Got Bars?

Handling, suspension, and brake tuning discussions
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cohocarl
Posts: 1478
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 9:45 am

Got Bars?

Post by cohocarl »

Look what the nice U.P.S. man dropped off for me yesterday:Now all I need is some nice weather (doesn't look good here in MI), and some spare time (also doesn't look good, back on mandatory O.T. at work).I hope to do the front myself, and if I do, I'll take alot of pics & notes and post it.See Ya,Carl
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
rasermon
Posts: 2156
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 10:07 am

Re: Got Bars? (cohocarl)

Post by rasermon »

Coho, give me a call and I'll give you a hand with the install.
Satellite 03 GT Retirement ----> Moderator for Genvibe.com 2002 - 2007 A fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says (removed)
cohocarl
Posts: 1478
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 9:45 am

Re: Got Bars? (rasermon)

Post by cohocarl »

I'd love to do it this weekend, but I don't think I'll have the time. I'll let you know when I plan on ripping it apart.
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
Sub-Vibe-R
Posts: 2093
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2002 12:30 am

Re: Got Bars? (cohocarl)

Post by Sub-Vibe-R »

Sorry guy , but where goes this bar and for what purpose?I try to figure out myself and I can't see it.
rasermon
Posts: 2156
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 10:07 am

Re: Got Bars? (Sub-Vibe-R)

Post by rasermon »

quote:Sorry guy , but where goes this bar and for what purpose?I try to figure out myself and I can't see it.Sub-Vibe-R, that is a Hotchkis front sway bar. https://www.hotchkis.net/pdf_files/Celi ... %20Set.pdf
Satellite 03 GT Retirement ----> Moderator for Genvibe.com 2002 - 2007 A fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says (removed)
cohocarl
Posts: 1478
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 9:45 am

Re: Got Bars? (Sub-Vibe-R)

Post by cohocarl »

Sorry, yes it's a front and rear sway bar. I already have installed a Progress rear bar http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1153 which tightened up the handling, but compared to what I have been used to driving (97 Z-24, 2001 Dodge Stratus R/T, 85 Vette) the Vibe still needs to be a little more sure-footed, so I went ahead and called J.C. at Hotchkis and ordered their front & rear bars. (only come as a set) I don't believe in giving a product false praise just because I spent my $$ on it whether it deserves it or not, so I'll give my honest opinion of them after I get them on. Carl
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
Stang2Vibe
Posts: 2689
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2002 3:37 am

Re: Got Bars? (cohocarl)

Post by Stang2Vibe »

Did you get the sway bars at the sale price??? And about how long did they take to get from the time you ordered them?
Former owner of a 2003 Vibe GT---Great car that gave me 8 years and 83,000 miles of trouble-free service.Current owner of a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD.
Triton
Posts: 2198
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2002 1:24 am

Re: Got Bars? (Stang2Vibe)

Post by Triton »

How much were they cohocarl?
***SOLD***2003 Vibe GT Monotone Neptune - Inaugural October 2004 Vibe of the Month***SOLD***

Now the proud owner of Titanium Silver 2012 Kia Optima SX
cohocarl
Posts: 1478
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 9:45 am

Re: Got Bars? (Stang2Vibe)

Post by cohocarl »

quote:Did you get the sway bars at the sale price???Yes and more. You may want to e-mail J.C. at: jalmiron@hotchkis.net and mention to him you are a member of this forum and he may be able to get you a discount, but I'm not sure how long they are still offering the sale price, or the forum member's discounts.quote:And about how long did they take to get from the time you ordered them?I live in Michigan, and they are shipped from CA and took about a week. Rather quick shipping.
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
Nervous_Dog
Posts: 316
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2003 1:56 am

Re: Got Bars? (cohocarl)

Post by Nervous_Dog »

Does this mean you are going to be getting rid of your Hotchkis rear bar? LMK
Nervous Dog2003 Monotone Lava GT w/ M&T and PowerMods: 18" Bronze Tenzo-R Mean Six rims w/ Kumho MX12" Rockford Fosgate Punch Sub in slot ported box2 - Rockford Fosgate Punch 201S amps2 pair - Rockford Fosgate P162C in front/rear doorsSony Xplod 5710 head unitHidden Hitch
cohocarl
Posts: 1478
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 9:45 am

Re: Got Bars? (Nervous_Dog)

