Proper intallation and function of strut tower bars [Merged 1-7]

[ProStreetOnline]

Originally posted by madeagle
No, I am not going to do anything that extreme, plus I can get one used for seems like a good price. What componies are good, or they are about all the same?

They are all about the same. You just need to find one with a bar that doesn't flex. If it flex, then it's negating the bar's purpose.

Good luck.

 

[madeagle]

What type of metall should be made out of. And how can I go about finding if it bents over the net?
thank you.

 

[UVaJester]

Does anyone recomend a certain front and rear strut bar? It seems like a few companies make them, and they can vary in price by a lot, which means that something must be different.

Jester

 

[TURFNNSURF]

I just installed a Freedom Design strut bar in my car.. I ordered it on Monday and it arrived at my door Tuesday afternoon... Talk about fast shipping!!!! 15 minutes later it was installed...

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This was a cheap and functional improvement to my suspension until i get my springs and struts later this summer. Making turns anywhere around town is alot more fun and there is much less body roll even on stock Wheels for now...

Brad

 

[Defiant]

Absolutely worth it, even with a cage (although it should tie into the cage or at least the firewall). Grab the cheapest used or eBay bar you can find.

 

[jagrjones]

The cheapest bars are not always the best. I know the flat bars tend to flex more then the round ones. The bars are usually made out of one of three things, alluminum, steel, and ceramic. The ceramic ones flex a lot, the aliminum and steel ones are pretty good. I prefer aliminum myself. The Greddy bar is expensive as strut bars go (about 100 bucks) but they are really nice, that's what I'm running on my car.

 

[UVaJester]

has anyone every used this bar?

Nopi - Sprint front strut bar

Jester

 

[Vinnie]

Since were talking about strut bars, whats the best way to thighten the bar I seem to have a problem mwith that.

 

[UVaJester]

I am looking to get a front and rear strut bar for my car sometime soon, and I have no idea which ones to pick out of all the brands. Anyone's advice or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Jester

 

[Defiant]

eBay's cheapest.

 

[UVaJester]

Any suggestion on brands? It seems like the ones on eBay for $15.oo must be really cheap quality. Thanks again.

Jester

 

[Black95TSIawd]

haha its just a strut bar. U can get some scrap metal and weld up some of your own if u want.

 

[pc talon]

I have a Matrix front and a Road Race rear.

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by UVaJester
Any suggestion on brands? It seems like the ones on eBay for $15.oo must be really cheap quality.

It could be that, or.... the $100 ones are really sliding one up your chute. I have the cheapies, they're polished, nicely finished, fit well, and have good-looking welds on the brackets.
Then again, I hardly ever park with the hood and hatch up anyway.

 

[iLuv2haveGSXXX]

ive heard the ones off ebay suck...ive heard about them breaking...no idea how but...

im also in the market for some but in the same boat dont know which brand to get...

but then again you always get what u pay for is how i look at it...

 

[UVaJester]

Thats what I thought too....

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Jester

 

[Black95TSIawd]

i'll let u kno when mine break

 

[Beef Jerky]

I've had the eBay cheapies on for about a year now and it still looks as new as the day I put it on...no complaints whatsover. Couple friends also have put them on their cars (non-dsms) and I haven't heard a single complaint about them. If it really makes you feel better to spend 5x as much, go right ahead...I personally have better things to spend that money on though.

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by iLuv2haveGSXXX
ive heard the ones off ebay suck...ive heard about them breaking...no idea how but...

True, they'll snap like twigs if you try to stop a train with your car. If you can pick out which part used to be the braces. They're doing so little when installed that I think it'd be impossible to break any of them without a major wreck.

Someone had a thread about the 1-piece RRE strut "stripping their mounting bolt", but it looked to me like the nut had been cross-threaded. There's not any forces on the mount that would ever cause a stud to strip.

There's also some folklore that you're suppose to mount them in compression instead of in tension, but I have no idea if that'd matter, either.

 

[Brett95GST]

I got the Ebay special for $25 shipped (rear)...it looks nice and does it job, and I too have heard about the compression vs. tension myth, but no one has ever given me any concrete proof to make me change the way I have mine now...

 

[neuralracing]

Is this Strut Bar any good? Does it make a difference what brand you buy?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33591&item=2427618073

If not please let me know where to buy.

 

[Defiant]

It's fine, unless you can find an even cheaper one. I have one on my '94, and a set of them on my '95. I'm not convinced they matter, but they can't hurt. Some say to install them in pressure instead of tension (pressing out instead of pulling in), but again, I know of no real evidence of a difference.

I think it's mostly a matter of fresh wax giving +10hp.

 

[onepimpclipse]

I bought a cheap $30 strut bar. I felt a small difference when cornering. Defiant is right though, only a cheaper one could be better.

 

[GstRacer]

ive heard that to get the best performance out of strut tower bars that you have to jack the car up off the ground and put them on so there is no pressure on the suspension. what do ya'll think is that good or bad how do you put them on? has anyone ever herad of this before???

 

[onepimpclipse]

Just keep it on the ground and have the bar push outward rather than pulling inward. Takes 5 minutes if that to put one on.