From the first pic of the drivers side it looks very cloose to fitting, Try also loosening the third bolt on each side so you can shift the shock mount slightly also. from the pics you should be able to force the bar into place once the suspension is unloaded and all the mount bolts are loosened don't remove the third one totally or the spring/shock/mount assembly will fall down when you lift the car!

 

I dunno, I agree with Donovan. I think it will fit. The strut tower bolts are angled slightly inward so are closer together at the top than at the base. Easily a 1/8 inch difference per side. Having had my bar off and on so many times I can't count it will not just drop on when reinstalling it. Mount one side as you have but do NOT bolt down tight. Then on the other side get the inner stud in the hole first then rotate the mount to slip over the outer bolt. I don't recommend any pounding or banging as you might damage the stud threads. I do agree that jacking up the car to unload the suspension as a good idea and then also loosening that third nut as there is some free play in the upper strut mount. Keep at it and good luck we're rooting for ya.
Crispy
PS might wanna get a haircut too it might be getting in the way

 

What he said... Loosen the ends where they bolt to the center of the brace and rotate the outmost edge up. The struts bolts are at an angle so it will be a little tough to put on but once it pops over the top of the stud you should be home free.

Judging from the pics of the engine compartment your car looks pretty clean, I doubt it has frame damage. Post a couple pics of the entire engine bay.

Jeff

 

I have to agree with what everyone is saying here. My Cusco 'D' bar never goes on perfectly. My trick is to pivot the ends and place them over the bolts. I never bolt down one side while the other is still completely off the bolts, this creates a poor angle for the bar. Bottom line...I try to keep the bar as horizontal as possible and pivot the ends as needed. Going by your pictures, it doesn't seem that you that far off. Good luck!

 

jack the front of the car up by one point in the middle of the front subframe so both wheel lift off then try to put the bar on..good luck

 

I'd be interested in the strut bar if you decide to sell it and you have no takers...

 

If you decide to sell the bar I would be willing to purchase it. Good luck getting the car straighten out!

 

Thanks for the responses everyone. Sounds like good advice and I'll try the suggestions this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

BTW, if I sell the brace, I'm not taking less than $180 shipped.......

TurboJeff: here's some engine pics

 

sorry for double post

 

From the looks of that engine compartment I'd REALLY REALLY doubt that the car is bent. Here are a couple things to look for (couldn't see in the pics).

If the hood fits between the fenders with an even gap on both sides. If the hood fits between the fenders and the fender bolt holes aren't slotted then the car is the correct width.

If the car has original fenders there are a couple holes covered with painted cloth covers in the area where the fender bolts to the body. If the cloth covers are there then that means you have original fenders, further indicating that the car isn't bent.

Have you tried to loosen up the ends of the brace and force it on? You might try lifting the center part of the brace and let the ends droop. When you have the holes lined up push the center down.

Good luck! Nice looking engine bay. Your car probably IS NOT bent, don't worry about it.

I don't know if this just posted, on the top pic I think I can see the cloth covers on the holes in the fenders, those are original fenders. Fenders are cheap and easy to replace, if they are original it probably hasn't ever been hit, at least in the front.

Jeff

 

I think I got dibs...if he decides to sell it.

anyways I think it will fit....car looks pretty straight...probably just need to twist it somehow..

 

TurboJeff: Yeah, the fenders are original. However, I did notice something a little strange. On the passenger side fender, it looks like the fender has been rebolted down as I can see a sliver of the bolt circle around where it's bolted down now. Sorry for the poor description.

I will try to get the brace on tomorrow afternoon after work. Once again, thanks for all the info guys.

Johnny: You've got dibs on the brace if I decide to sell it, I think I've seen you post before that you've been looking for one for a while.

 

Bay area,,,,,, There is one shop i know of up there, that was at one time was bmw certified, (meaning they use unibody bench systems and good paint materials) lost it only recently becuase of the paint materials were not on the aproved list for certification, anywayz, i cant remember the name of the shop but if i do ill drop a line, in the mean time should you be in southern california i know two shops that can do it and do it well, one is the shop i work for, we use factory certified repair methods and aproved materials, we also have uni-body frame bench's the name of the place is class auto and its in long beach, the second place a half an hour southbound is spectrum collision they are the only bmw certified repair shop left in CA, (BMW repair standards are really really really high, believe me i know,, and mazda currently doesnt have a certification program for body repair) if your interested in visiting any of the two shops drop me a line email wise some time, or wait a lil while and ill come up with the name for that sanfran place i know of.

 

ohh and one more thing, if you sell the brace, ill buy 200 shipped, how ya like that. :P

 

So.... did it fit?
Crispy

 

Well, I had Rick at Rick's Rotary take a look at it when I was having my oil changed and guess what?

I'm the not-so-proud winner of the "Idiot of the Week" award.

Turns out the brace was NOT adjusted as short as it would go. He still had to play with it a little bit, but once shortened, it did go on.

The car feels better to drive now, the front end feels like one-piece and the steering feel is better. I highly recommend a strut brace to anyone who doesn't have one.

Thanks for all the help guys, excuse me while I strap on my flame suit.

BTW, nice meeting you Johnny and your car looks very clean and tastefully modded. Very nice.

 

Glad to hear of your happy ending, ie no bent fram e or accident damage.
No harm no foul
Crispy

 

Glad it worked out for you, and that you had no frame problems. I put a Cusco bar on my car shortly after I got it, and it did make a big difference in the feel of the front end. I recently added the Racing Beat front sway bar mount reinforcement strut, and now my car feels like a go-kart. It is unbelievable how much of a difference these two items combined make in the handloing and feel of the car. check it out:

http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda3.htm

 

thanks....I'm pretty anti-rice in my old age