I have driven my Scion xB for one full year (June 2004), and think I have adapted to and learned the limits of the stock suspension system. I should note that I have Kumho ECSTA Supra 712 tires mounted on 16" 5Zigen FN01R-C rims. My overall opinion of the general handling and control characteristic of the xB with stock suspension was that it felt and responded with a soft, but assured, delivery and some under steer. I was driving corners and curves with my confidence in the Kumho tires and not on the suspension.
I just completed the install of the complete Hotchkis Stage 1 system (strut tower brace, sport coil springs & sway bars), and took it out for the large parking lot high speed cornering tests. My initial response is a noticeable change with dependable, reactive control from the steering wheel. At higher speeds the turning response and traction was precise and clean, body roll was negligible with the rear end now giving a sense of smooth, stable follow through.
The height drop with the performance springs appears to be approximately 1 3/8 inches, before settling.

 

Awesome. I hope you're not just saying that because they are your sponser. ...The strut bar comes in the stage 1 kit now? According to Hotchkis's website, it only comes with sway bars and springs. Is the strut bar red, as well?

Thanks

 

Please, pLease post pictures of your Xb with drop. I want to see the drop and could you also do a close up of the gap in the wheel well. Oh and another thing I'd like to see a pic from the back looking under the bumper to see how badly the red bar sticks out.
Thanks

 

As a matter of fact: Hotchkis Tuning made no conditions on me whatsoever for the sponsorship. I'm extrolling the performance of the vehicle with the addition fo the parts. You are correct, the front strut tower brace is separate of the Stage 1 kit. With all three parts in place the overall performance was improved traction, handling and control. If it wasn't true, I would give an honest evalution of the facts.
If you lived closer, I'd invite you to drive it yourself and compare the difference.
Hotchkis Tuning is a class act, they don't need me to voice my opinion. I'm just putting it out there for those owners interested in a total suspension system specifically engineered for their vehicles.

 

The Hotchkis sway bars are a little weak in my opinion. If you want good handling you would want small in the front large in the rear. So leave the stock sway bar up front and get yourself the Whitelines rear which is like 22mm or bigger. You should be doing good with just that and some sporty springs. Strut bars don't do anything for handling, they make the car feel a little better but I have never seen any proof of actual handling improvements from them.

 

The strut tower brace is effective. I was one of the lucky ones allowed to drive the stock stock xb prior to release. The course and hills I drove were the first place I went after receiving my xB and the difference with the strut was noticeable. Maybe because you have the shorter xA wheelbase the overall benefit was lessened.
The Hotchkis front sway bar is substantial and equally beneficial. It's really a matter of opinion and feel. I like the feel of the Hotchkis. Proof is in the eye and feel of the driver, and as an ex-race driver with considerable experience (Ascot Park, Gardena), I still remain convinced that the combination of the strut, sways and coils is the way to go.
Just my opinion.

 

Thanks for the info Larry, can't wait to see it and check it out at the meet..Hotchis seem like great people to work with.

 

i would like to see some pics if you have them.

 

I also bought the Stage 1 TVS system and had the springs and rear sway installed last night (pictures hopefully soon, and I'll get some of the remaining wheel gap and rear sway bar from the back). The guys that did most of the work for me thought it would be better off without the front bar for now until we find out more about what the total system advantages are, versus just getting rid of understeer and roll with the springs and RSB only. Can anyone tell me specifically why you should install both bars? What advantage is there? What's better about traction/handling/turning, etc? Also, would it still be a benefit to get the front strut tower brace now? I'm looking for serious, knowledgeable opinions and really want to find out how my xB will handle best. So far, I'm happy with the Hotchkis setup without the front bar, but don't know what I'd gain if I did add it...

 

Here are pics...

http://photobucket.com/albums/v463/emissman/

 

How's the ride quality with this setup?

 

I don't have much to compare to, but compared to stock, the xB handles awesome with just the RSB and springs on. If you check out my post above, I'm trying to research whether or not I should put the FSB on or not.

 

Sounds cool, do the springs give a softer ride than stock? I'm seriously considering buying this setup, but want to be sure before I spend the money.

 

Front AntiSway will help the weight transfer when making transitions. It will also allow you power out of turns earlier.

Compared to without the front anti sway, you will feel a little more understeer, but it still feels relatively neutral to a stock car.

 

I wouldn't say the springs give a SOFTER ride... they are a bit stiffer, but in my opinion, the stock springs along with the stock steels and tires made the ride too spongy for me. I love the way it is now. It doesn't sit so low that I have to go 2 mph over speed bumps, but it also is not so stiff and unbearable that it hurts when driving on rough roads, etc. It's just where I want it at this point...

 

I figured the word neutral would come up at some point... that's pretty much in line with what Hotckis advertises... improved handling for every day driving, so the front and rear must balance each other out.

 

Sorry if i keep asking the same question over and over again, but would this be a good setup if i want something that will give me a smoother ride (ie less noticable road bumps, a little less jarring over those potholes, etc) and less body roll while turning? I'm running the stock steelies and tires if that's any help.

I do like the idea of getting the whole system from one place though, that seems like it would work better.

 

Bumps will be *slightly* more noticable. Nothing you couldn't handle. I also have 18" wheels with 215/40 profile tires on there for reference. You will get slightly more roughness with 35 profile tires.

You will get less body roll.

It works better if your goals are in line with what the product was intended to do. Some people want their car to oversteer more, or less, so they take parts from different kits and mix and match. Unless you are a PRO, do not do this, as it can cause unpredictable handling.

My car is looked fine when the springs first got on there, but now that they are settling, they look great.

Speed bumps don't bother me, and neither do high-speed off/on ramps - Hotchkis Tuning? Full speed ahead!

 

I bought my 2005 XB bone stock on the standard steelies without any extra performance parts and noticed a big improvement by just adding the Hotchkis strut bar. 2 weeks later I added the Hotchkis Sway bars in the front and back. I now don't have any complaints about the cornering or swaying of the vehicle. The only thing I need to do now is find a set of springs that are progressively sprung without a huge drop as the ride is a little stiff for my taste now that the strut and sways have been added and I dont want to bottom out by going too much lower. I don't obviously have the Hotchkis Springs but I don't want the drop as I am scraping my front lip on certain driveways already. Gabe at Precision Muffler did the install of the strut and sways in no time flat, so if you need help in the Bay Area go see him

I'm also still looking for some aftermarket bushings or whole endlinks for the strut bars because Gabe had to cut the Energy Suspension ones down. The cut Energy bushings were a whole lot better than the stock spongy rubber bushings but I have to believe someone out there makes the right size Any tips please post. I emailed Hotchkis and they don't have any ideas what to replace the stock bushings with either.