3GS F Sport sway bar review by I8ABMR
07-01-09, 07:02 PM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
3GS F Sport sway bar review by I8ABMR
I recived my F sort sway bars today and had them installed at the dealership. I recieved the 20% off because its July 1st.
PRICING:
Total price for sway bar kit( with 20% discount) : $428.08
Installation price was (front and rear ) $272.59.
Install time was about 1.5 hrs - 2.0 hrs
Grand total : $ 700.67
Specs and technical info
Dimeters for the bars: front 31.75 mm and rear 19mm. The change in stiffness relative to the standard sway bar set installed on the car is: front 139% and rear 304%
info taken from F sport.com
Review:
The car handles about 30- 40 % flatter when cornering ( subjective).
The front feels very secure especially on tight corners while the rear is stiff, but still complient enough to allow some roll to provide better grip and less oversteer ( not likely with a 275 rear tire). The steering feels about 25% more direct and provides more feed back in terms of allowing the driver to feel more precisely the input in the wheel.
In terms of normal freeway driving I feel 0% change in comfort or smoothness while cruising. All in all Lexus absolutely nailed when they design these sway bars. They are confidence inspiring, but at the same time dont create any understeer or oversteer. This mod in my opinion is a no brainer mod because there is no real negative. I even drove the car over a few speed bumps on the way home and felt no issues with comfort. I am also noticing a marked decrease in the frequency and likliness that the VDC /TCS kicks in. This means that the car handles better and with less imposition and interference from the over protective VDC.
I feel that because my car has the coilovers on it, the F sport sway bars kit is a beautiful compliment to the suspension set up I am running. I did feel like I needed to stiffen the shocks to really extract as much handling ability as I could from this fat girl. all in all it works very well and I hope this info will help many other members get the courage and money together and get themselves down to the Lexus parts department and get these parts ordered
I would strongly recommend this mod to any Lexus 3GS driver regardless of wether your car is bone stock or if you have a full coilover set up like myself. It is the only performance modification that you can make to a suspension with only positive results. springs, coilovers, and stiffer shocks will all degrade comfort. For those members who want the Lexus comfort while retaining maximum handling this is the mod for you. I gaurantee you will love them
( note to moderators: please dont merge this thread. This is not a general discussion on when they will come out or questions on what sway bars do... Its a full review with all of the pricing and handling characteristics, and I would like members to have direct and easy access to this write up. Thank you kindly in advance)
PRICING:
Total price for sway bar kit( with 20% discount) : $428.08
Installation price was (front and rear ) $272.59.
Install time was about 1.5 hrs - 2.0 hrs
Grand total : $ 700.67
Specs and technical info
Dimeters for the bars: front 31.75 mm and rear 19mm. The change in stiffness relative to the standard sway bar set installed on the car is: front 139% and rear 304%
info taken from F sport.com
Review:
The car handles about 30- 40 % flatter when cornering ( subjective).
The front feels very secure especially on tight corners while the rear is stiff, but still complient enough to allow some roll to provide better grip and less oversteer ( not likely with a 275 rear tire). The steering feels about 25% more direct and provides more feed back in terms of allowing the driver to feel more precisely the input in the wheel.
In terms of normal freeway driving I feel 0% change in comfort or smoothness while cruising. All in all Lexus absolutely nailed when they design these sway bars. They are confidence inspiring, but at the same time dont create any understeer or oversteer. This mod in my opinion is a no brainer mod because there is no real negative. I even drove the car over a few speed bumps on the way home and felt no issues with comfort. I am also noticing a marked decrease in the frequency and likliness that the VDC /TCS kicks in. This means that the car handles better and with less imposition and interference from the over protective VDC.
