How to Install a Strut Bar on a Scion TC
The Scion TC is a sporty compact car from Japanese car maker Toyota. The Scion line is geared towards younger enthusiasts who prize a hip image as much as quality, reliability and safety. Scions are often modified by their owners for more performance. One of the common upgrades is the installation of a strut brace. A strut brace bolts to the tops of the front strut towers and reduces chassis flex by bracing the tops of the strut towers during cornering. This in turn makes for quicker, more responsive steering and more nimble-feeling handling.
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Instructions
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1
Open the front hood. The strut brace on a Scion is bolted to the top of the strut towers with the three nuts that hold the strut assembly to the chassis. To access the nuts, however, the plastic shroud in the engine bay that covers part of the strut towers needs to be removed.
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2
Remove the plastic caps on the bolts that hold the windshield wiper blades on. Remove the bolts that hold the wiper arms on with a socket and a ratchet. Pull the wiper arms off. Remove the clips that hold the plastic shroud in place with a screwdriver. Set the shroud aside.
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3
Remove the three nuts located around where the upper strut protrudes through the shock towers with a socket and a ratchet. Set the nuts where they won't be misplaced.
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4
Test-fit the strut brace by sliding the strut brace down over the studs that the nuts were threaded onto. Each end of the strut brace will have holes drilled in it that correspond with the upper strut studs. Slowly close the hood and ensure that there is no interference between the hood and the strut, and that the hood can be fully closed.
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5
Open the hood back up. Reinstall the nuts that thread onto the struts on either side of the engine bay that now also hold the strut mount in place. Tighten the nuts firmly. Reinstall the plastic shroud. Reinstall the wiper arms and the nuts that hold them on. Test drive your Scion and enjoy the improved steering.
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