[TartanJack]

I saw this on ebay (from the bottom of this forum's front page):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Scio...020QQitemZ300255227770QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

It comes out to $70, shipped, as compared to $175 (plus shipping) for the TRD.

So, for straight functional purposes . . .
How would those compare?

The name of the store would imply he knows something about Scions. Does he?

 

[TartanJack]

Is that connected to these guys?
http://www.scionsportsparts.com/

 

[TunerChick]

Personally? I'd save your money and get the TRD.

I think the Scion Sport one is pretty much worthless, unless you are going for looks. A Strut Bar is designed to tie the two opposing strut towers together as a single solid unit. The purpose of a strut bar is to reduce flex that these towers experience during hard cornering. When taking a turn a car's strut towers normally flex, resulting in bodyflex and losing some traction.

As strut bars are designed to keep your strut towers from flexing, they distribute the pressure applied to one strut tower when taking a turn to both towers instead of just one.

The Scion Sport strut bar is composed of 3 pieces held together by bolts. Since it's not one piece, I would assume that where the pieces connect it will flex....so it's not really functional, per se.

 

[Brewski]

TunerChick.....well stated, my thoughts exactly!

And, if my memory is correct, this would apply to the Tanabe strut brace as well.

Brewski
08 xB

 

[eviljack]

WOW I have tried and tried again to explain those types of strut bar to others. You said it perfectly Tuner Chick

 

[TartanJack]

Thanks.
That is what I THOUGHT, but as I don't have experience with them (the early Miatas really don't need them-> not struts and the shock tops are part of the frame that holds the front of the car together and the engine in place (is part if the structure main itself).
My presumption was confirmed.

 

[eviljack]

Wasn't talking about you jack when I ment explaining them to people. Just other people have asked the same thing and when I try and explain I never quite say it right.

 

[TartanJack]

Still . . .
Thanks for explaining what I suspected.

Good for looks, indifferent in function.

 

[eviljack]

The other ones I see problems with are ones that you mount by drilling holes into the strut towers. If they don't actually hook to the struts and are one-piece they are worthless.

 

[No Limitz Ind]

The other thing though is like it was mentioned before in a different thread. Is that the strut tower bars are so close to the firewall, that the strut bar might not do as much as it would in a different car. Since the firewall is a pretty solid structure wall. You might notice a little bit in it, but I would go off of, in the 2nd gen it is mainly going to be for looks anyway.

 

[wangster]

How about this one?

Hotchkis Sport Sway Bar Package @ TRD Sparks for $266.25.

http://www.trdsparks.com/displayparts.php?Mdl_dtl=631&Part_cat=11&parts_id=2148

 

[TartanJack]

Sway bar is different than a strut bar.
The xB already has a sway bar and the Hotchkiss one is a bigger one.
the sways are in the rear suspension itself.while the strut brace is inside the engine bay and locks the top of the strut towers together.

-> I fact, I plan to get the Hotchkiss set instead of just a rear sway.

The strut bar is a different animal that the sways.

 

[eviljack]

Hmm I was planning on the TRD rear sway but the Hotchkis has got me thinking since its a front and rear set.

However while I was looking at it on the sparks sight I happed to notice that they have the strutbar descripion on the swaybar link.

 

[rockthebeef]

...just a little clarification on the sway bars. Hopefully I'm not re-stating what is known to us here.

A stock xB2 has a factory front sway bar. The TRD rear sway bar is designed to work in conjunction with the factory front bar.

The Hotchkis set comes with a replacement front sway and a new rear swar bar. I assume it's a stiffer rear than the TRD. I assume that merits having a stiffer front bar to compensate.

That would lead me to believe that the net results in steering response (less understeer than stock) between the TRD and hotchkis would be similar, but the Hotchkis should exhibit less body roll and should be less forgiving on uneven bumps on the road. Please take what I say for what it's worth.