Cai For 10th Gen

[cwebb81]

I'm sure it'e been asked before....and you can guide me, but I am finding it very difficult to track down a CAI for a 10th gen Corolla with the 1.8l engine. I've seen some that are universal mounts, but I would prefer something built for the specific car.

Oh, and I'm not looking for those mickey mouse, duct tape, bubble gum and filter jobbies I've seen around.

Thanks

[Svrajam]

Originally Posted by cwebb81

I'm sure it'e been asked before....and you can guide me, but I am finding it very difficult to track down a CAI for a 10th gen Corolla with the 1.8l engine. I've seen some that are universal mounts, but I would prefer something built for the specific car.

Oh, and I'm not looking for those mickey mouse, duct tape, bubble gum and filter jobbies I've seen around.

Thanks

Nice to see another Haligonian on the forum! Welcome!

I don't believe there are many out yet for the 1.8L. I think Injen has produced one, but I can't recall if it was for the 2.4L or 1.8L.

In all honesty, and this is just my opinion (and I'm not trying to start another controversial thread, guys), but the money they cost isn't worth it. At least not on the 1.8L. It's an engine built for fuel efficiency, not power, so a CAI isn't going to yield much performance gains for you. Certainly not any gains worth the amount of money they cost. The fact is, engines like the 1.8L in the Corolla simply do not respond that well to performance air intakes, because they are already optimized from the factory to make the most out of the available air they receive through the stock air intake. Performance engines like big V8s certainly do, because they are restricted, but the 1.8L in the Corolla really isn't.

Personally, and this is just my opinion, but keep your money that you would spend on a CAI for your car and get something that you will receive more benefit from. A set of TRD springs or something else. TRD springs you would notice a huge difference, but a CAI on the 1.8L you won't. At least not enough to justify the cost.

[johncal]

What was said above is true. They're not worth the money.

That being said, a bunch of us have gone the route of removing all of the intake plumbing to the stock airbox and removed the polution screen under the top cover of the airbox (there are a lot of threads regarding this). No cost, and every bit as effective as what you would buy and pay a lot of money for.

Those on the board that have done this have been very happy with the results. (It also sounds pretty cool). Whether or not you decide to also change to a high performance air filter is (believe me) a much debatable issue. Those of us that have changed to a high flow filter have been happy with the results, but do be aware that there is some understandable debate about filtering efficiency. Is it worth the little bit of extra power for the possibility that high flow air filters might filter less efficiently? For some of us that's OK or not an issue, for others, it isn't. Also, I definitely positively WOULD NOT personally run a high flow filter if I lived or drove through a dusty environment on a consistant basis.

The subject's been covered in a lot of other threads so read through them and do what you think is best.

Like the poster above mentioned, a set of TRD springs will give you great bang for the buck.

[kniterider09]

or even a Front strut brace or Rear sway bar. i am sure they are available for the 1.8 as well. they make a noticable difference in everyday drivability. check them out on this site. www.trdsparks.com
also agree with others on the CAI topic.

on a different note i just noticed on trdsparks, for 2010 xrs, they do not list shift mods anymore. not sure why.

[Svrajam]

Originally Posted by kniterider09

or even a Front strut brace or Rear sway bar. i am sure they are available for the 1.8 as well. they make a noticable difference in everyday drivability. check them out on this site. www.trdsparks.com
also agree with others on the CAI topic.

Front strut brace and rear sway bar are universal across the 10th gen Corolla models. They aren't specific to the XRS, as the mounting points for the front strut tower brace are identical. Same would go for the rear sway bar.

[johncal]

Originally Posted by Svrajam

Front strut brace and rear sway bar are universal across the 10th gen Corolla models. They aren't specific to the XRS, as the mounting points for the front strut tower brace are identical. Same would go for the rear sway bar.

I have the rear sway bar which works great. It was a great investment and the handling characteristics are distinctly different and better. I guess what I would debate is the value of the strut bar. I know on some of the older VW's especially, the towers would bend under high load especially with oversized stickier tires.

I just can't imagine that the strut towers on these cars could possibly bend enough to throw the camber off to a point where you could feel it. If it did, the fenders would be hitting the hood.

I mean, the strut bars are "the cool" thing that every performance car must have, but do they actually really make a difference on this car?

Comments anyone?

[Svrajam]

Originally Posted by johncal

I have the rear sway bar which works great. It was a great investment and the handling characteristics are distinctly different and better. I guess what I would debate is the value of the strut bar. I know on some of the older VW's especially, the towers would bend under high load especially with oversized stickier tires.