Post by cohocarl »

quote:Does this mean you are going to be getting rid of your Hotchkis rear bar? LMKNo, I'll probably sell the Progress bar after I put the Hotchkis one on. I couldn't drive around with a red front bar and a blue rear bar.....
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
Nervous_Dog
Posts: 316
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2003 1:56 am

Re: Got Bars? (cohocarl)

Post by Nervous_Dog »

quote:Does this mean you are going to be getting rid of your Hotchkis rear bar? LMKNo, I'll probably sell the Progress bar after I put the Hotchkis one on. I couldn't drive around with a red front bar and a blue rear bar..... Progress bar! That's what I meant. Sometimes I'm not right...
Nervous Dog2003 Monotone Lava GT w/ M&T and PowerMods: 18" Bronze Tenzo-R Mean Six rims w/ Kumho MX12" Rockford Fosgate Punch Sub in slot ported box2 - Rockford Fosgate Punch 201S amps2 pair - Rockford Fosgate P162C in front/rear doorsSony Xplod 5710 head unitHidden Hitch
Stang2Vibe
Posts: 2689
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2002 3:37 am

Re: Got Bars? (Nervous_Dog)

Post by Stang2Vibe »

Must be because you're nervous!
Former owner of a 2003 Vibe GT---Great car that gave me 8 years and 83,000 miles of trouble-free service.Current owner of a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD.
slinkston
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2003 4:30 am

Re: Got Bars? (cohocarl)

Post by slinkston »

That would be sweet if you could take some pics of the front bar install.-Slink
Black XR, auto - TRD CAI, STB, Grille and ExhaustManufactured Date: 10/02
cohocarl
Posts: 1478
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 9:45 am

Re: Got Bars? (slinkston)

Post by cohocarl »

I had a little time the other night and thought I'd see if it is possible to get the front bar removed/replaced w/o taking the lower "engine cradle" off. I put the front end up on jack stands, removed the wheels, removed the nuts/bolts that hold the sway bar on, but after about an hour of moving the stock bar in every way I could think of, I could not get it out. I do not see any possible way to get the bar on/off without taking the engine cradle off.quote:That would be sweet if you could take some pics of the front bar install.Yes, I plan on taking some pics if I do it myself.Rasermon.....how about this weekend sometime....I may need your help remembering how to get the thing back together once I get it apart. (and some moral support in tackling this one)Carl
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
nfrosty
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2003 4:42 am

Re: Got Bars? (cohocarl)

Post by nfrosty »

Just ordered my bars today. Carl have you checked out this link yet?http://www.powercx.com/celica/hotchkis/A freind of mine has recomended not taking the entire cradle off. This site has instructions that indicate the same.
nfrosty
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2003 4:42 am

Re: Got Bars? (silverawd26)

Post by nfrosty »

Yup! I know about the strut bars. I was hoping word wouldn't get out on it. People seem to bid them up higher than what you can buy them for outright.
nfrosty
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2003 4:42 am

Re: Got Bars? (silverawd26)

Post by nfrosty »

There's also some strut bars listed for the Matrix on ebay. All of those are already bid up over $120.00 with shipping. One of them is at $140.00 with shipping. Right now you can buy em outright for $119.00 shipped! The only good part of that is the seller on ebay will keep listing more of them till the bid happy buyers are gone.
cohocarl
Posts: 1478
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 9:45 am

Re: Got Bars? (nfrosty)

Post by cohocarl »

quote:Just ordered my bars today. Carl have you checked out this link yet?http://www.powercx.com/celica/hotchkis/A freind of mine has recomended not taking the entire cradle off. This site has instructions that indicate the same.Thank you for posting that link. That's about what I was thinking of doing was to loosen up the bolts enough to let the rear of the cradle drop down enough to slide the bar out. I just wish I had more time right now. Carl
Sold 6/16/04 03 Vibe 5-speed, Hotchkis Sway Bars & Springs, Hooker Aerochamber, Panasonic Stereo, Hitch, Silverstars,04 Saturn Vue 2.2L Ecotec, 5-speed, 01 Stratus R/T Coupe 5-speed (wife's car) 85 Corvette 268 CompCam, 882 heads, FlatTops, 24lb injectors, Hooker Aerochamber true duals, 58mm TB, Holley AFPR, Siamesed intake base, Polished TPI.
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