This may be stupid due to my vehicle is a 2002 toyota highlander, But I want to improve my turning radius and how my suv handles when taking turns, What would be something that would make a noticeable improvement in my turning - other than tires... I was looking at maybe performance control arms and/or performance sway bar bushings and sway bar (if i can find a performance sway bar) Any suggestions are appreciated! Merry christmas everyone !
Highlanders are great vehicles, but they wallow. Live with it or get 'the answer'.
Or use this opportunity to improve your driving skills. The best practice is learning how to hustle a wallowing boat.
true... i have driven this vehicle along with a 94 deville.. I plan on having this highlander for a lot longer than the deville though, so i'd like to make minor improvements then start doing major improvements, so I was thinking why not try improving something i will be able to feel, think performance sway bar bushings would help ?
The only thing that will change the turning radius is geometry changes to the suspension/steering systems. You may be limited by the front CV joints too. For handling I would try in the following order: making sure the stock suspension is in good shape, higer performance tires, larger sway bars, stiffer suspension bushings. Everything but bringing the stock suspension up to snuff will probably hurt off road performance.
well, suspension was good last time i checked it out - about a month ago, tires are brand new and don't really wanna replace yet, I can't find any sway bars for it either :/ so stiffer suspension bushings, I'll have to check.
Look at Lexus RX300's for slightly different suspension pieces, also you might find something in Asia that you can import.
Turning radius is limited by the stops in the rack, so control arm changes won't help much and you'll run into CV joint issues at much more angularity if the tires don't run into the frame rails or inner fender wells.
If you can find Bilstein, Koni or Tokico brand struts you can improve the body control and possibly lower it a little.
About the only thing that can help turn radius is sell the suv and get a miata. My girlfriends mom has a similar highlander and I hate it! Dont get me wrong its a great, reliable, torquey vehicle with decent mpg but its really twitchy! Im sure you know what I mean its hard to drive it without backseat passengers thinking you just started driving. Get the alignment checked and maybe you can cure some of the twitchiness. I checked into parts it seems addco sells a rear sway bar that would help you out a ton and as stated before bilsteins would be nice too
Stiffer springs and shocks and a 1.5" lower ride height is both doable and will make a difference. Up to you if you can live with the new ride harshness.
If you are considering sway bars, decide if the car understeers or oversteers at the limit. If it understeers, you do not want to add a bigger front bar since it will make it worse.
Rear steering! Wooot!
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