[Joebug]

Ok... so now I have my new xb rs8 ... been driving it around beaking it in.. I like that its getting an avg of 29 mpg according to the instrument cluster... but it doesnt handle bumps too well and leans a bit too much when cornering. Im running all original equipment at the moment and was wondering which mods i could add to make it corner better and offer a more comfortable ride at the same time? Also the front seats are as stiff as a dead rat!!..has anyone modified their front seats? These side bolsters are digging in to my back! I like what the box is all about but unfortunately did not notice these conditions on the test drive. I have to live with this car for a while and need to make it better ... any suggestions to improve it? Thanks

 

[alfundo]

lowering springs and strut brace will help a ton with cornering but they wont help much with seat comfort. i should be getting my Clazzios in the next week, they offer a lil extra padding.

 

[xsalvationx]

I upgraded to 18 inch rims and wheels and turning corners is a lot better.

 

[Troll]

I have rear sway bar, front strut brace and mild drop via Trd springs and it barely body rolls, even with stock wheels/tires.

The seats will break in. They are definitely stiff new. The bolsters will loosen up ajd conform to your sitting position a bit over time, so pay attention to your posture! It's almost a conscious effort to make yourself sit properly to break them in the way you want. I tend to always sit leaning against the center console and could feel the right bolster getting broken in while the other bot. I didn't want to repeat that habit and started paying attention to sitting centered in the bolsters and breaking them in evenly. My back has thanked me.

 

[Joebug]

Ok.. cool... I will look into getting the rear sway and front brace... which place sells them the cheapest? anyone know? I looked at trdsparks and they have them marked down pretty good. but if I am going to do all these mods a little here and there saved will add up. I found this place a bit cheaper SCION ACCESSORY WAREHOUSE has anyone shopped here before? any problems?
thanks for the replies...

 

[TartanJack]

Ok.. cool... I will look into getting the rear sway and front brace... which place sells them the cheapest? anyone know? I looked at trdsparks and they have them marked down pretty good. but if I am going to do all these mods a little here and there saved will add up. I found this place a bit cheaper SCION ACCESSORY WAREHOUSE has anyone shopped here before? any problems?
thanks for the replies...

FYI:
That is SULLIVAN BROTHERS TOYOTA SCION in KINGSTON, MA.

Someone from that area may know more about them.
I get my stuff from Sparks, even if I HAVE to pay SC sales tax (same state-> Sparks is in Myrtle Beach). They are huge supporters of Scion clubs and also of this site (newscionxB.com).
Before you decide, call Sparks for a price. They may be able to beat Sullivan Brothers.
If your in scikotics, Sparks as HUGE supporters of the club.

 

[TrevorS]

Ok.. cool... I will look into getting the rear sway and front brace...

FYI -- Front tower strut brace won't do a thing for your ride comfort or body sway. However, if you engage in quick turns, it will improve steering stability.

 

[phobic]

rear sway, first thing without question.

lowering springs, strut brace, and you can even go as far as to get the under brace from tanabe too, but it doesnt do much.

 

[TrevorS]

rear sway, first thing without question.

lowering springs, strut brace, and you can even go as far as to get the under brace from tanabe too, but it doesnt do much.

Specifically why the front tower strut brace?

 

[phobic]

it looks cool haha

 

[TartanJack]

On the (upper) strut brace:
The strut brace is significantly only in limiting chassis flex in cornering. Thus, the front geometry is better maintained while the suspension is underload in a corner driven aggressively.

I was surprised at the change when I got one almost free from a Halloween show (for best costume . . . ). That difference was when driving hard on a mountain twisty.
On "normal" roads and "normal" driving, a strut brace doesn't do much except look cool-> the loads aren't high enough.

 

[TrevorS]

On the (upper) strut brace:
The strut brace is significantly only in limiting chassis flex in cornering. Thus, the front geometry is better maintained while the suspension is underload in a corner driven aggressively.

I was surprised at the change when I got one almost free from a Halloween show (for best costume . . . ). That difference was when driving hard on a mountain twisty.
On "normal" roads and "normal" driving, a strut brace doesn't do much except look cool-> the loads aren't high enough.

Thanks for reinforcing that ! Yes, the brace looks cool, but the thread question is what provides a better ride, and I'm unable to consider the brace a contributor unless the owner is carving canyons or such, though even if so, that's not really the same as 'ride".

 

[BrickPig]

which mods i could add to make it corner better and offer a more comfortable ride at the same time?

IMO the stock rear springs are harsh on bumps. I swapped all the springs to Tanabe 210 which lowered the car slightly, improved the cornering and took some of the harshness out of the ride especially in the rear. Most of the time I'm driving solo and I feel the NF 210 springs are a good compromise. Also get the TRD rear sway bar, it helps fight body lean in the corners.

I'd read a looooong thread on another forum about Tanabe NF210 before buying, most everyone thought the ride and handling was improved over stock. Me too. See that section on my website (link below).

 

[TrevorS]

FWIW -- To many people, a soft ride (stock IMO) is preferable to a somewhat stiffer ride. On the other hand, a lot of people consider stiffer to be a superior ride to soft. Mostly, people on these forums don't like a genuinely soft ride (stock IMO), and so every input has to be weighed in light of what that author actually considers a good ride (the problem with going by consensus). My own springs are Eibach Prokit and they are distinctly stiffer than OE. From my own questioning, I've learned the NF210 are between the two. I don't question the NF210 provide a better controlled ride, but in terms of softness (which most equate with comfort), I'd suggest staying with OE.