ALOT beefier.

I can bend the Hotchkis rear axle beam "stiffner" with my bare hands and I have only 20 lbs of grip strength in my right hand! There is no way that piece is reducing any amount of understeer! And I had one of the first sets to come out. They were on my car way before Exposed of Feb2004.

I also have the TEIN Wagn coilovers, Cusco camber plates, DiPark rear camber plates, and for decoration the TRD strut tower brace. But you are correct, I am not a suspension expert and have not raced all of my life, just about half of my 40 years.