I just can't imagine that the strut towers on these cars could possibly bend enough to throw the camber off to a point where you could feel it. If it did, the fenders would be hitting the hood.

I mean, the strut bars are "the cool" thing that every performance car must have, but do they actually really make a difference on this car?

Comments anyone?

I somewhat feel the same, but I guess where I differ is that they incrementally increase the handling and, when combined with all other parts (springs, rear sway bar and possibly even some UltraRacing parts) the difference is noticeable. The thing is, even though you may not realize it, the chassis does flex quite a bit under loading, over bumps, etc. The TRD strut bar is far stiffer than the one on the XRS, and the other models don't even have one. I guess I'm just the type who prefers to get whatever is available (within reason) to make the car that much stiffer. Unfortunately, let's face it, the chassis is no Civic Si or VW GTI.

[kniterider09]

Originally Posted by johncal

I have the rear sway bar which works great. It was a great investment and the handling characteristics are distinctly different and better. I guess what I would debate is the value of the strut bar. I know on some of the older VW's especially, the towers would bend under high load especially with oversized stickier tires.

I just can't imagine that the strut towers on these cars could possibly bend enough to throw the camber off to a point where you could feel it. If it did, the fenders would be hitting the hood.

I mean, the strut bars are "the cool" thing that every performance car must have, but do they actually really make a difference on this car?

Comments anyone?

i first installed the front strut bar before the RSB, and it did feel very different. compared to the stock one anyway (for xrs) its a lot better. i think it does make a differnce on this car. its a whole lot stiffer. u can really notice the difference on turns. so if u want to see if it makes a difference i recommend installing the front strut first.

[PhatRoyale]

I can also attest to the performance gains of a front strut bar and rear sway bar... definitely makes the car handle more neutrally. Lower it with a stiffer suspension and complete the package.

[johncal]

I've done everything BUT the strut bar on mine, but don't want to spend a lot of cash on one. If one of you guys want to sell your old stock XRS one cheap, PM me and maybe we can work something out. If your old one is just collecting dust, it could collect dirt on my car. I'll give it a whirl if it's cheap enough.

Thanks

[kniterider09]

Originally Posted by johncal

I've done everything BUT the strut bar on mine, but don't want to spend a lot of cash on one. If one of you guys want to sell your old stock XRS one cheap, PM me and maybe we can work something out. If your old one is just collecting dust, it could collect dirt on my car. I'll give it a whirl if it's cheap enough.

Thanks

stock from dealership is $1200 CAD ... so define cheap. mine is sitting in the box catching dust.

[scathma]

Originally Posted by johncal

I mean, the strut bars are "the cool" thing that every performance car must have, but do they actually really make a difference on this car?

Comments anyone?

I have both the strut bar and the TRD sway bar, but I put them on at the same time so I can't speak to the effectiveness of installing just one without the other.

The mounting holes for the strut bar are oversized to the degree that (as you pointed out) the amount of flex that would have to occur would have to be considerable before the additional rigidity provided by the bar would even come into play...

I think of it as a cosmetic enhancement.

[cwebb81]

Great info everyone!! The information provided is very helpful. I guess I've always thought that you can't go wrong with a CAI but your points make more sense.

I have been looking at suspension/handleing upgrades but wasn't too into lowering due to road conditions where I live. I want to upgrade wheel package but have never gone up in wheel size. Any tips/suggestions to help ease my growing pains (i.e. manufacturers, brake clearances etc)?

[Svrajam]

Originally Posted by cwebb81

Great info everyone!! The information provided is very helpful. I guess I've always thought that you can't go wrong with a CAI but your points make more sense.

I have been looking at suspension/handleing upgrades but wasn't too into lowering due to road conditions where I live. I want to upgrade wheel package but have never gone up in wheel size. Any tips/suggestions to help ease my growing pains (i.e. manufacturers, brake clearances etc)?

Yeah, our roads in Halifax suck, don't they? If you went with the TRD springs, you won't have to worry about ground clearance. They have a very mild drop and reduce body roll quite a bit. You'll still have enough ground clearance for winter driving, don't worry.

As for wheel sizing, for our roads, definitely don't go any larger than 18" wheels. Honestly, if you can find a set of 17" XRS wheels that someone is selling, those would probably be perfect for you. With our road conditions, I wouldn't want to go any lower than a 45 series tire.

[cwebb81]

Nice to see another Haligonian on the forum! Welcome!

[/quote]

Great to know another one exists!!