The official "my Yaris handles bad on the highway/with crosswinds" thread - Page 6 - Toyota Yaris Forums

TheSilkySmooth · 02-01-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k r a y z e e . j o j o

Know how you guys feel. Most fwys here are unevenly surfaced. Sometimes I feel like I have to white-knuckle the wheel while doing 80, especially on windy days. The short wheel-base and track of the LB isn't well-suited for these conditions. Someday I'll get my TRD suspension upgrade to handle this...

The car has a crappy, rubbery strut front end that doesnt hold alignment too well. So that alignment has to be good. That said, make sure you dont have TOO MUCH air in the rear tires as this makes this car REALLY twitchy - I run no more than 26-28 psi on the stockers out back. And no more than 29 -31 in the fronts. IN the Operating range, the less air in the tire, the slower the steering response will be - Sport Motorcycle riders might know this. OTW, MORE aerodynamic shape means MORE response to wind directional changes - not less. My old Fiat 128 3dr (weighed 700lb less than yaris) was a box-on-box brick and was NOT affected by wind at all. Went 100mph all day - Just one hand on the tiller. In the Yar 3dr, I just pretend we are flying a PiperCub and go with the flow as they say

- the bro

TheRealEnth · 11-06-2008, 12:48 AM

its the wind.. has happened to me forever... when hurricanes come... It sucks to drive on the highway... its like... i go above 55 and i gotta hold the steering wheel like its about to explode if i loosen slightly.. i almost crashed the 1st time it ever happened to me.. caught me off guard and threw me a lane over fast.. But yeah.. Sway bar and dropping it will definitely solve your problem!

Cutie Pie #2 · 02-01-2009, 08:56 AM

Sway bar and wider tires, like I just did.

TheSilkySmooth · 02-01-2009, 11:46 AM

a Wide tyre is NOT good on a lite car. The stock are too big as it is. Car needs 165-70R 14's MAX - the rest of the rubber is wasted - and can cause nasty hydroplaning and increased rolling resistance. Big tyres are a joke, all looks and NO function on a stock rubbery suspension. I know you all want that hot-wheels look. Looks supercede function in this silly USA. -Papa

cfiimei · 02-02-2009, 08:21 PM

Try riding a motorcycle on a windy day! My little Ninja 500 has a mind of it's own at 80 with a stiff crosswind.

*tk-421* · 02-02-2009, 09:43 PM

My experience is that getting slightly wider tires (205/50R15 in my case) and lowering the car with NFs made a world of difference in that area. I am pretty sure that it will get even better once I get a rear sway bar and an underpanel.

darkmoon87 · 02-02-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YAR1S

I thought the yaris was pretty aerodynamic???

NOT

/thread

TheSilkySmooth · 02-03-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkmoon87

NOT

/thread

DARK: How bout some numbers not your uninformed, worthless opinion? Numbers like "cD x frontal area" - should be pretty good - except car is a bit too short ... I find the car hunkers down at 80MPH+

ok if found this in 10 seconds

EDMUNDS semiquote: "With a coefficient of drag of just 0.29, both the sedan and Liftback slip through the air ...
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=108501 - the bro

YAR1S · 02-02-2009, 10:46 PM

anyone selling a front sway bar? You attach it to the pre-drilled holes, right? I would really like to settle my car's unstable swaying during highway driving but I cant afford to mess with the suspension right now till I stop the rough driving on the highway.

*tk-421* · 02-02-2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YAR1S

anyone selling a front sway bar? You attach it to the pre-drilled holes, right? I would really like to settle my car's unstable swaying during highway driving but I cant afford to mess with the suspension right now till I stop the rough driving on the highway.

A front swaybar is not the best way to fix this issue AFAIK. You should spend roughly the same amount of cash in a rear sway bar when you're willing to fiddle with the suspension a bit more. $.02

helphelp911 · 02-02-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk-421

A front swaybar is not the best way to fix this issue AFAIK. You should spend roughly the same amount of cash in a rear sway bar when you're willing to fiddle with the suspension a bit more. $.02

with rear sway bar, will the ride become more rough?

*tk-421* · 02-02-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helphelp911

with rear sway bar, will the ride become more rough?

It will become stiffer, yes... But with more stiffness comes more control as well.

mikenacarato · 02-02-2009, 11:57 PM

i have the car lowered on df210s and have the trd rear anti-sway bar and i do notice sway occasionally. i know its not the roads because this is the only car i have that does this. its like it dances around the lane...its annoying. o well, i can put the wind smackage aside...i love my yaris! :)

barry6386 · 03-20-2009, 11:23 PM

I'm having the same problems with cross winds. It's not the highway/road surface so much cus I'm driving the same route back and forth to work. (106 miles RT). I put the TRD rear swaybar under it and it's worth the money. But... I'm still not happy with the handling. I just had the tires rotated and it didn't seem to be so bad for a while. I'm wondering if it could be the stock tires. I have the package that comes with 15" wheels. I'd like to get the best bang for the buck so I'm wondering if getting tires or shocks/struts would be the best value.

*tomato* · 03-20-2009, 11:46 PM

First time I caught a bit of wind, I was on the !$!@$@# Bay Bridge (long, suspended bridge) and it was raining!!!

Enuff said.

The only thing you can do, I guess is slow down and hang on tight to the steering wheel! You're right, though, you can't always slow down, I know what you mean.

