Strut Bar Advice.

[*MAD DOG*]

Hey everyone,

I'm considering getting some front and rear strut bars for the Yaris.

I'm interested to hear your comments on these questions:-

Is there a performance difference between a strut that goes under the car (under engine or under hatch) vs one that goes on top (engine bay or hatch)

Are all strut bars created equal, is there any real difference between the expensive and cheap ones?

What would you recommend in front and rear strut bars and why do you recommend that particular brand?

At this stage i'm thinking of getting underbody bars as i like to be able to fold my 60/40 back seats down to put things in the back, so the cross brace in the back is a no.

Looking forward to your comments.

[BlackMan_Ink]

there is minimal performance gain when adding bracing bars. There should be no difference in the material quality of the pieces, but a good design is essential to proper chassis stiffening. The point of the bars is to make the chassis bend less during hard turns. If you notice when cornering the car seems to feel as if it is going to tip over, thas the body roll and the more bars you add the less the car will feel that way. I would think of it as adding bars to the top and bottom of the engine to turn the frame into a cube that is more solid. Adding bars on the bottom/top of engine only would give you less performance than putting a front under brace, and a front strut tower brace on at once.

as far as which one to get_ a bar that rests on three points is better than two, and usually the simplest design is the most effective.

[lilredrocket]

I'm looking to get some bracing bars and have been reading up on them. For the bars that go under your car I would go with the GT spec braces. As for the bars that are on the top almost any of the (engine bay) front ones are good. Now for the for the rear you can get one if you like but be perpared to get bashed by user Tamago because the rear of our car doesn't have struts and the way the bar bolts on to the car it sits on the shocks with the rubber bushings so having no real support

[spookz]

I've read that a rear sway bar for the Yaris is a good effective mod..

You have choices from Whiteline (Shelby), Ultra Racing, and TRD (USA)..

[lilredrocket]

Oh yea sorry forgot to add that one. While I'm adding GT Spec makes a rear lower strut bar too don't think I have read about anyone installing one.

[cali yaris]

Ultra Racing is as good or better than GT Spec for less money. I've used both.

The only two braces to start with are rear sway bar (which isn't a brace), and the front strut brace.

Other than that, I'll stay out of the "do they do anything, or not" discussion.

[*MAD DOG*]

Ultra Racing is as good or better than GT Spec for less money. I've used both.

The only two braces to start with are rear sway bar (which isn't a brace), and the front strut brace.

Other than that, I'll stay out of the "do they do anything, or not" discussion.


Thanks Garm :thumbsup:

[Tamago]

since you don't have struts in the rear.. i don't recommend wasting money on the spaghetti bar.. get the other X bar if you want something that actually stiffens

this is functional:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/mikenacarato/Yaris/vitz/IMG_0050.jpg



this is for looks:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/dvlnblkdrs/backseat2.jpg

[*MAD DOG*]

since you don't have struts in the rear.. i don't recommend wasting money on the spaghetti bar.. get the other X bar if you want something that actually stiffens

this is functional:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/mikenacarato/Yaris/vitz/IMG_0050.jpg



this is for looks:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/dvlnblkdrs/backseat2.jpg

Thanks for the post, however you missed an important part of my post. Here it is again in BOLD

.....At this stage i'm thinking of getting underbody bars as i like to be able to fold my 60/40 back seats down to put things in the back, so the cross brace in the back is a no.

[Tamago]

ok thanks, yes i skimmed what you typed

if you don't legitimately race the car i don't see the point of installing braces personally.... unless it wins you points at car shows ;)

[*MAD DOG*]

ok thanks, yes i skimmed what you typed

if you don't legitimately race the car i don't see the point of installing braces personally.... unless it wins you points at car shows ;)

So in your opinion i'd be better off spending that money on springs instead? I'm never going to race my Yaris. I think stock springs are too soft.

[Tamago]

So in your opinion i'd be better off spending that money on springs instead? I'm never going to race my Yaris. I think stock springs are too soft.

yes, absolutely

get the car lower first.. swaybar is a must.. skip the braces unless you have extra money to throw away

then again i'm in "saving" mode right now so i see almost ALL mods as useless.. . :iono:

[*MAD DOG*]

yes, absolutely

get the car lower first.. swaybar is a must.. skip the braces unless you have extra money to throw away

then again i'm in "saving" mode right now so i see almost ALL mods as useless.. . :iono:

What swaybar do you recommend and why?

[BrazdonW]

the rear tower strut does have an effect at high speed bends
all the weight is thrown to the rear end
the brace will do more but the strut tower isnt just for looks
under the car sway bars do more than the strut but less then the cross brace

[Tamago]

What swaybar do you recommend and why?

cannot comment, don't personally have a yaris.

i have a progress bar, it's a nice piece.

[Tamago]

the strut tower isnt just for looks

explain how it works please

[cali yaris]

Here you go:

http://www.ultraracing.com.my/template.asp?menuid=30

If front strut braces did nothing but add weight, race cars would not have them. Most of the Time Attack cars I've looked under the hoods of had them.

