SV21 Camry rear swaybar upgrade

**Camryman** · 07-09-2008, 12:42 PM

Just wanting to hear from SV21 Camry owners who have done a rear swaybar upgrade. What brand did you get and how does it handle in the wet? Does it have a tendency to spin on a wet road?

My options are an 18mm Whiteline or a 20mm from K Mac. I'm worried the K Mac is a little too stiff but sourcing the Whiteline is a pain because it has been discontinued, although I can get the company that took over the old factory in Minto to make me one.

**JetspeedCamry** · 08-09-2008, 08:57 AM

I have the 18mm Whiteline RSB. It make a noticeable difference in over steer tendency, but not to the point where you loose grip at the rears. I have never lost grip or slid the rear of my car in any emergency situation in the wet. In fact, the RSB makes the car handle better to get out of those situations, or hugs the corner nicely if your going through some twisting mountain roads. Makes a nice difference to an otherwise neutral handling car, i recommend it.If you get it made, make sure you get the polyurethane bushes aswell.

**Camryman** · 08-09-2008, 11:35 AM

Thanks for that. I've now ordered the swaybar from Superior Suspension.

Old whiteline part number was BTR38. New Superior Suspension part number is STR38, made in the same factory at Minto. Similar price to.

Will let people know how it goes for future reference.

Originally Posted by JetspeedCamry

I have the 18mm Whiteline RSB. It make a noticeable difference in over steer tendency, but not to the point where you loose grip at the rears. I have never lost grip or slid the rear of my car in any emergency situation in the wet. In fact, the RSB makes the car handle better to get out of those situations, or hugs the corner nicely if your going through some twisting mountain roads. Makes a nice difference to an otherwise neutral handling car, i recommend it.If you get it made, make sure you get the polyurethane bushes aswell.

**wagonist** · 08-09-2008, 12:36 PM

I had a 22mm Whiteline one on the back of my Caldina, which got replaced with an 18mm.

It's still sitting around if you're interested. It's no use to me anymore. Should fit straight up.

**Camryman** · 10-09-2008, 11:41 PM

Hi Steve

Thanks for the offer. That is very generous. But the new sway bar has arrived today.

**Camryman** · 13-09-2008, 05:00 PM

Well the new rear sway bar for the SV21 Camry arrived 3 days after I ordered it by phone. It has retro Shelby Swaybar branding on it and is painted yellow. Comparing it to the factory sway bar it is significantly thicker. Including delivery was about $175 and the mechanic installed it for $75 which I though was cheap but more on that later.

The quick review is that at on roundabouts and also overtaking on the tighter inner lanes of a curved road the car is flatter. Have to take the car down the Royal National Park to given it a real test.

Installation of the rear sway bar wasn’t a small job as you have to detached and lower the fuel tank to get the old bar out and fit the new one in. That wouldn’t be easy to do at home, well not at my home.

I also used the rubber bushes that came with the bar instead of using poly bushes in keeping with the luxury touring theme of the car, making a bit more sociable over speed humps for rear passengers. But I would recommend poly bushes if you want maximum performance. I do have poly bushes up front.

While the rear sway bar was being installed I was given the beaten up loaner car from the mechanic to use, which happened to be a stock SV21 Camry. That was the perfect opportunity to compare the difference.

Even without the rear sway upgrade my car definitely handled better. The old stocker was a shocker. Felt like it was floating in the air with massive play in the steering wheel. The other very noticeable gap was the stock brakes with drums at the back. Mine car has Celica brakes up front and discs at the back. It was quite scary how much of a difference there was.

**Camryman** · 19-09-2008, 05:59 PM

Well the day after installation it rained so it was a perfect opportunity to do wet weather testing. Short story was that there was no oversteer. Sort of makes me wonder if I should have went for the thicker Kmac rear sway bar as my front is stiffer with the front strut brace.

The day soon dried up so I headed down to the royal national park. Downhill was still white knuckle, with a fully loaded Camry weighing 1250kg, but on the flats it was very stable.

So all up a worth while upgrade. Next on the handling shopping list are camber bolts.