Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior Hotchkis Auto X Competition Sway Bars

About the Autocross specific sways from Hotchkis. I really want to buy them for the front and rear. However, every description I can find of them says to not use them on the street. Something about "Only use with race tires." What is the deal with this? Why could you only use them with race tires? Thanks

^^ it probably just makes for a very stiff ride...that's the only thing that could come to my mind.

what hotchkis means is you CAN use them on the street..you probably just woulnd't WANT to...like single disc active cluthes

They are way too stiff for the road just get the street sways and you'll be fine.

^ And they'll wear out your street tires really fast. Just go w/the Street sway bars.

yeah, no sense in wearing out your tires

Ok, does anyone here actually know WHY the tires wear faster? Is it something do to with camber? I don't care how stiff the ride is... I just care if my tires wear to fast! But, I would like to at least know WHY they wear faster.

They put a tremendous load on the tires, that's why they don't recommend it for street use. Street tires aren't designed to take that kind of load, that's why Hotchkis recommends race tires.

I didn't know that

The Auto X comp bar is only for the back bar which is the same stiffness as the comp. kit (front and rear). The only difference between the street and the comp. is the rear bar. It won't wear your tires out any faster. It will take away the safe understeer and make your Celica handle completely different. Just the back bar will definitely change the the characteristics of your car's handling more so than the front and rear together. That's why Hotchkis sells just the rear comp. sway and calls it an Auto X bar because it's great for killing the understeer on a track. Also with either the street or comp. bars your ride will be stiffer of course. Your tires can take the extra "load" if there is any. Some parts of your suspension might suffer regardless of the street, comp., or rear sway alone. There are some stories about the endlinks not taking the stress.

^^^^ what he said

btu i ahve the suspension techniques rear sway bar and it is the exact same stiffness as the hotchkis auto x bar.

for me it is aperfect match becuase i tend to get hard on teh gas on exit and i used to push right through now it jsut squats adn goes.

now not everyone should have just a rear swaybar cause it will amke the car snap oeversteer if yoru nto prepared for it.

Snap oversteer? I don't think so.

Snap oversteer is when you go from total understeer to total oversteer and spin. This happens when a lot of weight gets shifted quickly (like in an MR2 or a Ferrari, or any other rear or mid engined car). It's called snap oversteer becuase of how fast it happens, you go from undertseering to spinning quite quickly.

Ok, great comments by the way!

I have seen the competition set sold seperataly from the street set. Meaning, that there is a Auto X specific front and rear sway bar.
Here is the link...check it out.
http://www.hopupracing.com/hofrreraswba.html

Here is the link for the street set
http://www.hopupracing.com/hofrrepeswba1.html

Here is the link for the AUTO X Rear sway bar by itself
http://www.hopupracing.com/hoaucoreswba.html

Basically, I want to know which one I should go with. I was thinking about getting a street front and the Auto X rear. But, because there is this other "Competition" package...I am confused. Thanks again for all the posts. I just want to make sure I buy the right set the first time.

Hotckis only makes one front sway bar. They also make 2 rear sway bars. The street rear bar is 88% stiffer, and the competition rear bar is 123% stiffer. The autocross bar is only the competition rear bar. The street front and autocross rear is the same thing as the competition package.

THANK YOU! That is exactly waht I was looking for! So, I will definately get the competition set. Totally worth it if yah ask me! THanks man.

how are your TRD sway bars?

Umm... I don't have any sway bars yet. Were you asking me? I am constantly confused...

i was referrign to snap oversteer take a turn at a high speed lift off the throttle with stock it won't be taht bad but when you have a rear car taht is 123% stiffer than stock it will bring that back end around faster than you can blink. so yes it is snap over steer.


now with the front it will balance it all out.

I have the TRD sway bars - they are awesome. Made my 2000 GT instantly more fun to drive. I got them put on at the same time I put the lowering springs and shocks though

That's normal oversteer. Snap is when you go from under to oversteer. But whatever, I know what you mean.