How to Fit a Strut Bar
A strut bar is a simple device that reduces unwanted flex from the tops of a car's shock towers during cornering. The strut bar is a bar that is bolted to the tops of the shock towers and serves to brace the shock towers. The reduced flexing and twisting that the chassis experiences translates to more precise steering and more stable, confident handling. A strut bar is usually quite easy to install and requires a minimum of tools and expertise.
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Things You'll Need
- Socket set and ratchet
- Open-ended wrenches
- Torque wrench
- Marker
- Power drill
Instructions
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Installing a Bolt-on Strut Bar
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1
Open the car's hood so that you can access the upper strut towers from the engine bay. Spray degreaser or a mild cleaner (such as Simple Green) onto the strut towers and the bolts that hold the upper strut in place. Do not install the strut brace with the vehicle raised or jacked up. The wheels should all be on level ground.
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2
Determine how the upper strut is mounted to the body. Most strut braces are bolted to the upper strut area with the nuts that hold the upper part of the struts to the body.
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3
Remove the nuts that hold the upper part of the strut to the body with a socket.
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4
Put the strut brace into place in the engine bay. With the strut brace in place but not bolted in, test the strut bar's fit by slowly lowering the hood to make sure there is no interference between the bar and the hood. The hood should be able to shut fully and easily and should not be pushed up at the corners.
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5
Bolt the nuts onto the strut brace with a socket. Tighten them with a torque wrench to the correct settings, which should be outlined in the directions that came with the strut bar.
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6
Adjust the bar with the nut located in the middle of the bar with an open-ended wrench so that it is firmly tensioned against the left and right strut towers.
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7
Make sure the strut bar fits correctly by gently closing the hood, ensuring that it closes fully and easily and does not bend the corners of the hood up.
For Cars Without Pre-drilled Holes
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8
Put the strut bar in place on top of the engine bay and mark where the mounting holes of the strut bar are located on the chassis. Use a marker to make the marks.
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9
Drill the appropriately sized holes in the strut towers with a power drill. Bolt the strut bar in place with the supplied hardware.
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10
Make sure the strut bar fits correctly by gently closing the hood, ensuring that it closes fully and easily and does not bend the corners of the hood up.
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