I feel that because my car has the coilovers on it, the F sport sway bars kit is a beautiful compliment to the suspension set up I am running. I did feel like I needed to stiffen the shocks to really extract as much handling ability as I could from this fat girl. all in all it works very well and I hope this info will help many other members get the courage and money together and get themselves down to the Lexus parts department and get these parts ordered
I would strongly recommend this mod to any Lexus 3GS driver regardless of wether your car is bone stock or if you have a full coilover set up like myself. It is the only performance modification that you can make to a suspension with only positive results. springs, coilovers, and stiffer shocks will all degrade comfort. For those members who want the Lexus comfort while retaining maximum handling this is the mod for you. I gaurantee you will love them
( note to moderators: please dont merge this thread. This is not a general discussion on when they will come out or questions on what sway bars do... Its a full review with all of the pricing and handling characteristics, and I would like members to have direct and easy access to this write up. Thank you kindly in advance)
Last edited by I8ABMR; 07-05-09 at 05:22 PM. Reason: Added the pic from the other thread
07-01-09, 07:10 PM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Thanks buddy I hope this helps to inspire a bunch of 3GS owners to get a set and feel like they can have their cake and eat it too. You can have BMW handling , but at a Lexus price and with Lexus reliability
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11Es350Lex (08-26-22)
07-01-09, 08:28 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
I'll drink to that!! I'm sure you will give us more feedback as you drive more.
07-01-09, 08:37 PM
#6
[QUOTE=I8ABMR;4646574]I recived my F sort sway bars today and had them installed at the dealership. I recieved the 20% off because its July 1st.
PRICING:
Total price for sway bar kit( with 20% discount) : $428.08
Installation price was (front and rear ) $272.59.
Install time was about 1.5 hrs - 2.0 hrs
Grand total : $ 700.67
Review:
The car handles about 30- 40 % flatter when cornering ( subjective).
The front feels very secure especially on tight corners while the rear is stiff, but still complient enough to allow some roll to provide better grip and less oversteer ( not likely with a 275 rear tire). The steering feels about 25% more direct and provides more feed back in terms of allowing the driver to feel more precisely the input in the wheel.
In terms of normal freeway driving I feel 0% change in comfort or smoothness while cruising. All in all Lexus absolutely nailed when they design these sway bars. They are confidence inspiring, but at the same time dont create any understeer or oversteer. This mod in my opinion is a no brainer mod because there is no real negative. I even drove the car over a few speed bumps on the way home and felt no issues with comfort.
I feel that because my car has the coilovers on it, the F sport sway bars kit is a beautiful compliment to the suspension set up I am running. I did feel like I needed to stiffen the shocks to really extract as much handling ability as I could from this fat girl. all in all it works very well and I hope this info will help many other members get the courage and money together and get themselves down to the Lexus parts department and get these parts ordered
I would strongly recommend this mod to any Lexus 3GS driver regardless of wether your car is bone stock or if you have a full coilover set up like myself. It is the only performance modification that you can make to a suspension with only positive results. springs, coilovers, and stiffer shocks will all degrade comfort. For those members who want the Lexus comfort while retaining maximum handling this is the mod for you. I gaurantee you will love them
( note to moderators: please dont merge this thread. This is not a general discussion on when they will come out or questions on what sway bars do... Its a full review with all of the pricing and handling characteristics, and I would like members to have direct and easy access to this write up. Thank you kindly in advance)
[/QU
I'm happy for you I was looking forward to this mod. and contacted Sewell to purchase but was told according to Lexus this will not fit my 06 GS430
. I posted a thread stating this and in it I mentioned that you must do me a favor and take me for a ride (since we are fellow AZ's) LOL. Anyway I think I'll call Bell Lexus and ask my service advisor to confirm that info.
Great review!
PRICING:
Total price for sway bar kit( with 20% discount) : $428.08
Installation price was (front and rear ) $272.59.
Install time was about 1.5 hrs - 2.0 hrs
Grand total : $ 700.67
Review:
The car handles about 30- 40 % flatter when cornering ( subjective).
The front feels very secure especially on tight corners while the rear is stiff, but still complient enough to allow some roll to provide better grip and less oversteer ( not likely with a 275 rear tire). The steering feels about 25% more direct and provides more feed back in terms of allowing the driver to feel more precisely the input in the wheel.
In terms of normal freeway driving I feel 0% change in comfort or smoothness while cruising. All in all Lexus absolutely nailed when they design these sway bars. They are confidence inspiring, but at the same time dont create any understeer or oversteer. This mod in my opinion is a no brainer mod because there is no real negative. I even drove the car over a few speed bumps on the way home and felt no issues with comfort.
I feel that because my car has the coilovers on it, the F sport sway bars kit is a beautiful compliment to the suspension set up I am running. I did feel like I needed to stiffen the shocks to really extract as much handling ability as I could from this fat girl. all in all it works very well and I hope this info will help many other members get the courage and money together and get themselves down to the Lexus parts department and get these parts ordered
I would strongly recommend this mod to any Lexus 3GS driver regardless of wether your car is bone stock or if you have a full coilover set up like myself. It is the only performance modification that you can make to a suspension with only positive results. springs, coilovers, and stiffer shocks will all degrade comfort. For those members who want the Lexus comfort while retaining maximum handling this is the mod for you. I gaurantee you will love them
( note to moderators: please dont merge this thread. This is not a general discussion on when they will come out or questions on what sway bars do... Its a full review with all of the pricing and handling characteristics, and I would like members to have direct and easy access to this write up. Thank you kindly in advance)
[/QUI'm happy for you
I was looking forward to this mod. and contacted Sewell to purchase but was told according to Lexus this will not fit my 06 GS430. I posted a thread stating this and in it I mentioned that you must do me a favor and take me for a ride (since we are fellow AZ's) LOL. Anyway I think I'll call Bell Lexus and ask my service advisor to confirm that info.Great review!
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07-02-09, 01:11 AM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I just picked up a buddy at the airport and took some on and off ramps pretty fast and the car is PLANTED. Its a very very nice feeling and to be honest it almost makes the car feel lighter because it holds the ground so well and remains significantly flatter in transition turns.
I have to say it the best mod I have done on this car or any car I have ever moded before.
Sway bars in a no brainer. Best $700 I have spent in a long time. It makes me feel like the coilovers were really for looks the sway bar is what gives you that handling prowess
I have to say it the best mod I have done on this car or any car I have ever moded before.
Sway bars in a no brainer. Best $700 I have spent in a long time. It makes me feel like the coilovers were really for looks the sway bar is what gives you that handling prowess
07-02-09, 08:44 PM
#13
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I have to say another observation I have made is that wen I punch it while turning the traction control system doesnt step in AT ALL so far. I think the sway bars have given the car less roll therefore more grip and less slip. I am loving them.
For the first time since I purchased this car almost 2 years is that I actually feel like I can push the car without it falling on its face. Before the car just made me feel like it was made for cruising and did nothing to inspire more than that. Now I feel the tightness in the corners. This can be a corner on a street or even just turning fast in a parking lot.
Lexus designs cars that separate the driver from the road for maximum comfort and luxury, but now we can have a little fun and added confidence when playing behind the wheel
For the first time since I purchased this car almost 2 years is that I actually feel like I can push the car without it falling on its face. Before the car just made me feel like it was made for cruising and did nothing to inspire more than that. Now I feel the tightness in the corners. This can be a corner on a street or even just turning fast in a parking lot.
Lexus designs cars that separate the driver from the road for maximum comfort and luxury, but now we can have a little fun and added confidence when playing behind the wheel
07-02-09, 09:23 PM
#14
I have to say another observation I have made is that wen I punch it while turning the traction control system doesnt step in AT ALL so far. I think the sway bars have given the car less roll therefore more grip and less slip. I am loving them.
For the first time since I purchased this car almost 2 years is that I actually feel like I can push the car without it falling on its face. Before the car just made me feel like it was made for cruising and did nothing to inspire more than that. Now I feel the tightness in the corners. This can be a corner on a street or even just turning fast in a parking lot.
Lexus designs cars that separate the driver from the road for maximum comfort and luxury, but now we can have a little fun and added confidence when playing behind the wheel
For the first time since I purchased this car almost 2 years is that I actually feel like I can push the car without it falling on its face. Before the car just made me feel like it was made for cruising and did nothing to inspire more than that. Now I feel the tightness in the corners. This can be a corner on a street or even just turning fast in a parking lot.
Lexus designs cars that separate the driver from the road for maximum comfort and luxury, but now we can have a little fun and added confidence when playing behind the wheel
Please stop, enough with how great they are (jk). I called two local dealerships to see if they would fit my car, one said yes and the other said no. Sewell had already said no so it's two nos and one yes. I hope lexus does something about discriminating against 06 GS430.
I8ABMR come by and pick me up up so I can post an independent review
07-02-09, 11:15 PM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I would have assumed that the suspensions for the third generation is the same . I thought the engines and brakes were what was changed