Rep Power: 0

okay so i just finished installing a rear lower tie bar on my civic 2dr and man it took 3 hrs from dissasemble to assembly. its not as easy as it looks i had to jack up the car, unbolt the dreaded lower control arm bolts (2) and everything goes fine up until i have to ALIGN BACK THE HOLES!!!! this is a very stressful and dreadful thing to do. it took about 4 hand jacks and some guys to tug the wheel in order to align up the holes. when i do finally get it in, what a payoff it is. looks like a beauty. the thing that pi$$ed me off the most was hondas engineering, the people who designed the lower control arm should be taken out and beaten, the bolt that holds the lower control arm only goes in by screwing the bolt in theres no nut to secure it, so now im going to be driving with the worry of the rear flying off in the back of my head.

good luck for those who are going to install rear lower tie bars!

has anyone else had a similar experience with aligning the holes for the lower contorl arm?

Does anyone know the torque specs of the rear lower control arm bolts?

 
Rep Power: 412

You are supposed to brace the rear control arms so that doesn't happen. Usually people use a piece of wood so they don't move. Just tighten it until you can't anymore. No worries. If you are really worried, I think it is 80lbs, but don't quote me.

 
Rep Power: 0

I just installed my Tenzo R rear lower the other day... easy as hell. One of my hole wasn't aligned but I just pryed it back up with a screw driver and presto!. There is also a nut welded on the backside of the control arm the the bolt screws into.

 
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i agree really easy.. my car was on my friends lift (he works for bmw... and it lifts from the frame he had floor stands that held the arms in place... took us a whole 30 seconds.. with air tools.. lol

 
Rep Power: 432

very easy. took 15mins to install. just need to use block. and screw driver

 
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guess im just a f_ _ _ _in Du_ _ A _ _

 
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LoL, happened to me before. Yeah, it sucks. It doesn't sound as bad as the front axle popping out when you remove the struts though, but you still gotta find the center and take your time with it.

 
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lol thats not too bad.. that sucks yea but its cake to get them back in... just use alittle muscle and they go right back in lol

 
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i think its easier to perform a motor swap than put in a rear lower tie bar in, in my opinion

 
Rep Power: 424

Whats wrong with the Honda Engineering? Seems to me the bolt works just fine and dandy. They didn't design it to be removed so you could put a tie bar in. As far as they were concerned, it was designed strong enough for the loads that would be applied to it. If you're cranky about bad design, be cranky about who designed the bar that had to go there... or better yet, just deal with the fact that if you're gonna modify the car, you're gonna have to take it apart, and then figure out how to put it back together.
I did it with hand tools in about 1 hour. All you had to do was run another bolt or a screwdriver in from the back side as you pulled the bolt out... it would have stayed in place.

 
Rep Power: 419

DC Sports tie bar instructions said something like 43 foot pounds. I think that's what I used...

Anyway, I had the same problem. Those damned control arms slip out of their sockets and they're a bitch to put back on. Taking off the wheels helps a little. As does taking off the upper control arm. That's what's pushing the control arms out...

 
Rep Power: 0

We have a guy doing a DIY engine swap with a K20A2.

He's been at it for over 1/2 a year.

The difficulty of wiring up the new engine is 10-fold... and even more, compared to a tie bar installation.

 
Rep Power: 0

after u guys installed the tie bar, did u guys feel the car riding smoother? as in it feels softer? but at the same time, the car feels pretty tight on turns? hope u guys understand what i'm trying to say...

 
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I installed it in about 30 mins. It certainly wasn't rocket science. Block of wood to keep it in place and a screwdriver in the hole. As far as feeling a difference? NO. A roll bar yes...but just a tie bar? I think the butt accelerometer is playing tricks on you.

 
Rep Power: 0

I know what you mean about being frustrated about installing the tie bar. I am a newbie myself, and it took my friend and I about 30 to 45 minutes to install the DC Sports lower tie bar. The most time consuming part was--you guessed it--realigning so that the screws would fit back and could be screwed back in.

However, I am still having a problem with it. Is there anyone that has any tips for me on making the installation more even? My right (passenger) side is slightly higher than the left (driver) side. How can I even this out? Please respond. Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 0

what do you mean the passenger side is higher? the tie bar or the height of the car? does anyone know what the racing lower control arms do?

 
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I was refering to the tie bar. Sorry for being so vauge.

ITDawwg2001