Tanabe or CUSCO Strut Tower Bar — Is it worth it?

Blocking the fuse box was a show stopper for me. I have the Cusco, but haven't installed it yet.

 

Cusco STB is definitely worth it. The car steers as if it's on rails - it goes exactly where you point it without any hunting around. This STB is also easy to live with as it doesn't block any access when it's installed.

The Tanabe also scared me off because of its "tuning" tension nuts at either end. I didn't want to turn my Prius into an STB tension tuning experiment; just wanted to install the STB and be done with it. 26 thousand miles later, I'm very happy with the Cusco STB.

However, I found that the best suspension / steering upgrade was installing the Rude person's mid-car box brace. This mod got rid of the car's flexy feeling, especially during cornering, and also eliminated occasional wind buffeting that made the Prius feel spongy on the open highway in crosswinds or when passing / being passed by a semi. IMHO, this mid-point box brace seems to work even better when combined with the TRD rear anti-sway bar.

Either mod is worth the $$$ if you can swing a purchase. Also consider one of the front chassis braces (Tanabe, Cusco or Rude person's) as they make the ICE/EV torsional power transition practically unnoticeable.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

I have the Tanabeand it works great. However the fact that I can't easily access the fuse box is a pain but thus far has been a non issue. At the time, I didn't want to spend double for a cusco that I didn't see that much of a difference in.

At the end of the day, and chassis mod on this car will be a noticeable improvement

 

While I am skeptical about the performance of strut tower bars, I decided I would try it on account of DadofHedgehog's recommendation.

I just ordered mine from JuiceHybrid.com They have a 5% off promotion using coupon code Turkey13.

The most important finding is my discovery that, after a full review of the installation instructions and a full assessment of the car under the hood, I am sure that I can install it without removing anything but the strut tower top nuts.

Not to brag but to help others, here, I am sure that I can install it, without removing the wiper arms, two splash pans, the wiper motor and wiper motor linkage. I know this with years of experience in working on aircraft, spacecraft, and especially with automatic temperature control systems under car dashboards for many many years.

They do NOT have them in stock, but four are due to arrive on November 29. One of them will be mine.

 

I ordered my Cusco bar from Fred Bean parts. It took a couple of months as it was drop shipped from Cusco. IApparently they get a container about once a month, so you may have to be patient if it isn't in stock.

I look forward to your report Irv as you have been skeptical about its benefit. I'm pretty sure you will have to remove the wiper assembly and pans. I had to do this to swap in coilovers. There is a slight chance you could get in there with the right tools, but it would probably be a difficult and frustrating process. Assuming the V is the same as the base hatchback, removing the wiper assembly isn't quite as bad as it sounds. The second time I removed it, it took maybe all of 30 mins to remove and reinstall. The one thing I did different versus the instructions was to release the harness connections with some needle nose pliers rather than untaping them.

 

Wow, a whole whopping 5% off?

That's almost insulting. Good luck with the installation.

SCH-I535

 

Mr Stop,

Others have doubted me, before. I have no doubt that I can do it, without removing any of that "crap."

I can see the need to remove all three nuts, when you are taking off the entire strut.

For installing the Cusco, you need to take off only two of the three nuts on each side.

http://www.juicedhybrid.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/951%20540%20alhd_eng.pdf

 

I know that 5% is insulting. Actually, I'm getting another 5%, because I put the thing on my Discover Card.

 

Cusco it the way to go!

 

Having been aware of your unfathomable dislike of front upper strut bars I expected your post to be another rip at them, this is progress, now about the certainty of any uncertainty to other's, err, the... you can install it without removing anything but the top mounting nut's...
whateverfloatsyerboat

My point is, when you have one of you'rs for sale I'm ready

 

I recalled, JuiceHybrid.com didn't give me any discounts on my order & tell me to wait for at least 30+ days from JP shipping.
So I canceled, and shopped around & found horsepowerfreaks.com and called-in and ordered one with free shipping
as 1st time customer (otherwise is $16 for shipping & no tax for CA). I paid mine for $180 shipped to SF (got it in 2days) & it was drop-shipped from CUSCO in LA warehouse.

Here is the link, if anyone interested......
Toyota Cusco Type OS Strut Tower Bars | HorsepowerFreaks

 

2X That is the way I did my car.........................

 

aursle,


I still AM skeptical. However, I can be wrong. If I am, I will be the first to admit it. My best and most productive learning experiences have been from blind dead ends and mistakes.

For years, I've been lied to by those who had the company or "organizational" line. They told me what they thought I wanted to here, NOT the FACTS that I NEEDED to hear.

The opportunity to test the strut bar comes from my discovery and interest in the challenge of being able to install it without the tedious process that Cusco has purveyed to its customers. I am fully capable of installing the bar according to Cusco's instructions, but I know that there's a better way.

From my tentative assessment, I do not think there is a necessary improvement to Cusco's design; just their installation instructions.

As for Tanabe, theirs is a disaster. Selling a product that prevents ready access to fuse box is inexcusable.

Again, I have NO profit motive. I'm here to satisfy my curiosity and to help others who are here.

 

I have the Cusco STB, TRD RSB, lowering springs, and the Rude person's front and mid braces. I don't know if it's one or all, but the car I drive today is not the same as the one driven off the lot. Rock steady and stable. Joy to drive.

 

The only improvement that I might recommend for the Cusco are;

captive nuts and washers for the blue bracket mounting nuts.

Instead of a nut for the bolts holding the cross bar to the brackets, the bracket could be threaded to become the NUT for the bolts, thereby eliminating the need for the nut and reaching into the tight space for placing the nut.

From my years of experience, ease of installation and servicing any part should be a very important consideration.

 

My Cusco after Fall 2012 install.

 

The cusco STB only comes the way u've seen it.....however f u want to u could get it powder coated any color.