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How to install a front upper strut bar? I'm a Newby

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Old 03-22-07, 01:01 AM
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Smile How to install a front upper strut bar? I'm a Newby

hey guys, I recently purchased a Tanabe strut bar for me FC3S 1990 Rx7 GTU. I want to know what I need to do to install the strut.

Steps will be great.

thanks go FC3S :smiley_12
Old 03-22-07, 03:10 AM
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Here's what I did, someone more knowledgable can jump in...

-Chuck, jack and jack stand it.
-Remove rubber boots and 8 lock nuts, might take a good crack to loosen 'em.
-Position bar over studs and rough adjust tension to line up.
-Bolt it down tight, tighten bar tension and lock nuts, replace boots. Done.
-Remove stands and lower car, back up over wheel chocks.
Old 03-22-07, 03:16 AM
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Why are you jacking the car up? If you do that that suspension will drop out. Just take off the four 14mm nuts that are on the strut towers, put the bar over the bolts that are sticking up, reapply the nuts and if you have the rubber boots that go over the strut tower you can put those back on.
Old 03-22-07, 03:18 AM
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i did this the other day on a 240. Don't jack the car up all the way because you could have the struts fall out of the tower. If the bar is adjustable set it how you want, take off the bolts on the tower, put the bar on, and torque the bolts down to spec. Took around 15-20 minutes.
Old 03-22-07, 03:21 AM
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you jack the car up to take the load off the towers. that way when you put the bar on it actually stiffens up the front suspension.
Old 03-22-07, 03:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Omixeo
Why are you jacking the car up?
I had heard somewhere you wanted to take the stress off the suspension before installing the bar to get a tighter fit.

But, yes, perhaps just jack it up enough to take most of the weight off...
Old 03-22-07, 05:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Red'vert
-Chuck, jack and jack stand it.
NO, you don't want to do this!
This allows the front towers to deflect when they are unloaded.
You want the strut bar to be at rest when the rest of the chassis is at rest.

You're supposed to put the strut tower on with the car in the ground.


-Ted
Old 03-22-07, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by RETed
You want the strut bar to be at rest when the rest of the chassis is at rest.
Well, that makes sense. Will refasten today without any pre-load / stress.
Old 03-22-07, 10:51 AM
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did you guys notice any diffrence in anyway after installing the stut bar?
Old 03-22-07, 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by 808rx7
did you guys notice any diffrence in anyway after installing the stut bar?
I did. I've been driving my 'vert for 16 years so I know it well. I immediately noticed the steering seemed more precise and it seems to dive less when cornering hard. It could well be that the 'vert derives more benefit from the additional stiffening of these types of add-ons.

I had recently put in Tokico shocks and Tein springs so the suspension was already pretty tight, tuned and aligned, yet the eBay Special strut tower bar was a no brainer for $30 shipped, a surprisingly high-quality, solid piece.

http://stores.ebay.com/Tuningpros



Trying the inexpensive Energy Suspension Front & Rear End Links next..., wonder if they'll be noticeable? "Hey, for 12 bucks it's worth a try," he says, having no clue how hard they'll be to install...
Old 03-22-07, 11:19 AM
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I noticed a very big difference on my Vert and T2 when I added the front bars. When I added the rear bar to the T2 it also made a huge difference as well.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...0Bar/SB010.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...0Bar/SB012.jpg


Originally Posted by RETed
You're supposed to put the strut tower on with the car in the ground.
Like this?

Last edited by Turbo II; 03-22-07 at 11:28 AM.
Old 03-22-07, 11:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Red'vert
I did. I've been driving my 'vert for 16 years so I know it well. I immediately noticed the steering seemed more precise and it seems to dive less when cornering hard. It could well be that the 'vert derives more benefit from the additional stiffening of these types of add-ons.

I had recently put in Tokico shocks and Tein springs so the suspension was already pretty tight, tuned and aligned, yet the eBay Special strut tower bar was a no brainer for $30 shipped, a surprisingly high-quality, solid piece.

http://stores.ebay.com/Tuningpros



Trying the inexpensive Energy Suspension Front & Rear End Links next..., wonder if they'll be noticeable? "Hey, for 12 bucks it's worth a try," he says, having no clue how hard they'll be to install...
link?
Old 03-22-07, 11:30 AM
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I noticed a huge difference in feel after I installed my Cusco front strut bar. Less lean in the corners, better steering response. it was more of a change than I was expecting. Then I sold it to a freind for extra $ for other parts and now my car is back to stock. Can deffinately tell going from one to another. Moreso from aftermarket back to none. And listen to those guys ^ DONT jack the car up. It took me all of maybe 5 minutes to install mine. Loosen all 8 nuts, put the strut bar on, put the nuts back on, tighten and drive. Not a very difficult job at all
Old 03-22-07, 12:02 PM
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thanks a lot guys and girls if there any in this thread lol
Old 03-22-07, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by skatingsamurai
link?
It was in there for their eBay store.

BTW, the center bar is a nice, solid, polished piece on these...

Here's the single bar auction $27.90 shipped:

http://tinyurl.com/3dl4vs

And Front AND Rear bars for $50.80 delivered:

http://tinyurl.com/2q87z7
Old 03-22-07, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Turbo II

Like this?

Holy **** to that^!
Old 03-22-07, 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by skatingsamurai
link?
Or did you want the link to the Energy Suspension End Links...

Here's the end links kit:

http://tinyurl.com/2d7wmo

And here's the entire kit for $103, not sure I'm up to the self install though...

http://tinyurl.com/2evh8s




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