Thinking about put my car for sale..

[martian01]

I would say get the S/C w/ upgraded pulley + rear sway bar
and you will fall in love in Solara again!

The bar is already on..
as for S/C.. don't think it help as much as get a whole new brake system..

[martian01]

you do have an aftermarket suspension right?
doesnt that help alot?

Definitely helped.. but the steering is still terrible

[happy_aggies]

Rear sway bar should help the steering.

[cdssolara]

you do have an aftermarket suspension right?
doesnt that help alot?

Definitely helped.. but the steering is still terrible

I agree with you about the handling of a Solara. It's pretty awful in stock form. It looks like you've done some good things with your car, but if you can't get a price you want, and you decide to keep it, here are some suggestions:

1. Do get the supercharger, especially with a smaller pulley. It really adds to the fun factor of the car. At the prices the superchargers are going for now, this is the time.

2. Get a stiffer front sway bar. I have added Whiteline sway bars to both my front and rear. The front bar has resulted in a much tighter steering feel. I always thought the stock steering just felt way too numb. The stiffer front bar, in conjunction with a stiffer rear bar, makes the car much flatter in cornering, so it feels more like a sports car. Of course, adding a thicker front bar brings back the understeer that your rear bar reduced.

3. Get a limited slip differential. It really helps your car bite into turns and accelerate out of them. It won't make you forget that you have a front wheel drive car, but it will allow you to get the most out of it.

The brakes are a nice upgrade, but to me they are a waste unless you add the power and handling, too.

These upgrades won't turn your car into an M3, but they won't cost as much, either.

[Blaze]

who makes a lsd kit for the solara? how much would it cost?

[cdssolara]

who makes a lsd kit for the solara? how much would it cost?

I know of at least two lsd's that will fit Solara's, Quaife and Kaaz. I got my Quaife for about $830, but that was on a group buy. They retail for $985, according to Quaife's website. The Kaaz unit is cheaper by quite a bit. I'm guessing $700 to $800. Installation will probably run at least $500, probably a lot more. I went with a comprehensive drive train upgrade; clutch, light flywheel, and lsd. It makes sense to do everything at once, since the transmission has to be removed to do any of them. It's not a cheap upgrade, by any means, but it brings the car to an entirely new level. I only suggested it to this guy because it sounded like he was really hoping to get more out of his car, and was willing to buy a much more expensive car to get what he wanted.

[martian01]

2. Get a stiffer front sway bar.

Yup i was always thinking about getting a FSB, just that it's not a popular mod that people usually have.. therefore i've no idea how much improvement it could provide..
Since you make this FSB suggestion, i guess it's worth a try!!

[guest]

If you decide to sell it, I am interested in the Springs and Brembo rear Rotors, should you decide to sell them

Let me know
Aviv

[cdssolara]

2. Get a stiffer front sway bar.

Yup i was always thinking about getting a FSB, just that it's not a popular mod that people usually have.. therefore i've no idea how much improvement it could provide..
Since you make this FSB suggestion, i guess it's worth a try!!

I was really surprised how it seemed to tighten the steering. Nobody had said anything to me about that before I bought it. If you already have the TRD rear bar, you might try putting it on the track setting to minimize the additional understeer you'll get with the front bar.

[martian01]

I was really surprised how it seemed to tighten the steering. Nobody had said anything to me about that before I bought it. If you already have the TRD rear bar, you might try putting it on the track setting to minimize the additional understeer you'll get with the front bar.

my rear bar is on track setting already..so i guess there's no more adjusting needed.. btw is there only one setting on the Whiteline front bar?

[cdssolara]

.. btw is there only one setting on the Whiteline front bar?

Yes, there is only one set of holes, so only one setting.

[martian01]

Yes, there is only one set of holes, so only one setting.

Nice!
I guess it's the cheapest investment that could bring relatively the most improvement?

[cdssolara]

Yes, there is only one set of holes, so only one setting.

Nice!
I guess it's the cheapest investment that could bring relatively the most improvement?

Yes, for sure. The Whiteline bars are pretty inexpensive, less than $100 per bar. The biggest problem is that it takes awhile to get them, since they come from Australia. I don't know of anyone who has them sitting around in stock. The installation is more difficult than the rear bars.

The other suggestions that I made are a lot more expensive.

[martian01]

The installation is more difficult than the rear bars.

The other suggestions that I made are a lot more expensive.

Can you provide more details of the installation?
Also the difference between front and rear?

Thanks!!

[cdssolara]

As you probably know, the rear bar isntallation is pretty simple. The only problem is working it around the exhaust piping. The front bar has to be manipulated under the motor mount, as well as around and through some of the steering mechanism. I had mine put on at a shop that owed me some work, and they had a pretty tough time with it.