In June 2023, I, Rikutsu-Kone-Taro, replaced the steering wheel and boss of the GR Yaris with aftermarket products and installed adjustable suspension and a roll bar, so I would like to report on that this time.
The steering wheel is slightly smaller in diameter than the normal one, made of backskin, and the roll bar is a genuine Toyota product with a side bar for added style. (Photo 1)
The suspension kit is the CUSCO SPORT TN_S. I entrusted all the parts purchasing and work to GR Garage Kitaikebukuro as usual.
As you can see in Photo 1, the side bar is positioned lower than the side shell of the bucket seat, so it doesn’t obstruct entry and exit too much.
On the contrary, grabbing the side bar makes upper body movement easier, but it’s a bit inconvenient to have to raise your legs slightly higher to clear the side bar.
For the sake of style, I had also been aiming to install a flip-up steering wheel boss for a long time, and finally did so this time. (Photo 2)
While driving, it looks like Photo 2, but when you operate the red part…
It becomes like this. (Photo 3)
I tried replacing both the steering wheel and boss with aftermarket products separately, with the intention of reverting them back immediately if it didn’t feel right, but the result was very satisfying.
The genuine steering wheel was a bit far away, but with this replacement, it has become much closer, making steering easier. The positioning in relation to the CAE Quick Shifter is also excellent!
The position has unexpectedly improved!
It was a good decision.
However, it’s not all positive. As can be seen in Photo 2, the steering wheel has become further from the turn signal lever, so the amount of movement required for the right hand during turning has increased slightly.
Oh, by the way, I liked the change in visibility when I installed Cusco’s power brace seat rails (hereinafter referred to as braces) only on the rear sides a while ago, so this time I had them installed on the front sides as well.
Although it’s only a few millimeters thick, it has greatly contributed to improving visibility. The annoyance of the door mirror obstruction has been significantly reduced.
By the way, the roll bar runs through the A-pillar interior, so it doesn’t obstruct visibility at all. Here’s how the side bar dives into the interior.
It doesn’t obstruct throttle operation.
So far, I have made improvements to parts directly involved in driving such as full bucket seats, quick shifter, clutch stopper, braces, steering wheel, and steering boss. It cost money, but I was able to achieve a driving position, operability, and visibility that were very close to what I had envisioned.
The first thing I noticed when driving after this improvement was that the noise during driving had decreased, and the sound, vibration, and roughness had significantly reduced. It feels like I’ve switched to a slightly more luxurious model. On the other hand, the body feels more solid, and the response to driving operation has become more direct and smooth, motivating me.
Whether this change is due to the incorporation of the roll bar or the change in shock and spring, I can’t tell now because I did both tasks at the same time.
Ideally, I, Rikutsu-Kone-Taro, would like to publish a photo of myself sitting in the seat with a big smile, showing the extent of my stretch and ease of operation, but I am extremely bad at taking photos, so I ask for your understanding.
Finally, I have reached the point where I can truly enjoy the performance of the GR Yaris. From now on, I plan to enjoy it thoroughly and carefully.
That’s all for this time.
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