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I installed a Toyota Prius Plus rear anti-sway bar on my 2012 PiPa

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Ken Blake, Feb 22, 2013.

  1. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    The install instructions that came with it were pretty clear, and the process was very easy, especially with the car on my friend's lift. Toyota does have you take the bottom bolt out that secures the strut to the rear twist beam axle though, and that step is completely unnecessary, unless you have very thick fingers. I was able to maneuver the nut that secures the sway bar end link to the bracket into the bracket and onto the stud without removing the bottom of the strut to make room.

    I'm very happy with the decrease in body roll while cornering, and the eBay billet Ultrabrace I threw on at the same time is a big improvement over the stock Toyota tubular chassis brace.
     
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  2. armoredsaint

    armoredsaint Anti-Eco Company Car

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    pics??? come on you know the rules! ;)
     
  3. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    LOL, I figured there would be enough by now. I'll try to snap a couple over the weekend.
     
  4. BigPete

    BigPete Member

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    What's the ultrabrace like, I actually ordered one Wednesday!
     
  5. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    Install:
    Put car on lift or jackstands.
    Remove 4 bolts and drop Toyota tubular brace on garage floor.
    Install Ultrabrace using the same 4 bolts.

    Result:
    The car no longer creaks going over uneven bumps. With the stock brace, it reminded me of my MR2 Turbo with T-Tops: Anytime only one side of the car hit a bump or pothole, the chassis would twist, resulting in squeaks/rattles from the upper window edges. On the MR2, the solution was the TRD front and rear strut tower braces. On the Prius, the Ultrabrace and maybe the Cusco front STB will be the solution.

    hope this helps!
     
  6. BigPete

    BigPete Member

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    What size Bolt is it? Save me lazily taking my tool box out the the car then!

    Going to try to do while the car is in the floor!
     
  7. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    I can't find anything about this " billet Ultrabrace ".
    Could you post a link? Thanks,
     
  8. BigPete

    BigPete Member

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    eBay item 330835432289
     
  9. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

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    BP,

    Thanks, got it.
    It looks like a clone of Rude person's's brace. It's sort of a mid brace, no?
    Dang, now there's a third under brace that can be installed, not including the rear braces.
    I'm not so sure about those as the rear is on a twist beam that connects both wheels and is designed to flex anyway.

    I posted earlier today (near bottom of pg. 2) about 3 other front under braces: All in a day's work | Page 2 | PriusChat

    I'm waiting to gather more info about this subject before I purchase.
    I did buy the Tanabe upper strut brace to get started with the other goodies I have on the way !!

    Does anyone have any thoughts, comment, opinions, hearsay, innuendos about this bracing subject?
     
  10. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    It appears to be very similar to Rude person's's brace, and I would have purchased his (and supported a fellow owner/enthusiast) if it had been currently available.

    With chassis and suspension modifications, you rarely get something for nothing. Every driver has different criteria they are looking for in a vehicle. Toyota tends to err on the side of ride comfort over handling (by a considerable margin!). I'm willing to give up a little ride comfort in order to have a car that handles a little more like the MR2s and Supras I've been driving for nearly 30 years. ;-)

    One thing I learned from the tuner cars I've owned is not to mess with the original wheel/tire sizes though. Nothing rides as nice as a 15" wheel with a 55 or 65 aspect ratio. I always run the smallest/lightest wheel that will fit over my brakes and not break my piggybank. +2" wheel diameters should be saved for the import car shows.
     
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  11. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Thanks Ken,

    Here is a link to my latest findings;

    For Sale - "Bulletproof" Gen III or Prius"v" mid-chassis under brace $65-77 delivered (US) | PriusChat

    Basically, I discovered that "eye pleasing," " good looking" or "high tech looking" does not enhance performance and function.


    2012 2013 Toyota Prius ZVW30 ZVW35 Door Under Floor Support Bar JDM VIP Japan | eBay

    I've followed it on eBay, NOW, for nearly a year. There has been NO sales at more than $200 delivered from Japan. The "more is more" of the Cusco version of this brace, with its "trailing arms," in effect is LESS, and actually degrades performance from my findings.

    The "cutouts" in the Ultra brace introduces complex stresses on it in the "bowing" or bending mode, and they shave maybe 3-4 ounces off the weight of the brace.

    My design takes both designs and eliminates both the welds and complex stresses of the two braces. No "counterbores" for the fastening bolts means that there is less stress there. And, with the "perfectly flat" large surface area super strong 10.9 J.I.S. bolts, the stress is again spread out to a wider area. The effect of these bolts is twofold. The Toyota OEM bolts use washers. The bolts can spin on the washers to facilitate smooth and quick assembly on the line. Bolt, whn torqued are retained by "tension" like a rubber band and the friction of the area under the head. Large and wide surface area of contact and the intergral flange means that the bolts will stay in place much better than the OEM ones. That's why this i the same kind of bolt usually used to retain the harmonic balancer to the end of an engine's crankshaft.

    I used heat treated "tempered" highly corrosion resistant aluminum alloy. So, there is no need for the light and thin "flash" anodizing that the ultra brace puts on theirs. Welds destroy tempering and weakens the metal. I doubt if JDM retempers and age hardens their assembled brace. Wih all their lightweight construction, JDM saved about 3-4 ounces in weight.

    Basically, I "morthed" the same sectional area of the ultrabrace to that of a simple smooth "rectangle" and did that with the entire length of the bar.

    So, that's why I finally came upon the simple, functional and inexpensive design.



    Rude person's
     
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  12. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    Mike: I'm convinced of the superior design of your brace. I bought the Ultrabrace because yours was unavailable at the time. Has that changed?
     
  13. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Yes Ken,

    I have just a few available. The next batch will be made in June or July 2013, when the current few are sold.

    Thanks for you interest and your support.

    Rude person's
     
  14. Ursoboostd

    Ursoboostd New Member

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    Hey Ken. This is Wade. I've caught the Prius bug..... After I pay the Vette off I'm thinking about adding one to the stable.
     
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  15. xpcman

    xpcman Senior Member

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    I also thought you had stopped making them, so I bought the Ultrabrace. It looks much like the G7 brace that I have on my 2008 Prius. Which has 30,000 miles with no sign of any problems.
     
  16. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    Hi Wade, welcome! I don't have any real gripes so far, other than the complete lack of bass from the stereo. The JBL system in the Tundra has subwoofers, and it makes a big difference. I plan to add one in the right rear cubby of the cargo area, as soon as it warms up back east and they are available again.
     
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  17. DumbMike

    DumbMike Active Member

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    One of those is MINE! Hey Mike, please advise how you want me to send you the money (assuming you still have one left).

    Mike
     
  18. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Mike,

    Check your Inbox, I've started a private conversation with you.

    Thanks,

    Rude person's
     
  19. Ursoboostd

    Ursoboostd New Member

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    Well Ken... I joined the Prius club.
    [​IMG]
     
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