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Home > Performance Mods > Suspension & Brakes > Sway bars affect steering?

Sway bars affect steering?

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ryz0n
  • Tire Changer
 Ok well, i have a question about my Hotchkis front and rear bars. I have the front set on hard, and the back on medium. Are the bars supposed to creak around when i'm like turning and stuff? I noticed that when i'm on uneven roads, or sometimes turning into a dip or goin into one, i hear what it hink are the bars creaking. Also, my steering is kinda f'd up right now whenever i'm on rough road or turning. Could the bars be the culprit? Are these bars not the right fit for the tC? It jut doesn't seem like they shoudl be making noise and stuff.

[#] May 06, 2006 03:02pm
InLikeFlint
Lexington
Kentucky, US
  • The Gearhead
 Did you ever check the steering cradle bolts?

[#] May 07, 2006 12:44pm
ryz0n
  • Tire Changer
 well, that's the thing, the shop i had the work done didn't want to mess with it because they don't know the "car" liek the manufacturer would and at my service at Toyota i told them to look at it and theyre like we test drove it, it's fine. So basically no one wants to take a look at them for me. But i'm going to call up Toyota and make them check it. I just hope they wont say something stupid like "well u have all these parts so you're not under warranty for it" or if it costs money that's going to be a b*tch just to tighten some bolts

[#] May 07, 2006 01:45pm
InLikeFlint
Lexington
Kentucky, US
  • The Gearhead
ryz0n wrote:
well, that's the thing, the shop i had the work done didn't want to mess with it because they don't know the "car" liek the manufacturer would and at my service at Toyota i told them to look at it and theyre like we test drove it, it's fine. So basically no one wants to take a look at them for me. But i'm going to call up Toyota and make them check it. I just hope they wont say something stupid like "well u have all these parts so you're not under warranty for it" or if it costs money that's going to be a b*tch just to tighten some bolts


The reason I ask is that, alot of the problems you are experiencing I did as well. If your dealer is an ass go to another scion dealer if there is one close by, usually they will go the extra mile to gain your service business if you tell them your dealer mistreated you.

[#] May 07, 2006 04:13pm
ryz0n
  • Tire Changer
 Thanks, i've been meaning to get around to it and hopefully i'll have it in the dealer this saturday. Also, one other thing. I've noticed when i've been turning right especially, like from dips or bumps, the car on the left side makes this reall weird noise, kinda like a pop. It doesn't sound natural, it seems like it's been happening only recently and i've had the TRD springs and hotchkis bars for almost 2 months now. I'm kinda concerned. What could it possibly be? Can springs mess up your car? even the TRDs?

[#] May 07, 2006 06:14pm
InLikeFlint
Lexington
Kentucky, US
  • The Gearhead
 My guess is that the bolts for the cradle bolts are slowly working there way out, and that is why you may hear noise now that you didn't here before. Since the cradle is attached to the cars suspension, if it is loose it would be apt to move around when you turn or go over uneven surfaces.

[#] May 07, 2006 09:28pm
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 I just installed my hotchkis front sway bar last night, and only when i make a left u-turn it makes this weird knocking noise, very slight though...it hasn't been very loud, especially after I put it on the soft setting. This noise doesnt occur when I make right u-turns, or just regular left and right turns. Do I seem to have the same steering bolt problem? Or do I just need alignment?

[#] May 10, 2006 01:41pm
InLikeFlint
Lexington
Kentucky, US
  • The Gearhead
 I would check the steering cradle bolts, just to be safe. If you didn't torque them to 116 ft/lbs when you installed the front sway they that is probably your problem.

[#] May 11, 2006 07:13pm
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 Aren't the steering cradle bolts suppose to be torqued to 29 lbs? Cause I think they will snap if they are torqued to 116. Or are you talking about a different bolt?

[#] May 11, 2006 08:17pm
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 OOo found out those torqued to 29lbs are the radiator bolts....i'm ganna try that...but my friend and I used an impact wrench to put a lot of the main bolts in, I'm ganna find out which bolts we did use the impact wrench for. Hopefully we can find the problem. THANKS!

[#] May 11, 2006 08:27pm
Ex-tC
Killeen
Texas, US
  • Tech Advisor
 I installed my sway bars myself. I have no problems with steering. The car still drives straight.

If you hear "Knocking" or "Popping" When you make a turn after installing the sway bars.

You need to re-lube the bushings (Thats why there is a hole in the bracket etc for re-lube). THe pop or knock could just be the bushings against the bar rubbing.

[#] May 12, 2006 10:44am
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 I'll try that, thanks! I'm ganna try to just recheck all the bolts, cause I think two of them we only torque to 100 lbs cause of his torque wrench limit, and the instructions said 116. I didn't know my friend did this, and we're ganna go back with my torque wrench which goes to 150 lbs and torque it back to 116. I'll post the results.

[#] May 12, 2006 11:44am
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 Ok, we tighten them to about 116, cause of his wrench limit...Definitely helped a lot. LOL couldn't use my wrench cause it wouldnt fit the socket...yeah its lame, so we did the best we could with his torque wrench. There is a lot less knocking noise, I'll drive it around a few weeks and hope for the best. Thanks for all the help.

[#] May 12, 2006 07:24pm
InLikeFlint
Lexington
Kentucky, US
  • The Gearhead
akira2098 wrote:
Ok, we tighten them to about 116, cause of his wrench limit...Definitely helped a lot. LOL couldn't use my wrench cause it wouldnt fit the socket...yeah its lame, so we did the best we could with his torque wrench. There is a lot less knocking noise, I'll drive it around a few weeks and hope for the best. Thanks for all the help.


