Just bought a used CP Racing strut bar and I ran into a few clearance issues namely the obvious fuse box issue and a sensor on the passenger strut tower as well. BUT I touch on the fan which seems common that there are threads on this. I know I know everyone hates this company and will tell me I get what I paid for but hey it was cheap for a triangulated bar lol

The obvious solution everyone says is "just cut the fan" and that's fine and great for most people but I am one for not modifying oem stuff too much. I was thinking of spacing the bar with some washers but the struts don't have enough threads for the nuts to actually feel safe. Next solution I was thinking of maybe spacing the fan with a couple of washers but I'm not sure how much thread is on the stock bolts and if it will contact the shroud and if it's even safe to do this.

I also thought of getting someone to weld the bar on the top instead of the front of the bar plates but for a 50$ bar I hardly feel it's worth it.


So my question is:

Can I safely space the fan with washers and longer bolts without affecting performance ?
How long are the stock bolts as I haven't removed them yet and it's getting dark here
Are there clearance issues if I move the fan up about half an inch ?

Thanks guys I'm just looking for a easily reversible mod so I don't have up my car thanks

S5 Vert.

 

that thing is a pos....nothing they ever made had any engineering thought in it.

 

The bolts are pretty long. You could probably get 3+ washers on. However, if the fan is not on perfectly true, it can contact the top of the shroud (my problem, once). Also consider that the engine will be moving around on its mounts.

 

See thats what i was thinking.

I spaced the bar so it barely clears with enough room to fit a couple of pieces of paper in between but i was worried about the movement of the engine would contact the bar.

I used 2 thick washers which were about the thickness of 3.5 washers and spaced the bar up but the fan is the problem. I was thinking maybe 2-3 washers moves it up about a 1/4 inch maybe less just to avoid the tip. I was thinking of running to home depot to get a few and test fit but i was worried about the fan contacting the shroud as you mentioned.

now the next problem is i spaced the bar up now it contacts the turbo hood insulation and possibly the Intercooler gasket (doubt) ugh .... i hate cheap products but after the mounting issues people really say it stiffens up the chassis.

 

I'm fairly certain the car they used to jig it up had solid mounts (engine thus lower) and no hood insulation.

I have one on my car and didn't have any fan clearance issues due to using an e-fan. It did however rub my hood insulation quite significantly.

If you space it up, I'm not sure you'll be even able to close the hood.

It tends to only hit at the ends near the shock tower so you might be able to heat the bar up and bash down the ends to create clearance.

 

Yes that's where it's hitting on the hood. I'll probably remove the hood insulation (hopefully to no negative effect).

I bought some washers for the fan to see if I can space it forward and see how it works and hopefully I can remove the bar spacers so I don't need to raise it and hopefully not contact the hood anymore

I like the bar as it's much better than the 2 point fleabay

 

Quick question, would holding the main pulley with a breaker bar stop the water pump pulley from moving ? I thought i read it somewhere here on the forums but cant remember.

I tried the screwdriver approach to removing the fan bolts but its starting to mess up the nuts and now for the life of me i can not find my other 10mm wrench, it seems to have walked away.

 

NO..not unless the fan belt is on SO tight that it hugs that pulley!

If you get a offset 10mm you can loosen the fan bolts.Put it on a bolt from the underside,let it hit the fan mount and crack one of the "other bolts"..repeat..

 

yeah well i got 3 loose and now the 4th is severely rounded and i have tried: penetrating fluid, heat+vise grips, chisel bit with a hammer and nada

its so round i am assuming it is now a 8mm nut

its always the last fricken nut always


oh and fun fact i dropped my 10mm wrench in between the fan shroud and rad where i cant see it so now i really need to get the fan off

and while im here can the fan itself come off with the 4 bolts on the clutch part facing towards the engine ? im only asking because i noticed the heat was melting the fan a tiny bit and dont want to destroy it

 

Yes it can.