Suspension mods underbracing question?

The 2 braces that I think do the most would be the Cusco front strut bar, and the Cusco center brace.

I haven't installed a front sway bar yet, but that would definitely help with reducing body roll.

I have the Cusco rear sway bar, and it stiffened up the rear of the vehicle according to my daily spirited commute.

 

The typical order of operations outside of PriusChat for improving a vehicles handling is 1) tires, 2) swaybars, 3) springs and shocks. Chassis bracing is so far down the list of importance because it can't play much of a noticeable role until those items which are far softer than even a rather flexible chassis have been rectified. I have installed swaybars on virtually every car I've ever owned, and recommended them to countless friends who have complained about their vehicles handling. They are cheap, effective, easy to install, and do very little to negatively affect ride quality. If you don't want to change tires, that's where I'd start.

 

http://priuschat.com/threads/new-final-vesrion-of-front-and-box-beam-mid-under-chassis-brace-not-for-sale-here.141800/#post-2020329

Chassis Brace is a Prius MUST HAVE! | Page 8 | PriusChat

 

Any recommendations for which sway bars are simple and effective for the v? Tires may or may not get changed when it comes time to do so, but given that they are a wear item it would make sense to someone like me to do the mod first, and then see if it gets to "good enough." There are also lots of different trade considerations for tires, so knowing where the baseline is with sway bars seems like a rational thing. Thanks.

 

This is the one installed, i have also lower with Tanabe spring. Like zhenya mention i recommend you try those first before body bracing.

Cusco - Sway Bars - Nengun Performance

942 311 B16
Toyota - Prius ZVW40 16 mm
Prius - ZVW30

 

I would do the rear bar before the front.

Lowering springs are almost guaranteed to make things ride worse. You may get a bit better handling through corners on smooth pavement, but everywhere else will be a negative. Spring rate really has to be matched to the damper, so if you take factory dampers matched to soft factory springs, and add stiff springs, you'll be way under-dampened which will cause all sorts of ride issues.

Swaybars work by effectively increasing spring rate but only under cornering loads. That's why they work so well without doing much to ride quality.

 

Exactly correct. Given the mass distribution of the Prius v, under most circumstances, I don't think rear ones are needed. I'd only bother if front ones and braces left you wanting more.

 

I recently (July 2) also bought a V and have been on a misson to make it a bit better handling.
So far I have the cusco STB (strut tower bar) and lower middle brace.
It seemed to help a little. If I had it to do over I would have gotten the rear sway and STB then middle brace.

 

The front under brace that fits on the end of the rails between the ends of the two reinforcing "triangles." I've found from extensive testing, has basically the same effect at the strut tower brace, at half the price and minimal installatio9n labor. Just remove and replace two bolts.

The space between the two rail ends move in an out in this area like the flailing ends of an inverted "U" as do the area of the mid-under chassis brace.

Over time, the separation becomes wider and wider and acquires a "SET" that changes the front end alignment of the car and with less effect; the rear.

The front brace works best under tension, while the mid brace maintains the separation of the rails to close the inverted "U" and works under tension, compression and bending forces

The best combination is the front "tensional' and the "box beam" mid under brace.

 

zhenya,
I beg to differ> CHASSIS BRACING should come right after wheels and tires upgrade. A stiff chassis is the basis for improving handling as it permits the suspension to work with minimum body flex. Body flex screws up suspension. That's why race cars have welded in roll cages and weld "stitching" of all body seams. High end sports cars have VERY stiff bodies.

Counting my Cusco strut tower brace I now have 3 chassis stiffeners with a 4th coming next. I have Tanabe lowering springs and ENKIE 17" X 6" wheels and Yokohama 580 V rated tires. (V rating necessary for the high temps here in 'Vegas and the Mojave Desert.) Last come the front and rear sway bars.

Do as much bracing as possible and you will see the difference. The Prius v is a "dishrag" as it comes from the factory. It begs for stiffening.

UPDATE: I had the Tanabe front sway bar installed. It truly helps flatten the car in corners as well as dampening the jouncy feel from the lowering springs overpowering the stock shocks.

I think I'll install the rear Cusco sway bar myself since it's an easy install. Then I'm finished with handling mods until 50,000 miles when I replace the stock shocks with adjustable ones for even better handling.