[SurfinYaris]

Since you are not taking your yaris on track or anything but daily driving and want sport feel and good handling. Get good lower springs plenty reviews here. I believe rear sway bar is only thing that is noticeable in handling even in daily too. Im gonna say nothing on strut bar thing, its each person own opinion but yes it can add weight or not.

[BrazdonW]

explain how it works please

To put it simply it connects at the top of the rear suspention bracing it when the car takes a turn
It helps distribute weight more evenly

[PHXDEMON]

So in your opinion i'd be better off spending that money on springs instead? I'm never going to race my Yaris. I think stock springs are too soft.

Yes, springs are always first when modifying suspension.

[anonymous user]

Get a quick-release tab for your car, and you can remove the rear STB whenever easily!

[mikenacarato]

well personally, and it is what i did do, lower it first (df210s). then i did the trd rear anti-sway,then front UR strut bar, now the miracle bar. i noticed a handling difference in a positive way with every one of those mods. IMO as long as the strut bar is SOLID with no joints, it will be functional. i wont get a rear bar though as i have the miracle bar.

[Tamago]

To put it simply it connects at the top of the rear suspention bracing it when the car takes a turn
It helps distribute weight more evenly

what weight is it distributing, considering SHOCKS do not support weight of the vehicle? :iono:

[BrazdonW]

the weight being thrown around
the shocks do take weight being added threw a turn, as do the springs which is why they are all a part of the same cluster and compress together
if your shocks are blown your ride is horrible and you hear loud slams when you hit pot holes or go over speed bumps if it doesn't support any weight why would that happen?

[Tamago]

the weight being thrown around
the shocks do take weight being added threw a turn, as do the springs which is why they are all a part of the same cluster and compress together
if your shocks are blown your ride is horrible and you hear loud slams when you hit pot holes or go over speed bumps if it doesn't support any weight why would that happen?

the shocks are NOT the same part of the "cluster" in the rear, as you say.

have you ever pushed on a shock? it resists your pressure. but it won't support weight.

if i carry a metal bucket full of bolts in the back of my car, and drive over bumps, it makes a loud slamming noise too.. does that mean that the bucket of bolts is supporting the weight of my car?

[yaris-me]

[QUOTE=Tamago;255331]the shocks are NOT the same part of the "cluster" in the rear, as you say.

have you ever pushed on a shock? it resists your pressure. but it won't support weight.


Shocks do transmit force. This will affect frame or strut rigidity.

[Tamago]

the shocks are NOT the same part of the "cluster" in the rear, as you say.

have you ever pushed on a shock? it resists your pressure. but it won't support weight.


Shocks do transmit force. This will affect frame or strut rigidity.

yes, they do transmit FORCE. but in the case of the yaris, they transmit force in one direction. STRAIGHT UP. so attaching anything to the shock that doesn't resist this STRAIGHT UP FORCE (not weight) is useless, and should be considered a "looks-only" mod


guys.. just accept the fact that your spaghetti bar is mostly for looks. . :laugh:

[BrazdonW]

so you are saying that it does not resist body flex or distribute the weight/FORCE more evenly?

[Tamago]

so you are saying that it does not resist body flex or distribute the weight/FORCE more evenly?

well let's see

it attaches to the shock.. in one place... only

the shock has a rubber grommet between it and the body

the bar pivots on both ends...

so no. it can't distribute force.. it bends like spaghetti when forces act on it.

[SailDesign]

well let's see

it attaches to the shock.. in one place... only

the shock has a rubber grommet between it and the body

the bar pivots on both ends...

so no. it can't distribute force.. it bends like spaghetti when forces act on it.

Hmmm... In my book that says it can apply force, but cannot apply moment.

[Tamago]

Hmmm... In my book that says it can apply force, but cannot apply moment.

which means it's useless :laugh::laugh:

have we finally come full circle here?

[YAR1S]

My car tends to wobble and sway on the highway at high speeds.... I was told putting a front strut bar on would be a good investment..... is this true and what could I get for a good price and where?

Thanks a lot.

ps: suspension is stock.

[Benggolf2]

...guys.. just accept the fact that your spaghetti bar is mostly for looks. . :laugh:

This is hilarious! Thanks for the laugh Tamago. BTW, are you Japanese or you happen to like "Tamago"?

[Tamago]

My car tends to wobble and sway on the highway at high speeds.... I was told putting a front strut bar on would be a good investment..... is this true and what could I get for a good price and where?

Thanks a lot.

ps: suspension is stock.

better tires will help the wobble more

but front upper strut bars are cheap, i say pick one up

[Tamago]

This is hilarious! Thanks for the laugh Tamago. BTW, are you Japanese or you happen to like "Tamago"?

the xA is white.. nicknamed the egg. tamago = egg lol

[Black Yaris]

I added a front strut bar to the toaster, it was super cheep, and it looks better than it preforms
my $50 investment in hub adapters/spacers yielded a much better performance gain... that and awesome tires

[Benggolf2]

the xA is white.. nicknamed the egg. tamago = egg lol

Thanks for the explanation. Catchy....I happen to like "tamago" whenever we go for sushi. :smile:

[Tamago]

Thanks for the explanation. Catchy....I happen to like "tamago" whenever we go for sushi. :smile:

as do i :smile:

[BrazdonW]

Haha okay