Tugg Speedman
Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2023
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 15
- Location
- Long Island
- Car(s)
- 2021 Supra 3.0
- Thread starter
- #1
Hey all,
I didn't see much in-depth reviews on upgrading the sway bars, so I thought I could add some food for thought.
I installed the front bar first, and then about 6 months later added the rear.
Front bar:
aFe front sway bar
29 mm tubular steel (OEM 24 mm tubular)
Steering weight feels heftier, feels like it should have been this way from the factory.
Less body roll, the front feels much more solid and planted when loading up the suspension in a corner.
Turn-in is ever so slightly delayed, front doesn't feel quite as darty.
Going over uneven bumps rocks the cabin more, but the dampers do a good job of smoothing things out.
Ride quality is actually pretty good, with the exception of big drops, either from going fast down a hill that bottoms out, or from a pothole. Those cause you to get compressed downwards and your gut gets lightly punched by gravity. A big one can make you feel winded momentarily.
Pushing the car hard into chicanes and switchbacks, the car feels really confidence-inspiring. Previously, the rear always felt a bit twitchy and floaty, both at high speed and when cornering. Both were improved a lot after the front sway. In many ways, it feels safer and more idiot-proof with more understeer. I'm really able to push the car because I have less fear of the rear coming around.
Rear bar:
Whiteline rear sway bar
18 mm solid steel (OEM 18 mm tubular)
Wow, now the car really feels like one solid piece. The car feels much more reactive, but also feels more edgy.
The ride is a step worse over uneven road, bumps, and potholes. They rock the cabin more and impacts are louder and harsher by about 50% over stock.
I had oversteer on braking into a turn that I didn't have before with similar brake pressure and just the front sway bar.
So the car is more sensitive to throttle/brake inputs with both sways.
Also, the car feels a bit skatey over bumps at speed. Instead of the rear suspension moving up and down with the bumps, the wheels can bounce and lose contact and then skid.
I was hoping it would reduce negative camber on launch, but I didn't notice any real difference in traction using launch control, still spins the shit out of the tires.
In Sport mode, steering is a bit too heavy at parking lot speeds. It feels almost as heavy as Sport+ in the M2, a bit much.
Overall, I actually preferred it with just the front bar, largely because it did not feel skatey over a bunch of bumps like it does now. I liked how there was a little bit of understeer to slow things down and you can use the throttle and quick steering to rotate. But I'm gonna adjust the rear and see if it feels different.
I didn't see much in-depth reviews on upgrading the sway bars, so I thought I could add some food for thought.
I installed the front bar first, and then about 6 months later added the rear.
Front bar:
aFe front sway bar
29 mm tubular steel (OEM 24 mm tubular)
Steering weight feels heftier, feels like it should have been this way from the factory.
Less body roll, the front feels much more solid and planted when loading up the suspension in a corner.
Turn-in is ever so slightly delayed, front doesn't feel quite as darty.
Going over uneven bumps rocks the cabin more, but the dampers do a good job of smoothing things out.
Ride quality is actually pretty good, with the exception of big drops, either from going fast down a hill that bottoms out, or from a pothole. Those cause you to get compressed downwards and your gut gets lightly punched by gravity. A big one can make you feel winded momentarily.
Pushing the car hard into chicanes and switchbacks, the car feels really confidence-inspiring. Previously, the rear always felt a bit twitchy and floaty, both at high speed and when cornering. Both were improved a lot after the front sway. In many ways, it feels safer and more idiot-proof with more understeer. I'm really able to push the car because I have less fear of the rear coming around.
Rear bar:
Whiteline rear sway bar
18 mm solid steel (OEM 18 mm tubular)
Wow, now the car really feels like one solid piece. The car feels much more reactive, but also feels more edgy.
The ride is a step worse over uneven road, bumps, and potholes. They rock the cabin more and impacts are louder and harsher by about 50% over stock.
I had oversteer on braking into a turn that I didn't have before with similar brake pressure and just the front sway bar.
So the car is more sensitive to throttle/brake inputs with both sways.
Also, the car feels a bit skatey over bumps at speed. Instead of the rear suspension moving up and down with the bumps, the wheels can bounce and lose contact and then skid.
I was hoping it would reduce negative camber on launch, but I didn't notice any real difference in traction using launch control, still spins the shit out of the tires.
In Sport mode, steering is a bit too heavy at parking lot speeds. It feels almost as heavy as Sport+ in the M2, a bit much.
Overall, I actually preferred it with just the front bar, largely because it did not feel skatey over a bunch of bumps like it does now. I liked how there was a little bit of understeer to slow things down and you can use the throttle and quick steering to rotate. But I'm gonna adjust the rear and see if it feels different.
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