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Strut bar: tanabe or cusco?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by nicoj36, Mar 8, 2019.

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  1. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    Anyone here have tried both? If so, which one do you think is better? I'm about to install one for my 2010 which has serious swaying issues. I already installed the TRD sway bar in the rear but it did not fix my swaying so I'm looking to upgrade the suspension a little more to see if it helps. I'm also going to install a chassis brace.

    Cusco or tanabe? Ty!
     
    #1 nicoj36, Mar 8, 2019
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Just choose the one that you think is prettier.
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, Mar 8, 2019
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  3. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    Really. No difference in performance whatsoever?
     
    #3 nicoj36, Mar 8, 2019
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Just like when your deciding which lady to marry.
     
    #4 Grit, Mar 8, 2019
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  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    #5 JimboPalmer, Mar 8, 2019
  6. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Tom’s Strut bar is the best. It’s one solid piece so limits flex more then Cusco or Tanabe. Hard to find, you can try Hybridpit or keep an eye out on EBay. I just picked one up for myself. Expensive but works.
     
    #6 orenji, Mar 12, 2019
  7. n23

    n23 Junior Member

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    I thought about it, but when I saw that it blocks the underhood fuse panel, I changed my mind. Just what I want, to be on the side of the highway with a blown fuse and not have a ratchet set on hand to remove a strut tower bar. The risk to reward doesn't make sense for me. Now granted, it's pretty rare that I've had a blown fuse, but I'm sure that if I did, it would be in the rain at 3AM with my wife and kids in the car.
     
    #7 n23, Mar 13, 2019
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  8. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Correct......That's why I have the CUSCO.
     

    Attached Files:

    #8 Georgina Rudkus, Mar 13, 2019
  9. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    No blockage.
     
    #9 orenji, Mar 13, 2019
  10. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    2705289A-4E21-4ADD-A366-B7B7AB0C91B9.jpeg
     
    #10 orenji, Mar 13, 2019
  11. WolfpackBill

    WolfpackBill Senior Member

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    I have the Cusco bar and it doesn't block the fuse box at all. Combined with the TRD rear sway bar and braces, the car actually handles very well for what it is!
     
    #11 WolfpackBill, Mar 13, 2019
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  12. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    My husband's and my retired aircraft engineer friend helped me install mine without having to remove the wipers and the wiper cowl.
     
    #12 Georgina Rudkus, Mar 13, 2019
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  13. WolfpackBill

    WolfpackBill Senior Member

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    Very nice!. But if you use a power drill, it only took me an extra 15 minutes to remove all the stuff to get to the strut tower AND reinstall. It was pretty easy.
     
    #13 WolfpackBill, Mar 14, 2019
  14. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    Thank you for the inputs. I think I will go with the cusco since it doesnt block the fusebox and isnt as bulky as the tanabe.
     
    #14 nicoj36, Mar 17, 2019
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  15. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    Make sure you get the one marked LHD for left hand drive. The one made to the right hand drive Prius will not work well in a left hand drive Prius.
     
    #15 Georgina Rudkus, Mar 18, 2019
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  16. RMB

    RMB Senior Member

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    Once a while eBay has a 15% coupon, use that to bring the price of a Cusco STB down to $153. That's what I did. :D
     
    #16 RMB, Mar 22, 2019
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  17. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Enjoy but know that Cusco and Tanabe are more for looks then actually performance.
     
    #17 orenji, Mar 23, 2019
  18. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    So you're saying these strut bars are useless? Im actually looking to use it because my prius has swaying issues specially at high speed. Combine these struts with a new sway bar links, and new tie rods. Im hoping it will cure my swaying issues. And also improve handling.
     
    #18 nicoj36, Mar 23, 2019
  19. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    I drove my friend's old 1998 Mazda MPV mini van, before I drove my Prius v. The OLD MPV felt a lot better than the v.

    After I had both the strut bar and the center brace, both made by CUSCO installed, there was a definite improvement in feel and handling.

    Clearly, Toyota installed three braces on the Gen 4 in 2016, instead of the one on the Gen 3 including the v.
     
    #19 Georgina Rudkus, Mar 23, 2019
  20. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    I am say a solid strut bar is going to give you much more then one with attached mounting that can flex.
     
    #20 orenji, Mar 24, 2019
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