Funny, I was just sitting here wondering if I should get that sway bar and how it would affect the ride, and now that thread pops up, pretty cool. The weather is pretty good in California, but there is quite a bit of wind on the bridge and driving the Yaris through that scares me sh..tless to be honest.

supmet · 03-21-2009, 12:33 AM

The sway bar helps with wind - a LOT. It also makes driving 80 on the freeway feel like 60. The general ride comfort is barely stiffer, and I wouldn't say rougher at all.

YAR1S · 03-21-2009, 12:45 AM

;[ Im always torn on the sway bar debate. Do you have the front or rear bar? I was told that the front would help... but I always hear bad things too....

eh.... If it doesnt work... I'll be spending $80 on a metal bar that wont ever be seen except by me and my mechanic.

*tomato* · 03-21-2009, 01:22 AM

$80 so my Yaris won't fall off the bridge? Sounds like a deal to me!

View Poll Results: Do you think the wind plays with your Yaris
Cops think I'm drunk when driving vs. wind	49	54.44%
My Yaris drives straight like an arrow	19	21.11%
Who cares, cause I don't	22	24.44%
Voters: 90. You may not vote on this poll

02-01-2009, 08:56 AM	#3
Cutie Pie #2 View User's Garage Drives: 2014 Honda CR-V LX Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Delta,PA Posts: 324	Sway bar and wider tires, like I just did. __________________ http://www.midatlanticnostalgiaconvention.com

02-02-2009, 09:43 PM	#6
tk-421 Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: 5D-07-LB Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dagobah Posts: 4,263	My experience is that getting slightly wider tires (205/50R15 in my case) and lowering the car with NFs made a world of difference in that area. I am pretty sure that it will get even better once I get a rear sway bar and an underpanel. __________________ --[ FORUM RULES ]--[ SEARCHING TIPS ]--[ EYELIDS PICS ]--[ RBK SPOILER ]--[ BEST/WORST INVESTMENTS ]--

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11-06-2008, 12:48 AM	#2
TheRealEnth Beast View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Blz Blu LB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,365	its the wind.. has happened to me forever... when hurricanes come... It sucks to drive on the highway... its like... i go above 55 and i gotta hold the steering wheel like its about to explode if i loosen slightly.. i almost crashed the 1st time it ever happened to me.. caught me off guard and threw me a lane over fast.. But yeah.. Sway bar and dropping it will definitely solve your problem! __________________ One you've taken a yaris for a spin, there's no turning back. Its a Chao!!!

02-01-2009, 11:46 AM	#4
TheSilkySmooth Drives: 08 3DR 5M Bayou Blue; 09 Fos Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 622	a Wide tyre is NOT good on a lite car. The stock are too big as it is. Car needs 165-70R 14's MAX - the rest of the rubber is wasted - and can cause nasty hydroplaning and increased rolling resistance. Big tyres are a joke, all looks and NO function on a stock rubbery suspension. I know you all want that hot-wheels look. Looks supercede function in this silly USA. -Papa

02-02-2009, 08:21 PM	#5
cfiimei Drives: Sedan Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: midwest Posts: 40	Try riding a motorcycle on a windy day! My little Ninja 500 has a mind of it's own at 80 with a stiff crosswind.

02-02-2009, 11:57 PM	#13
mikenacarato SIPNDEW View User's Garage Drives: 15 STI Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Brentwood, TN Posts: 2,281	i have the car lowered on df210s and have the trd rear anti-sway bar and i do notice sway occasionally. i know its not the roads because this is the only car i have that does this. its like it dances around the lane...its annoying. o well, i can put the wind smackage aside...i love my yaris! :)

03-20-2009, 11:23 PM	#14
barry6386 Drives: 2008 4Dr Sedan Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: MidWest Posts: 3	I'm having the same problems with cross winds. It's not the highway/road surface so much cus I'm driving the same route back and forth to work. (106 miles RT). I put the TRD rear swaybar under it and it's worth the money. But... I'm still not happy with the handling. I just had the tires rotated and it didn't seem to be so bad for a while. I'm wondering if it could be the stock tires. I have the package that comes with 15" wheels. I'd like to get the best bang for the buck so I'm wondering if getting tires or shocks/struts would be the best value.

03-20-2009, 11:46 PM	#15
tomato Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: Yaris 2DR LB 07, MT, Abs. Red Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 5,155	First time I caught a bit of wind, I was on the !$!@$@# Bay Bridge (long, suspended bridge) and it was raining!!! Enuff said. The only thing you can do, I guess is slow down and hang on tight to the steering wheel! You're right, though, you can't always slow down, I know what you mean. Funny, I was just sitting here wondering if I should get that sway bar and how it would affect the ride, and now that thread pops up, pretty cool. The weather is pretty good in California, but there is quite a bit of wind on the bridge and driving the Yaris through that scares me sh..tless to be honest.

03-21-2009, 12:33 AM	#16
supmet Banned View User's Garage Drives: 2007 4 Door Yaris Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,357	The sway bar helps with wind - a LOT. It also makes driving 80 on the freeway feel like 60. The general ride comfort is barely stiffer, and I wouldn't say rougher at all.

03-21-2009, 01:22 AM	#18
tomato Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: Yaris 2DR LB 07, MT, Abs. Red Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 5,155	$80 so my Yaris won't fall off the bridge? Sounds like a deal to me!