Question on tanabe front tower strut bar

Well the wiper motor assembly&tray is in the way. If someone can make the tray be the brace somehow then, little complex however problem solved!

 

Would a thicker front swaybar be a better alternative for a strut bar?

 

No. They perform totally different functions.

 

Sorry you feel I am complaining, I thought this was about sharing ideas. Again, the underbody braces I could see having some uses, the STB none, and have not heard anything that makes any sense on why it would work.

 

You are not complaining to me, I am just trying to help you understand.

I am also trying to share ideas.

I even re-drew a description for help you understand what the STB is doing. I think there is a video on YouTube under cusco STrut Brace but it could be a "marketing <cough> gimmick" ;-).

I am not a structural engineer, I don't build bridges, I drive over them, so my trust and confidence lies in the fact it's going to be a bridge and perform like one when I drive over it, ;-).

So with that, it seems what you are stating is no STB will work with the Prius?

 

Look at it in a simple way. The goal of the STB brace is to restrict motion, agreed?
If so think of it like this, if you and I are tied together, say ankle to ankle with a STB even, if you go left and I go right, our motion will be restricted by the STB, right?
Now if we both move to the left together will our motion be restricted? No. Right?
If we both jump together, no restriction will happen, right?

This is the same thing you are doing, if both towers are deflecting the same direction, then the STB is just along for the ride. You would need an anchor point to some part that is not moving the same way. This is the reason for a 3 point mount.
Now there are other detractors as well. One being the multiple pieces thats just more room for play. The other is that the contact area of the nuts to bracket is usually fairly small, this is really the only force to hold everything together.

 

I would say prevent motion as in the shock towers twisting and bending towards or away from each other under shock compression/rebound in all practical circumstances (does the diagram make any sense now?).

Ok so the Tanabe STB absolutely works for me except for the whole fusebox access so I will probably swap for a cusco when time permits and anyone can contact me if they need pics or need to know how to do the install since I will be doing it twice. It was easy for me the first time but takes some time.

I had a good time but I gotta move on!

 

I had Tanabe STB in my 06. It made a huge difference for me. That was installed on top of BT rear brace and KYB shocks (a bit firmer), which also made a noticable difference. I am planning to get STB for my PiP.

My brother bought my 06. His other car is NSX and also has Honda CB-1 motorcycle for tracking. He thought Prius handling is really good and likes it a lot. NSX and Prius are at the opposite end of spectrum and he gives both 10. He probably does not know the stock handling. LOL.

 

Yeah, if your brother is ready to get rid of that CB-1 have him contact me. ;-)