Suspension upgrades

by **Sentinel** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 10:04 am

Has anyone upgraded their suspension with JUST the TRD or other rear/Front sway bars? I'd like to firm up the handling of my 2000 XLE, but I've read too many posts that yer cars are scraping on speed bumps/potholes and the like. I want to retain the "stock" look (ie: the no-cop attracting look) so I'm looking for the most cost effective, least radical mods I can do.

I also notices that an LS300 rims appear to be a bit wider. Solara/Camry/Avalon/LS300 are all essentially the same car, aren't they? Do they bolt on?

Bone Stock in ATL.

by **impactX** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 10:55 am

Sentinel wrote:Has anyone upgraded their suspension with JUST the TRD or other rear/Front sway bars? I'd like to firm up the handling of my 2000 XLE, but I've read too many posts that yer cars are scraping on speed bumps/potholes and the like. I want to retain the "stock" look (ie: the no-cop attracting look) so I'm looking for the most cost effective, least radical mods I can do.

I also notices that an LS300 rims appear to be a bit wider. Solara/Camry/Avalon/LS300 are all essentially the same car, aren't they? Do they bolt on?

Bone Stock in ATL.

The handling with just the struts + swaybar would still be a lot better than stock. Lowering doesn't really do a lot compared to upgraded struts.

I am using TRD Bilstein struts + Eibach springs, I don't scrape at all other than when someone is sitting in the back, then the rear right tire will rub.

I am sure you will be happy with the handling with upgraded struts + swaybar.

I think ES300's rims have the same width. They will bolt on.

IS300's rims are wider and is 1 inch bigger in diameter. People said it will not look that great on Solara since it tucks into the fender (due to the offset) but some people disagree.

by **cdssolara** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 12:11 pm

The rear sway bar alone will give you some handling benefits, since it will reduce your understeer somewhat. If you upgrade your struts, that will also help to firm up your ride. If you lower your car with Eibach springs, or Teins, you will only be about 1.5" lower, which isn't so much lower that it will either attract attention or cause a lot of additional scraping. I've had Eibach springs and Tokico struts for about 2 1/2 years, and the only time I have to worry about it is if I'm parking where there are high curbs. My biggest problem with scraping was when I had the Greddy and Apexi exhausts, due to the big canisters and tips.

by **B_Master_Flash** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 5:44 pm

I have eibach and tokico and i dont scrape. But that doesn't answer your question so, if you want firmer ride, go w/ tokico struts and the upgraded swaybars and keep the stock springs. struts are what determine the firmness of the ride, springs pretty much just determine ride height.

by **all_red** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:49 pm

B_Master_Flash wrote:I have eibach and tokico and i dont scrape. But that doesn't answer your question so, if you want firmer ride, go w/ tokico struts and the upgraded swaybars and keep the stock springs. struts are what determine the firmness of the ride, springs pretty much just determine ride height.

I second that!

by **Sentinel** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 7:55 am

Thanks for the info guys...
I find it strange that a rear sway bar would reduce understeer tho... It'd seem to me that you'd need to stiffen up the front to do that. I take it that the front is stiff enough stock, and the rear is what really needs improvement? Lowering WILL increase cornering, 'cause of lower C.G. right?
If only the exhaust scrapes: I can handle that... Its important stuff like my oil pan I'm worried about. : )

by **Mole** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 9:14 am

by adding the RSB in understeer is decreased b/c of a thicker bar in place of the stock bar. it changes the dynamics of the car by decreasing the body roll.

people have upgraded their front(WOOPS!), but our cars being FF i think it just increases understeer.

by **cdssolara** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 10:59 am

Getting a stiffer front sway bar will increase understeer. The rule of thumb is that the stiffest end will slide first. The stock front sway bar is thicker than the stock rear bar, so in stock form the car has quite a bit of understeer. By going to a thicker rear bar, you neutralize those dynamics a little bit.

by **Whatever** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 2:01 pm

so....I got my rear swaybar which setting do you guys recomand street or racing? is the racing setting going to be too firm?

by **impactX** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 2:28 pm

Hey wrote:so....I got my rear swaybar which setting do you guys recomand street or racing? is the racing setting going to be too firm?

What's your suspension setup? If you think you are an experienced driver who can handle oversteering (with upgraded struts), just go for track settings right away.

by **Whatever** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 3:59 pm

impactX wrote:setup? If you think you are an experienced driver who can handle oversteering (with upgraded struts), just go for track settings right away.

Cool I guess I'll just go for track settings right away, btw is it hard to adjust the setting?

by **Mole** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 5:10 pm

simple as pie.

jack up the car, unhook the end links, re set the position and then replace the endlinks back onto the bar.

voila you have just re setted the RSB to your new setting

by **Jackass-Jeff** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 6:07 pm

you can get coil overs at go at the same height =P but the RSB on TRACK = GRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!

by **adam2562** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 7:55 am

u could get coilovers and leave the rideheight the same nd then stiffen up the shocks

by **EricSol** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 8:14 am

I just went thru this on my stock '02 Si. I went up a few mm's on the rear bar and went from understeer to neutral. Cheap and easy.

Suspension upgrades

Suspension upgrades

Re: Suspension upgrades

thanks

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