Make sure to check it in a week or so, in case they loosen up. Hopefully people will see this post and make sure to do this, because it could really cause some serious damage and put the driver in danger if not done. The Steering cradle not only effects your steering, but also supports the engine and transmission!

[#] May 13, 2006 09:31am
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 So i'm getting more and more frustrated with this front sway bar. I have come to realize that all the bumping is not coming from loose bolts, they are comming from the bar rubbing against the chasis and what looks to be part of the axle. I don't know how to fix it, cause the bars wont move and I'm not about to do another 5 hours to bring down the engine mount. A guy at work told me its cause its a thicker mm bar and its normal to rub, and I may need to lower the car in order for it to stop this noise. I also have a greddy strut bar, do you guys think taking it off will give it room to move around and not hit the chasis? PLEASE HELP!!!

[#] May 27, 2006 01:00am
lyrictenor1
  • Window Washer
 I have the same problem as the original poster...well, except that i don't have the hotchkis sways. Actually, I had my tranny overhauled, and part of the procedure is the removal of the steering cradle. My story can be found here:

http://www.yoursciontc.co...owtopic=10984&hl=

Well, this is very frustrating b/c it seems as though one of the bolts that holds the steering rack to the cradle is somewhat stripped and the nut keeps backing out.

I tried tightening it a few times, and the steering did tighten up for a bit, and then loosened up again. It seemed as though the nut back out a bit again, but not much (I'm hoping it's not just me thinking that my steering's loose--other people including the dealership thought it was fine, but it really is loose, especially when going over bumps--it feels very insecure). I can't pull the faulty bolt out and replace it w/ a new one b/c the transmission is in the way, so it seems as though the only way to get to it is to lower the cradle and possibly the power steering link assembly so that the bolt will have enough room to clear the tranny.

The dealer thinks the car drives fine, and that "popping" sound is coming from a badly indexed strut (I did have TRD springs put on, but I have never heard of indexing struts). I'm gonna bring it back there tomorrow and see if I can get them to remove the old bolt and put in a new one (I already have the parts, I just need someone to do it).

It was really frustrating today b/c I took it to a couple of independent places and they thought that the bolt wouldn't be the problem, so they didn't want to touch it. I even told them even though they dind't think this was the problem that I'd pay them to remove the rack and and install the new bolt..still no takers!

Anyway, this is really annoying b/c I'm beginning to hate driving this car (this has been going on for a couple of months...good thing I have a miata that handles like a go-kart to keep me sane!).

Any comments/suggestions/moral support?

thanks

[#] Jun 02, 2006 10:18pm
ryz0n
  • Tire Changer
 Well, i still haven't had my freaking car fixed yet. It is handling like a super ultimate piece of crap. It really is just ridiculous. The bar is creaking all the time turning, it pops sometimes after turning a lot. When i go over bumps, the suspension like doesn't even absorb anything, it feels completely too harsh. Finally, the bump steer is the worst thing i've ever felt in my entire life. It's basically on all kinds of road now i get this crap, when i slow down at a light or stop sign, i get major bump steer. Dealer charged me 78 bucks and just changed the hole the bar was in (they lied to me), shop i had installed are acting like A-holes. My last resort is the guys at FasterScions, their shop is local but they wanted 600 for installation for my bars originally!!! so i dunno what it's gonna cost to have them fix it. I'm pretty sure the bar isn't installed properly, it moves around, maybe cuz of the instruction manual messup with the brackets, and any of the bolts they had to undo have to be loose. No one believes me!!!!!

[#] Jun 03, 2006 12:57am
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 Call your manufacture up (most likely hotckis) and they might have a solution. I did and they told me how to fix it.

[#] Jun 03, 2006 01:07am
InLikeFlint
Lexington
Kentucky, US
  • The Gearhead
akira2098 wrote:
Call your manufacture up (most likely hotckis) and they might have a solution. I did and they told me how to fix it.


What was the fix?

[#] Jun 04, 2006 12:55pm
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 they told me i might have outdated bushings and the bar might be defected.

[#] Jun 04, 2006 05:02pm
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 They said they're sending me a replacement bar, but I haven't received it yet.

[#] Jun 04, 2006 05:03pm
ryz0n
  • Tire Changer
 So how do i call Hotchkis and prove to them that my sway bars have bad bushings? I hope to god theyre not defective, i don't see how, they looked perfectly normal b4 i put them on

[#] Jun 05, 2006 11:05pm
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 Don't tell them u have bad bushings, cause they might not be bad at all. You just tell them about the noises you hear that are not normal and they will find a solution for you.

[#] Jun 06, 2006 06:48am
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 Ok guys, I was a bit wrong on the bushing idea. I just got the new sway bar today and I took a look at it and it is pretty noticable difference. First, there are metal rings welded to the bar to keep the bar from moving within the bushing (very helpful). Second, the ends where you connect it to the sway bar rod that attatches to your strut is shorter! YES, Shorter! So actually this solves the rubbing problem some of us face. Now for those who do not have the welded bushing on their sway bars...hotchkis is making a new brace of some sort to hold the bar in place and keep it from moving...they told me it would be out in a couple of weeks. So call them and get some details, I'll have comparison pictures of the old and new sway bar soon. Btw, it is the same bushings, they were never bad, just the size of the bar was the main problem. Sorry I haven't been helpful before, I just had no clue what the guy on the phone was talking about until I actually got the bar, LOL. Well wish me luck, cause this crap is killing me.

[#] Jun 13, 2006 12:50am
akira2098
  • Tire Changer
 Oops...I said welded bushings, I meant Welded WASHERS, yeah they're just welded washers attatched to the bar to keep the bar from moving in the bushings. It's late, give me a break guys

[#] Jun 13, 2006 12:53am
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