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Hey everyone,

I just picked up a front strut tower bar today and was wondering if there is anything I should know up front before I install it?
I'm assuming I don't need to jack the car up and it should be a pretty simple install?
Any info and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 
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If you aren't on totally level ground, the holes won't line up with the strut bolts......In this case you may need the jack to jack up the one side of the car to help you reallign the holes......[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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i know there was a diy on it here... but lemme see... open hood, take out 6 bolts(3 on each side), put bar on and screw back on. if using a torque wrench do it to 33lb/ft(i think that was it) if not just make it pretty tight but not too tight.

 
Rep Power: 420

Um... Really? Hmm... If you jack up one side of the car and you unscrew those nuts then won't the suspension drop out from underneath?

Spot on! There might be a fitment issue with the small reservoir on the drivers side. If you need better access to the bolts, then take that reservoir off. If you can't fit it on after you put the strut bar on, then you may need to relocate it to be a little lower than before. No biggie...

 
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I dont know about all of this I kept mine flat and the brackets just ligned up properly without any lifting . you dont want to lift the car with the bolts offf like Grey said because that will give you more problems than you will bargin for there should be no reason to lift it . if you bought a name brand bar should take you about 10 minutes if you keep your eyes closed [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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uh.. i think tekniq was just being sarcastic

 
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i think its better to do it while your car is on the ground level,
thats how i always did it...

 
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i actually have a diy made with pics and stuff up on my site..

but until my webhost stops jerking me around...the domain won't resolve properly to reach it...
but yeah it's pretty straight forward..you'll need to relocate the clutch fluid resevoir if you own a MT for most strut bars.

 
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Actually you dont have to relocate the fluid resovior, it's easier to just bend the locating tab flat and bolt it back in the original place just slighty rotated to clear the bar

 
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Hey everyone,

Sorry I forgot to mention which one I bought. I bought the "straight across" style (think the brand was ractive).

I tried putting it on this morning and found that I couldn't move the resevior (forward or backwards). The bracket is locked in place with a bolt and a flange. I'm thinking about twisting it towards the firewall side a bit to clear the strut bar, would this be ok?
I was also thinking about relocating it, but I couldn't find a proper home for it.

toastyghosty: Need your DIY site!!!... heehee....

Anymore info would be greatly appreciated.

PS. Sorry for asking so many questions, I just want to be sure.

 
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The strut bar should have come w/ a nut to relocate the resovior.......If not just find a 10 cent nut that fits........

And I DID have to jack up the car....#1 to fit my hand through the wheel well to hold the nut to relocate the resovior........

Also my neuspeed strut bar DID also require me to jack the car up a little.....obviously not completley off of the ground.....just enough to fit it on........it was tight......

and the neuspeed directions even said that you would probably have to jack the car up on 1 side......it losens the four strut bolts.......

[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

 
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interesting I never knew that about neuspeed thanks for the heads up

 
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No guys I wasn't joking,,,,,and I meant to say if you AREN't on level ground the holes won't line up........For the Neuspeed bar, they're directions actually tell you to jack up one side if the holes don't line up....I had to jack it up about 3 inches to line up the holes....There are three bolts holding the top of the strut, but you only have to undo the 2 for the Neuspeed bar........Yeah, your suspension would probably fall out if you undid that 3rd one..........

 
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hey guys,

i haven't had time to do the install yet, but i still can't seem to fund a place ti relocare the resevoir. any suggestions? or if anyone with the neuspeed instructions can scan and post it, it would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

 
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There's hole about the size of a nickel about 5 inches away from the original location.........The nut provided by neuspeed has a washer on it(so the nut doesn't fall through the hole).....I had to jack up that side of the car and find a long enough socket extension to reach through fenderwell and through the spring to get to the back side of the hole to hold the nut up......

 
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i think i see which hole you're pointing at. i'm probably gonna be doing the install tomorrow night. hope everything goes well. thanks to everyone for their expertise and advice!

Thanks!

PS.... keep the info coming, just incase i miss something.... heehee

 
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so I am assuming that you have no way of adjusting the neuspeed bar like the DC does with the bolt and locking nut ? is that why it has to be lifted

 
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Correct......Just one solid piece......

 
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all of the RSX's bars can be fitted to the civic right? like the upper front and rear bars can be used for the civic right?

 
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The sway bars can swapped between the civic.....

 
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hey, i just isntalled my neuspeed bar today, and i relocated the reservoir (which was actually brake fluid and not clutch like the instructions said...at least it says that its brake fluid on the cap). anyways...the bar fits perfectly where the reservoir is relocated, but the little thing is wobbly!! i had to tape it down with duct tape so that it wouldt rattle and annoy me. but the way that supplied nut fit it tightened all the way, but the washer sits loose...so the whole bracket isnt tightly on there. what did you do to fix that? or did you relocate to another spot?

 
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you sure it's the brake fluid? It's only on manual transmissions that you need to relocate that reservoir; automatics don't have it

 
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thats what the cap says, "fill with brake fluid" so im assuming thats what it is. i have a manual, not an auto. the reservoir was on the driver side...there was nothing in the way on the passenger side...and thats where the transmission is, isnt it? thats where the bracket for the tranny is i know that. so i assumed thats where the clutch would be, unless theyre running the fluid from the other side. either way, the cap said brake fluid.

 
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here we go.. I was trying to find a reference pic:





I circled it in green so it would stand out better.. though I'm pretty sure that is what you're talking about

 
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yeah...mine is like the one on top. and thats where my reservoir is relocated to...except its wobbly. it doesnt sit as tight as it did in the original place. i taped it down in the mean time so it wouldnt bug me, but i want to know if i just put it into the wrong hole or if its just supposed to be loose like that, or what.

 
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you said the washer si loose right? well, if thats the case, why dont you just add more washers?

 
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because its a washer thats coupled with the nut. if i add more washers the nut wont be able to screw onto the bolt. i think...ill take a look at it actually, it might be crazy enough to work...who knows.
its gonna be a biyatch having to jack up the car again and trying to reach that friggin nut through the fenderwell....

 
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i dunno, i dont have one.

ya know, i have this hang up, see, neuspeed(to me) says VW. and i HATE VW. but when i actually think about it, the neuspeed upper strut bar looks really solid, and though id like to go with a DC Sports one, its got joints.

any thoughts?

 
Rep Power: 319

just give in. The darkside will prevail.. [IMG]i/expressions/demon.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/demon.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/demon.gif[/IMG]