I bought an 09 Yaris a couple weeks ago and I'm planning to get the TRD rear sway bar installed. I called the dealer and they would give it to me for list price. I can get it cheaper offline. Would this complicate things if I took the part in to get installed that I didn't buy at the dealer?
Depends on the dealer. Some will, some won't. Just have a local shop install it. If you are worried about warranty implications, know that TRD stuff is really good quality, and if there is a problem, the dealer has to prove that the non-OEM part or installation was the cause.
These swaybars are very simple to get on there, you won't have a problem
tell me about the Yaris =) Im super curious about them. The hatch esp
What would you like to know about it? The easy way to sum it up right off the bat is 2300lbs, can be made to handle like a slot car, goodness of a hatch, decent aftermarket and 40mpg.
I promise you that you can install it yourself with minimal hassle.
I instilled a Hotchkis rear sway bar on my xA (same car), it only takes 4 bolts and you don't even need to jack up the rear of the car. It's super easy.
There are three main reasons that they wouldn't want to do it. I'm a service writer and I'll spill the beans :)
1- profit. There is a certain profit margin that needs to be maintained in order for the business to be profitable. A large part of that margin comes from the profit on parts sales. A busy shop won't touch parts that a customer brings in because it won't make them money. Why clog the schedule with a no-profit job when there are hundreds in line waiting to make money?
2-owner error. At our shop we will do some installs on customer parts, but we are insanely selective. If a customer says they have a headlight bulb and they want us to put it in, no worries. If someone says they have a mix n' match swaybar to put on, not a chance. Why? Since we are a general repair shop, none of us has specific knowledge on what sway bars work with what vehicles or how they affect the handling. Unless we spend a couple days getting on Yaris forums and learning the tech for ourselves, we can't in good conscience customize your car without knowing the outcome. We would either have to research it on our own time (since we're too busy when we're at work) and the numbers just don't add up. I spend all day talking to customers, assigning work orders, keeping techs on track, dodging customer complaints, arranging transportation and rental cars... the last thing I want to do at 6pm is spend the entire evening researching whether or not the customer's potentially amateur research talents will be something that we can duplicate safely without making a vehicle that will oversteer on the way home... all for a job that pays next to nothing. For all we know, John Q Carguy got on one forum asking about swaybars for a Yaris, some completely anonymous forum junkie BS's some answer about how a Ford F150 swaybar bolts right in and shaves a full second off your AutoX times, and the customer ran out and bought an F150 swaybar having taken it as gospel truth.
3- warranty. There is no way we can honor any warranty at all. We had a customer with a 1978 pickup who had bought brake pads but chickened out of doing the repair himself and asked if we would do it. We did. Turns out the pads were race-type pads that destroyed his cheap rotors. Then we were locked in a triangle of blame between the customer, us, and the brake pad manufacturer. The customer brought us a vehicle without trashed rotors, and after we did the work his rotors got trashed, so he blames us. The pad manufacturer voided the warranty, so they blamed us. Now we have everyone blaming us for something that was not our fault at all. We end up spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars kissing the customer's ass so we don't end up in court, all because we trusted the judgement of the customer to buy the right parts. Not to mention, the warranty often only applies if the purchaser installs the part. Some shops will do the work if you sign a waiver releasing your rights, but most will just pass. They only way they can guarantee the work and the part is if they buy it and put it on for you.
I know that YOU probably know what you're talking about, but quite honestly I would estimate that maybe one in 50 customers actually does know what is right. Even on the most simple repairs like headlights, brake pads, tie rod ends, and body panels, more often than not, the customer has bought the wrong thing.
In reply to curtis73:
This is a TRD part. As in Toyota Racing Develoment. Factory performance parts. Therefore, there won't be any issues with #2 or #3. If you really need to have someone else install it, I would at least give your dealer the chance to match the Internet price. But if it were me, I'd just get on my back in the driveway and save some money :).
And saying "I installed it" is much cooler than saying "I had it installed."
dxman92 wrote: What would you like to know about it? The easy way to sum it up right off the bat is 2300lbs, can be made to handle like a slot car, goodness of a hatch, decent aftermarket and 40mpg.
Stupid re-design. We had an '01 echo that weighed 2080 lbs, was a 4 door auto with a/c.
I think a rear sway bar would be a great project to get you started. Not too difficult and gives you satisfaction.
curtis73 wrote: I know that YOU probably know what you're talking about, but quite honestly I would estimate that maybe one in 50 customers actually does know what is right. Even on the most simple repairs like headlights, brake pads, tie rod ends, and body panels, more often than not, the customer has bought the wrong thing.
It happens. I'd like to think I'm a reasonably bright guy, but a few months ago I struggled for hours trying to figure out why the new headlight bulb wouldn't fit in the Miata. Bought the wrong bulb. Duh.
dxman92 wrote: I bought an 09 Yaris a couple weeks ago and I'm planning to get the TRD rear sway bar installed. I called the dealer and they would give it to me for list price. I can get it cheaper offline. Would this complicate things if I took the part in to get installed that I didn't buy at the dealer?
"Hey, I can get it for $XXX online. If you'll give it to me for the same I'll have it installed there."
trd site says it takes 10 mins with no drilling. you know what to do.
When you buy on line, don't forget the shipping charges. Could make the dealers a better buy.
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