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HighlanderGeneral discussion forum for the Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid.
This is a discussion thread titled "Improve handling with tube steps Toyota PTS06-48010-13", within the Highlander forum, part of the SUV Forums category.
Improve handling with tube steps Toyota PTS06-48010-13
I have a 2005 Highlander and just installed a set of genuine Toyota accessory
stainless tube steps Toyota part number Toyota PTS06-48010-13. Really easy to install, no drilling, just bolt on to the frame. You can download the
installation instructions here:
after installing the tube steps, I can definitely feel an inprovement in handling,
the Highlander does not dip at all anymore when cornering, it rides like its on rails. Try it , go to the dealer and look for a Highlander with the tube steps installed and test drive it , then test drive a Highlander without the tube steps, you'll see the difference. The tube steps definitely makes the frame stiffer, they almost act like anti-sway bars.
Imjin, you make it sound like the frame is really flexible,
that is not the case, it's the same exact frame as the RX330, the same tube steps fit on the Lexus RX330,
it uses the same exact frame mounting holes on the Highlander,
perhaps, I use the wrong wording, and if I gave you
the impression the frame flexes, if so, I apologoize.
All I was trying to say was that on sharp cornering,
the truck would "dip"/"sway" into the curve,
this doesn't mean the frame is flexing, it just means there is a delay before the suspension / VSC kicks in and levels
the dip to give you better handling. this is not just the Highlander, almost any car going into a sharp corner will dip towards one side into the suspension levels the car.
After installing the tube steps, the Highlander doesn't
dip anymore, it stays "level" with the curve, almost attacking the curve like a sports car, no swaying
at all,
it's almost like the tube steps "keeps" the turning
corner of the vehicle from "dipping" in the curve,
it feels like the tube steps helps pull the car from
"dipping" into the cruve.
sort of like a Front Strut Tower Bar + a Rear Sway Bar installed.
Like I said, just test drive a used/new Highlander installed with the tube steps and you'll see the difference.
not sure if its the same case with the running boards.
am i the only one who thinks this post is insane?
what in the heck are we talking about here? steps, tube type bolt-on steps?
the only way in the world that steps would help road performance would be if they stiffened up the frame from flexing but does a highlander even have a frame? if not then you are stiffing up the unibody? this seems like a crazy notion -to bolt bars on the side of the unibody and have it help the truck handle, i mean what am i missing?
Iagree. if anything it would make it roll more due to more weight on sides.
a stiffer sway bar that is connected to both front a frames might do it - i might buy one of those. anyone upgraded the sway bar/ i assume HL have a sway bar
Well my highlander has the manik tube steps. I have tried fast cornering with it and it definitly does not have the cornering of a sports car or any none suv for that matter.
To test your theory we had a race between my highlander, a subaru legacy wagon (broken awd), and a buick regal LS on a very winding and tight highway.The subaru in front took a huge lead, I had to keep tapping the brakes to keep the hlander from being thrown into a wall, and the regal which was behind me hung on my bumper and later told me he didn't have to use his brakes and I was slowing him down.
"The cheese is only free inside the mousetrap"
Green V6 2wd highlander
(alarm,wheel locks,vin number on windows options)
Manik Full Front Guard
Manik Rear Guard
Manik Side steps
Velvet seat covers
Chrome Exhaust Tip
Hyper White xenon bulbs
Tint 20% rear, 30% front
How they're attached shouldn't matter. Your whole point is that having tube steps somehow changes the cornering of the car. The only way that would make sense is if the weight of the steps makes the car lower and the fact they stick out of the sides makes it wider.
"The cheese is only free inside the mousetrap"
Green V6 2wd highlander
(alarm,wheel locks,vin number on windows options)
Manik Full Front Guard
Manik Rear Guard
Manik Side steps
Velvet seat covers
Chrome Exhaust Tip
Hyper White xenon bulbs
Tint 20% rear, 30% front
not to nitpick too much, but using your logic below doesnt add up either...adding weight would make the car more sloppy especially in this case since its not being added to the center of the frame or in a position to have 50/50 weight distribution....
adding weight to the OUTSIDE of the width of the tires is about the worst place to put weights as the centrifugal force of the outside bar will be greatest outside of the tires cornering radius...this would make the truck more sloppy, not less...
i suppose it could enhance the rigidity of the frame but do a very minimal effect(i hope )..the supra's frame flexes a lot when the top is off the car as any supra driver who has cornered hard or gone over train tracks will tell u if they are honest and dont have X braces and so forth under the car...this was an issue with older lexus' as well...the GS300 comes to mind...
not saying the original poster is incorrect in his assessment of the handling in his truck...i dont see it, but i also havent tried it...
Besides, how they're attached shouldn't matter. Your whole point is that having tube steps somehow changes the cornering of the car. The only way that would make sense is if the weight of the steps makes the car lower and the fact they stick out of the sides makes it wider.
I think that it is wishful thinking (placebo effect) that the tube steps have any effect on cornering ability. First, the HL is based on a FWD Camry platform which has a unibody and thus there is no frame to stiffen. A 4runner which is truck based does have a body on a frame, as does the large SUV's from the domestic brands like Tahoe, Suburban, etc. Adding the step bars which only attach at the ends will not add any chassis stiffness, either vertically or horizontally. If they were welded on continuously from front to rear, they might add a little stiffness.
The only way to get the HL to corner flatter is to add spring stiffness or connect a larger front and rear anti-sway bar between the wheels, but the stiffer springs would harshen the ride.
carnutz:
if i understand u correctly then i believe you are mistaken on some of your points...having a unibody or not really makes no difference except when speaking about where to mount braces to stiffen the structural members (structural members being the framework in the unibody vs a chassis in a chassis+cab type vehicle)...the frame(unibody) flexes from side to side as we corner and i can tell u from personal experience that tying both sides of the frame together using an X brace for example(we can use relatively thin metal to do a fantastic stiffening job) does a great deal in helping cornering stability as the frame twists less from say front left to rear right....welding from front to rear on the body of say a 4runner cab wont add any chassis stiffness(this might be what you were saying) since the body is attached using rubber mounts, but bolting on a STRONG piece of metal might in fact help with stiffness of the frame of a highlander, much like boxing a chassis adds stiffness...it is, however, hard to imagine that the foot rests are built stiff enough to cause a noticeable difference....
Kevin
Quote:
Originally Posted by carnutz
I think that it is wishful thinking (placebo effect) that the tube steps have any effect on cornering ability. First, the HL is based on a FWD Camry platform which has a unibody and thus there is no frame to stiffen. A 4runner which is truck based does have a body on a frame, as does the large SUV's from the domestic brands like Tahoe, Suburban, etc. Adding the step bars which only attach at the ends will not add any chassis stiffness, either vertically or horizontally. If they were welded on continuously from front to rear, they might add a little stiffness.
The only way to get the HL to corner flatter is to add spring stiffness or connect a larger front and rear anti-sway bar between the wheels, but the stiffer springs would harshen the ride.
Well Kevin, let me try to clarify a little. I am a structural engineer and design steel structures for a living (and post on forums for fun ) but my structures do not move. I was just trying to point
Improve handling with tube steps Toyota PTS06-48010-13
'Must be the optional horizontal outriggers and adjustable training wheels that reduce the roll--the same ones NHTSA uses for rollover testing. 
