From the the hotchkis website, they give a pretty good write up on the install. They have you take off the muffler and the gas tank straps.
The Haynes manual I have doesnt mention any of that for the removal of the rear bar. has anybody installed sway bars and could give advice on this?
Also, if I do need to take off the muffler, the haynes also shows a gasket between the pipe, and muffler itself. Is this a reusable gasket?
Im driving up to New Hampshire in a week or 2, then down to shenendoah National Park for some camping. Before I go, I plan on changing out spark plugs, oil change (i got the 2ZZ filter which is a taller filter for same price), and check the fluids/tires before I go. I need to change out my tranny fluid in 10K (im at 80K now), so that doesnt bother me yet. any other maintenance suggestion that im missing?
Other than normal maintenance - check the condition of powersteering and brake (master clutch) fluids and levels. Also an excellent time to check the tire aire pressures, maybe rotate them if you haven't had a chance and double check the pressure in the spare time. Check the serpentine belt - make sure it is in good shape. Check condition of the battery - don't want to get stranded out there with a flat or dying battery. Clean the battery terminals if anything else. Check coolant level in overflow tank - give the car a good visual inspection. 90% of all issues can be caught by a simple visual and audible check.
If you have a maintenance kit - stock on you supplies with fresh fluids, take a small tool kit just in case. Since you going campling - you'll probably have a good portion of this anyways.
As for the Hotchkis setup - when I helped a friend install his - we had to loosen the tank a bit (take the strap off) to wiggle the swaybar over the edge of the tank. I've heard that some people have been able to do it this way - some had to drop the tank. You will have to atleast loosen one of the straps - better to loosen both, to give you some extra room. You could force it in there, but that would scratch up the bar pretty good and possibly damage something on the top of the tank.
As for the Hotchkis setup - when I helped a friend install his - we had to loosen the tank a bit (take the strap off) to wiggle the swaybar over the edge of the tank. I've heard that some people have been able to do it this way - some had to drop the tank. You will have to atleast loosen one of the straps - better to loosen both, to give you some extra room. You could force it in there, but that would scratch up the bar pretty good and possibly damage something on the top of the tank.
Is the Hotchkis installation something you can do in your garage with a couple of jackstands, or is this better done on a lift?
You should be able to do it at home with a couple of jackstands. Lift will make it easier to work on - if you have access to one, but not necessary to get a swaybar installed.
You should be able to do it at home with a couple of jackstands. Lift will make it easier to work on - if you have access to one, but not necessary to get a swaybar installed.
And the straps on the fuel tank? Is that difficult? I'm more worried about getting them reconnected than taking the apart.
^^^ Exactly. Run the tank down or siphon fuel out of the tank. No sense making work for yourself. Put something under the tank to lower and raise it for you - if anything, have a buddy help out.
how much did you pay for the kit?? oh and when you get it in tell me how you fell the diffrence.. have you done any other work handle wise?? Drop, wheels, tires strut bar ect..
how much did you pay for the kit?? oh and when you get it in tell me how you fell the diffrence.. have you done any other work handle wise?? Drop, wheels, tires strut bar ect..
I payed about 400 + shipping for the kit.
There is one out there that is about 350ish, but is non adjustable.
My car mods:
Oem foglights on an LE
K&N Drop in filter
2zz-ge oil filter (taller)
Front strut bar
Pioneer Headunit and Speakers
Silver star bulbs for the foglights and the headlight.
Soon to be:
Sway bars
Change out the dome, and rearview mirror lights to LED, and LED lights for the plates and the trunk.
possible white cold cathode tube light under my dash for the foot well that is connected to my dome light.
LED light for my engine.
The sway bars will be first true mod I guess. Everything else is just for my liking. The drop in filter didnt provide any more HP, just better response, and the strut bar didnt help the handling, just a little body roll. Im hoping the sway bars will eliminate it.
The sway bars will be first true mod I guess. Everything else is just for my liking. The drop in filter didnt provide any more HP, just better response, and the strut bar didnt help the handling, just a little body roll. Im hoping the sway bars will eliminate it.
The sway bars will reduce your car's tendency to understeer in the corners therefore giving more neutral handling characteristics. Body roll, however, will be more noticeably reduced if you have stiffer springs and struts combined with a lower center of gravity.
If you're still on the stock suspension, I would look into getting this done to get the full benefit from your sway bars.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBO Das Automagazin
A BRZ, a curvy mountain road makes one liter of happiness hormones.
I just looked at the installation instructions on the Hotchkis website. Looks like in addition to lowering the fuel tank, I also have to disconnected the muffler from the catback pipe. Problem is, the whole exhaust system looks like a Midas or Meineke job and it is one solid welded piece from front to back. (Damn previous owner).
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Hotchkis Sway Bars
(Damn previous owner).
Linear Mode
