pavster

This will be of interest to the conservative people who don't really want a big drop or jaw breaking ride, but want to tighten up the suspension.

I installed the Daizen sway bars on my stock GS last week, and wow, what a difference. My commute to work just got 300% more fun. The ride definitely became less smooth, tighter, especially in the city where most of the road irregularities perturb one side of the car only. But it's not annoying by any means; I would call it communicative. (I know about annoying from driving a slammed and turboed miata for 7 years)

The highway float is gone, and the car practically begs to take turns, change lanes, avoid obstacles, and do anything else that involves steering wheel input.

Mind you, that's all on a 2002 GS430 with 30k miles. I don't know why Lexus didn't install beefier sways from the factory. By the way, I also tightened the rack (3/16 turn) a couple of weeks back, which made the car feel more to my taste as well.

However, one thing the sways did not cure is wonder on rutted roads. I am hoping Daizen bushings will take care of that (fingers crossed).

-pavel

sung35

Congrate on the new sway. I was pleased with mine Daizen sway also. I also have Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks. I wish I had money then for Tein CS. I think the Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks are a little stiff.

Can you share on rack tightening? What exactly we have to do? Picture is appreciate.

pavster

Tightening the rack is very simple. Find the steering rack looking from behind the driver-side wheel; you will see a large hex stud with a ring around it. The hex wrench you need is something like 25-30mm, which I couldn't find. I just bought a large bolt that fit perfectly into that hole with a couple of nuts and used it with an open-ended wrench.

Tighten a little at a time and see how it feels/drives. Do that until you are satisfied. I started to feel the difference at 1/8 turn, but decided to go another 1/16. It's great like this. If you go too far, the sterring will be very tight and will not center itself after a turn, so be careful.

-pavel.

sung35

Sound like an easy mod. I will definitely try it this weekend. Thanks.

jonathancl

Thanks for the Daizen feedback. It's now on my list of future mods.

Steering rack picture:



And the thread from which it came.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yes pavster is correct. you don't want to tighten it too much otherwise the power steering won't be able to bring it back after a turn

corkycal

iTrader: (8)

do a search under "steering pretensioner" and you'll get good reading.

ILOVEGIRLS

iTrader: (3)

how much is 1/8 of a turn? sorry guys, i cant seem to figure it out.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

math: 360 degrees in a circle, so 1/8 that would be 45 degrees. 90 degrees is a right angle, so 1/8 meaning 45 degrees is half of a right angle

ILOVEGIRLS

iTrader: (3)

hey thanks. does anyone know the size of that hex?

SCV8

I was amazed at how a set of sway helped out my old old Corolla; it had none from the factory!
A good part of the ill manner created by lowering springs is the geometry that is created by having the control arms out of position. I've had good results from adding spacers to raise a set of sport springs, getting the firmness/control w/out the foul geometry, and altered roll centers.

jonathancl

Maths are evil. I made a picture: