3RX Front Sway Bar (Affordable Upgrade)
10-04-21, 11:20 AM
#31
I would be willing to send you my old 16mm original Highlander one, except there’s two issues. #1 is that it’s an AWD bar so it won’t fit, and #2 there aren’t any FWDs at all in Canada, as it wasn’t even an option here 😭
Looks like you will either have to find a cheap 2001-2003 Highlander FWD bar, or go with the Cusco. The 2004-2007 models got the skinnier 15mm bar instead of a 16mm.
Looks like you will either have to find a cheap 2001-2003 Highlander FWD bar, or go with the Cusco. The 2004-2007 models got the skinnier 15mm bar instead of a 16mm.
10-04-21, 11:30 AM
#32
Racer
Thread Starter
Yes, it is actually the same part no. for FWD cars (2001-2003 HL and 2004-2009 RX), AWD will be different because the 2001-2003 Highlander doesn’t have a spare tire underneath the car, whereas the 2nd gen RX does, which forced the bar to curve. The 2004-2007 FWD Highlander has a 15mm rear sway bar which is why the part number is different.
I can assure you that the FWD 2001-2003 Highlander has a 16mm bar because my friend owns one. I think your 14mm rear bar might be a rare option, because I have never heard of an RX coming with a 14mm rear bar. I’m currently looking for an answer right now.
I can assure you that the FWD 2001-2003 Highlander has a 16mm bar because my friend owns one. I think your 14mm rear bar might be a rare option, because I have never heard of an RX coming with a 14mm rear bar. I’m currently looking for an answer right now.
Last edited by MattRX; 10-04-21 at 11:37 AM.
10-04-21, 11:45 AM
#33
Racer
Thread Starter
Alright so a quick part search actually confirms that the 14mm RSB indeed exists for certain FWD models.
48818-48010 / 14mm bushing
48812-48060 / 14mm bar
^ This is what you have
48818-33050 / 16mm bushing
48812-48070 / 16mm bar
^ This is what you want
It seems as if only the “premium package” FWD models got the 16mm bar. This bar was standard on every 2001-2003 FWD Highlander.
Ultra Racing UR-AR19-030 19mm Rear Sway Bar
Cusco 924 311 B18 18mm Rear Sway Bar
^ These are your aftermarket options, I think a 2mm increase is decent, but the FWDs could use a lot more than that due to the understeer. I would consider it if the price difference isn’t too large. The aftermarket rear sway bar on my Highlander was the absolute best modification I did on the whole car.
48818-48010 / 14mm bushing
48812-48060 / 14mm bar
^ This is what you have
48818-33050 / 16mm bushing
48812-48070 / 16mm bar
^ This is what you want
It seems as if only the “premium package” FWD models got the 16mm bar. This bar was standard on every 2001-2003 FWD Highlander.
Ultra Racing UR-AR19-030 19mm Rear Sway Bar
Cusco 924 311 B18 18mm Rear Sway Bar
^ These are your aftermarket options, I think a 2mm increase is decent, but the FWDs could use a lot more than that due to the understeer. I would consider it if the price difference isn’t too large. The aftermarket rear sway bar on my Highlander was the absolute best modification I did on the whole car.
Last edited by MattRX; 10-04-21 at 11:49 AM.
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Felix (10-04-21)
10-11-21, 05:56 PM
#34
Pole Position
So would either of the rear sway bars work on a rx? As well as the Addco bar or what?
10-11-21, 10:47 PM
#35
Racer
Thread Starter
You need a FWD or AWD specific bar depending on your car. The Addco bar will work on a 2004-2009 AWD - IF you can still find one, and if you're willing to remove your spare tire from under the car. But these two things also don't matter if you're running the stock AWD rear sway bar brackets, because those flimsy pieces of junk will break within in a month, so you'll need a stronger bracket like the custom ones I made. The Addco bar is designed for the AWD 2001-2003 Highlander and RX300 models that have the spare in the trunk. Cusco only makes a rear 18mm for the FWD, while UR makes a 19mm. Ultra-Racing also makes a 19mm for the AWD.
More info here: https://www.toyotanation.com/threads....116288/page-2
More info here: https://www.toyotanation.com/threads....116288/page-2
Last edited by MattRX; 10-11-21 at 10:51 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Felix (10-15-21)
10-26-21, 05:36 AM
#36
Alright so a quick part search actually confirms that the 14mm RSB indeed exists for certain FWD models.
48818-48010 / 14mm bushing
48812-48060 / 14mm bar
^ This is what you have
48818-33050 / 16mm bushing
48812-48070 / 16mm bar
^ This is what you want
It seems as if only the “premium package” FWD models got the 16mm bar. This bar was standard on every 2001-2003 FWD Highlander.
Ultra Racing UR-AR19-030 19mm Rear Sway Bar
Cusco 924 311 B18 18mm Rear Sway Bar
^ These are your aftermarket options, I think a 2mm increase is decent, but the FWDs could use a lot more than that due to the understeer. I would consider it if the price difference isn’t too large. The aftermarket rear sway bar on my Highlander was the absolute best modification I did on the whole car.
48818-48010 / 14mm bushing
48812-48060 / 14mm bar
^ This is what you have
48818-33050 / 16mm bushing
48812-48070 / 16mm bar
^ This is what you want
It seems as if only the “premium package” FWD models got the 16mm bar. This bar was standard on every 2001-2003 FWD Highlander.
Ultra Racing UR-AR19-030 19mm Rear Sway Bar
Cusco 924 311 B18 18mm Rear Sway Bar
^ These are your aftermarket options, I think a 2mm increase is decent, but the FWDs could use a lot more than that due to the understeer. I would consider it if the price difference isn’t too large. The aftermarket rear sway bar on my Highlander was the absolute best modification I did on the whole car.
06-09-22, 07:03 PM
#37
Racer
Thread Starter
I just put this sway bar on my 2008 RX350 AWD recently, and a few years later I did things a little differently.
- You still need to remove the steering rack
- Used 2004-2020 Sienna upper sway bar bracket instead of 2008-2019 Highlander / 2010-2015 RX ones, they're cheaper and just as heavy duty
- Used 2004-2020 Sienna sway bar bushings, this saved me from having to chop the bottom nipple off the bushing to fit the stock lower bracket
- Used 2007-2009 ES350 sway bar end links instead of 2007-2017 Camry ones, these are the same price but a lot thicker
- I removed the two front struts, rear engine mount and a exhaust brace between the transmission and catalytic converter, this made clearance WAY better!
How are my feelings about this years later? The results speak for themselves! A mod that's such a pain in the behind, but so that I chose to do it twice! This is one of the best handling mods you can do to the car, especially paired with a bigger rear sway bar and lowering springs. Thing feels real tight and corners a lot more flat now!
- You still need to remove the steering rack
- Used 2004-2020 Sienna upper sway bar bracket instead of 2008-2019 Highlander / 2010-2015 RX ones, they're cheaper and just as heavy duty
- Used 2004-2020 Sienna sway bar bushings, this saved me from having to chop the bottom nipple off the bushing to fit the stock lower bracket
- Used 2007-2009 ES350 sway bar end links instead of 2007-2017 Camry ones, these are the same price but a lot thicker
- I removed the two front struts, rear engine mount and a exhaust brace between the transmission and catalytic converter, this made clearance WAY better!
How are my feelings about this years later? The results speak for themselves! A mod that's such a pain in the behind, but so that I chose to do it twice! This is one of the best handling mods you can do to the car, especially paired with a bigger rear sway bar and lowering springs. Thing feels real tight and corners a lot more flat now!
Last edited by MattRX; 08-09-22 at 12:12 PM.
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