Hey all, I bought some Hotchkis sway bars a few weeks ago. This might appear jumbled, let me walk you through the situation.

I tried to install them with some very knowledgable gearhead buddies. I on the other hand dont know alot about mechanics and such.
We had a hard time understanding how to do this overall. We were using a large jack (not a lift) for the rear, under the bumper to lift it. Had to jack from the side in the front.

Basically, I dont understand the process for removing the stock sway bar up front. What do you need to take apart, or leave alone. Do I need to take apart the exhaust up front, or just drop out the engine cradle and all of the suspension stuff?

The rear also doesnt want to work because the bolt has to go up in the tube of the control arm and somhow miraculously turn a corner and drop through.
Last night I took my xB to the dealership and they said it would take about 3 hours to do the job. Ive been told from people on this board it should not take more then an hour to complete. Is this accurate?

Please help! lol

 

rear took about 25-30 mins (including making a tool). use a wire hanger or long rod to lift the head of the bolt up in the rear.

the front.
i did not do yet but this is what i remember seeing

jack up the front of the car and support on jackstands (on the body). you will have to remove the bolts near the rear of the engine for the suspension. you might want to put the jack under that for support (you will need it there to put it back together.)

pull the back of the engine cradel/suspension down to let the factory sway bar out. unbolt the factory sway bar, twist and turn it out.

reverse the process with the new swaybar

 

Thanks, that helps a bunch.

 

I raised the car both front and rear and removed the front tires to give more room to get the front sway bar in :D

I used a telescopic swivel head magnet to put the rear sway bar bolts in…

FYI I also removed the bracket that holds the power steering lines to the cradle to give more clearance.
Also take your time, it is possible to bend the power steering lines to much and damage them.

 

I dig the suspension. Looks pretty sweet.

 

Thats the only problem, getting those two bolts inside the torsion beam. Seems like it would be way easier to just put the nut inside the torsion beam and put the bolt in through the bottom, I don't see why it would be any worse. You could just get a straight box end wrench, put the nut in it, and feed it back into the beam and than stick the bolt in through the bottom. That seems way easier.

 

all right people you don't need to remove the wheels at all. Just drop the sub-frame of the car, support the motor and make sure the rack and pinion steering stays up when you drop the sub-frame.(DANGER: There is a cover on the rack and pinion arm to the steering wheel, if strecthed to much it can cause the check engine light to come on!! ) Also becarful of the rack and pinion steering lines when taking out the old sway bar.

Or you can show up at the scion central I can install it in two hours for 150.00! :D Sorry had to throw out my sales pitch! Ok, here is the imagestation link to the album of the only swaybar install I photographed.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288206425

 

Yeah that’s if ya got a lift and/or your as skinny as a rail to angle your body, arms and hands to get to the bolts in on top while laying on the floor... or maybe if you might be a contortionist. But being 6'+ at 280lbs+ and old, I needed the tires off to get to those little a$$ bolts. Just wanted to help out the po ol fat folks out ya know... no worries :D

Good point you brought up about the aluminum cover on the rack and pinion, forgot about that, I just loosened up the bolts on it...

 

Thanks a ____ load guys! We are going to take another crack at it tonight.
Stylis man, thats a good price for two hours of car work. The dealership tried to charge me $300. All of a sudden I turned into an angry black man and was like N***a please. All of that is true except the last part.

 

Phew, I thought Dave was talking about me for second when he said "old", but then I read the "6'+ at 280lbs+", then I knew it wasn't me. I'm only 5' 7" and 205 lbs. Yes, I'm one of those "po ol fat folks" also.

 

The Front sway bar install is not easy. Like Stylis said you have to drop the front subframe.

We here at Street Image charge "edited" 2hrs for the sway bar install. "Shameless plug" Due to the fact there is a lot involved to put that front sway bar in.

For you Scion xB and xA owners in Socal PM or email me if you are interested in getting sways bars installed.

-J

 

I guess you haven't seen the pic of me, I am not skinny at all and I also fit your description buddy. My arms are beond skinny, actually my hands are quite massive. :twisted: But enough about my hobbies!
My advise to anyone is to becareful when installing the swaybars, because you will get fustrated! (The subframe is down the rack and pinion is up and now the sway bar spaghetti won't come out!!) Just relax and the sway bar will come out. :D


(Edited price because we don't need any drama!) :D

 

LOL^^^

Anyone else need somthing installed super cheap? Let me knoe and I'll start a new thread asking how to install it!! J/K

 

great here we go... NorCal / SoCal battles!!!!

Stylis...btw I'm in Los Angeles not the Bay Area... No need to lowball. This is not honda-tech...

I removed the pricing but your posts has my initial quote...

 

I put my sways in without a lift and it was a total pain in the ___. Set aside a full day. For $140/$130 I'd say money well spent.

 

Don't worry man, I already edited it. And as for you being in socal, thats cool. Your still compitetion!!! :twisted: Don't worry man, we cool! :D Socal, is my other home! :D

 

I think we should have cross meets... I'll probably come up and visit some time soon.
just to say wassup.

 

Everyone in socal has to come up and visit the norcal crew in sept.!!! The six flags up here is going to be open only to scion owners, so you gotta come up and join us!!!
www.scionnight.com

And just to stay on topic, you can come over to see me, and I will inspect your rides swaybars for free!! :D

 

Does the the automatic or manual differ between install, or problems with the install itself?

 

there is no difference on the install procedure between the two scions, but Buebie on the subject of your install. Check the wiring above the motor mount. I was able to see that the wiring might strecth or disconnect if the subfram was droppped.