Official F-sport Sway Bar Thread!
11-06-08, 12:27 AM
#1
Official F-sport Sway Bar Thread!
I just installed the f-sport sway bars for both the front and the back. Sorry there are no pictures, because i was doing it solo, and didn't want to dirty my camera.
Some tips and tools you'll need that aren't stated with the manual.
17mm socket wrench for the sway bar links. Total of 4 bolts(front and back)
14mm socket wrench for sway bar brackets.Total of 4 bolts (front only)
You'll need a crescent wrench for the height sensor link. I forgot what it was.
The rear will be different for some people that have Tom's 6 link. So i have a piece over the rear sway bar brackets that uses a different type of bolt. The bolt is taken off by a allen wrench(spelling).
For those who have Tom's 6 link, you'll need to loosen the piece covering the bracket and take off 2 bolts. One of the bolts can be taken off with a 19mm socket wrench. If you don't loosen the bolts for that 6 link piece, it'll be hard to fit the holes together to stick the bolt through. The rear was the hardest for me because i didn't loosen the bolt.
Overall this took me about 1 hour. Within the hour, lowering/lifting the car on jacks, removing bolts, fitting, torquing, and double checking. For those that do not have the tom's 6 link, I'm sure the bolts holding the sway bar in is also 14mm.
I'll be changing my oil this weekend so i will take pictures When i go under.
Review:
I haven't gotten a chance to push the car so i'll tell you guys how it felt going normal speed. For sure there's less body roll even at a 15mph turn. Didn't notice the steering response yet, but i hope i will tomorrow.. The rear feels really tight, but it doesn't take the comfort out of it. When i actually get a chance to open it up, i'll tell you guys the results.
Enjoy
Some tips and tools you'll need that aren't stated with the manual.
17mm socket wrench for the sway bar links. Total of 4 bolts(front and back)
14mm socket wrench for sway bar brackets.Total of 4 bolts (front only)
You'll need a crescent wrench for the height sensor link. I forgot what it was.
The rear will be different for some people that have Tom's 6 link. So i have a piece over the rear sway bar brackets that uses a different type of bolt. The bolt is taken off by a allen wrench(spelling).
For those who have Tom's 6 link, you'll need to loosen the piece covering the bracket and take off 2 bolts. One of the bolts can be taken off with a 19mm socket wrench. If you don't loosen the bolts for that 6 link piece, it'll be hard to fit the holes together to stick the bolt through. The rear was the hardest for me because i didn't loosen the bolt.
Overall this took me about 1 hour. Within the hour, lowering/lifting the car on jacks, removing bolts, fitting, torquing, and double checking. For those that do not have the tom's 6 link, I'm sure the bolts holding the sway bar in is also 14mm.
I'll be changing my oil this weekend so i will take pictures When i go under.
Review:
I haven't gotten a chance to push the car so i'll tell you guys how it felt going normal speed. For sure there's less body roll even at a 15mph turn. Didn't notice the steering response yet, but i hope i will tomorrow.. The rear feels really tight, but it doesn't take the comfort out of it. When i actually get a chance to open it up, i'll tell you guys the results.
Enjoy
Last edited by 2slow; 11-06-08 at 01:06 AM.
11-06-08, 01:01 AM
#5
I haven't gotten a chance to really push the car, so i decided to hold off on the review. I'll try to take pictures and use arrows for a more explained DIY.
Last edited by 2slow; 11-06-08 at 01:06 AM.
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11-06-08, 10:13 AM
#9
Hi 2slow, I'm assuming you have the 350. Was there a big difference in thickness or size between the front stock bar compared to the f sport bar? According to lexus, the f sport bar was only 6% stiffer or bigger, so I only ordered the rear bar for my 350. I hope I don't end up kicking myself for not getting the complete set 
11-06-08, 10:42 AM
#10
no point in getting the front bar unless u want it because u want it. (to show off, or just knowing u have it, or like having everything in complete sets or w/e ur reason is)
11-08-08, 02:21 AM
#12
Pictures!
So i changed my oil and i took some pictures after.
For the front sway bar.
Red arrow points to 2 14mm bolts. And the green arrow is pointing to some underbody cover that needs to be removed.
Green arrow is pointing to a small nut that needs very little effort to remove. Too much effort will result in bending. Putting the sensor back on is a ease also. DO NOT USE TOO MUCH FORCE OR YOU WILL BEND IT! Torque @ 48 INCHES!!! Regular torquing is at lbs per feet. I torqued it too much and bent it a bit. Bent it back.
Red is a 17mm bolt.
The pictures are the rear is for people with tom's suspension 6 link.
The red arrow points to a bolt that is 19mm that only needs to be loosened. You ask why i didn't remove it? I didn't remove it because it was a P.I.T.A putting it on. You needed to pry bar it to line up the holes because of the weight the wheels are putting on it. Blue pointing to the bolts using the allen wrench.
I hope that helps. It's possible for everyone to do this. No need to spend a couple hundred bucks on installation labor when you can do this yourself. I did this myself, and the only hard part was holding up the bar and bolting it back up. Do it with a buddy, and you'll do it twice as fast as i did. PM me for questions or more pictures.
For the front sway bar.
Red arrow points to 2 14mm bolts. And the green arrow is pointing to some underbody cover that needs to be removed.
Green arrow is pointing to a small nut that needs very little effort to remove. Too much effort will result in bending. Putting the sensor back on is a ease also. DO NOT USE TOO MUCH FORCE OR YOU WILL BEND IT! Torque @ 48 INCHES!!! Regular torquing is at lbs per feet. I torqued it too much and bent it a bit. Bent it back.
Red is a 17mm bolt.
The pictures are the rear is for people with tom's suspension 6 link.
The red arrow points to a bolt that is 19mm that only needs to be loosened. You ask why i didn't remove it? I didn't remove it because it was a P.I.T.A putting it on. You needed to pry bar it to line up the holes because of the weight the wheels are putting on it. Blue pointing to the bolts using the allen wrench.
I hope that helps. It's possible for everyone to do this. No need to spend a couple hundred bucks on installation labor when you can do this yourself. I did this myself, and the only hard part was holding up the bar and bolting it back up. Do it with a buddy, and you'll do it twice as fast as i did. PM me for questions or more pictures.
Last edited by 2slow; 11-08-08 at 02:24 AM.
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MrHarris (05-29-22)
11-08-08, 08:38 AM
#13
Nice pics man Ill come back to them when i get mine in a couple of months.
So, basically on a IS350 the front sway bar is pointless???
how much difference does the rear only make then? and why would anyone get the front?
So, basically on a IS350 the front sway bar is pointless???
how much difference does the rear only make then? and why would anyone get the front?
11-08-08, 05:53 PM
#15
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got mine installed today. Rear definitely only took like 15min. The front took about 25min. You can see the thickness of the f-sport vs the oem sway bar is muuch stiffer and thick.
Don't forget to grease your rubber bushings before install to prevent squeaking..
Don't forget to grease your rubber bushings before install to prevent squeaking..