Suspension, Brakes, Tires & Wheels - Strut Bar Install!!! *W/PICS!!*

Heres some pics from last weekend when a buddy of mine and I (green shirt) installed a full strut bar kit. Some of the pics are little sketchy, but you'll get the point. It was definitely a good time. It actually took longer to get the car jacked up than it did to install any of the bars. Good stuff, and the car whiiiiiiips around turns now. We also ripped off a couple heat shields to get rid of my rattling problem. Need to finish that project this weekend..

You probably can't tell, but theres 30 grand worth of Jolly Ranchers on a pallet right next to the passenger door, hehe. I'm an IT Coordinator for a candy packaging company, and my boss lets me use the warehouse as my garage, NIIIICE!
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/717000-717999/717957_60_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/717000-717999/717957_63_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/717000-717999/717957_72_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/717000-717999/717957_65_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/717000-717999/717957_70_full.jpg
This one looks a little goofy, but its cause we only had one side jacked up at this point (don't ask)...
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/717000-717999/717957_76_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/717000-717999/717957_71_full.jpg



Now i just gotta replace the suspension, and get some decent wheels and tires.

Dude, it looks great! What kind and where did you buy them? Not to be an ass but how much did you spend? I've been thinking about doing the same thing but not sure what brand or where to buy.
Thanks
CBC

Thanks bro. These are Megan Racing Struts and i bought them off ebay for really cheap. I'm sure someone will pop up and say that they're **** and will bend on a fast corner, but i'm not using mine for racing. This is my daily driver and i put these on just to stiffen up my ride on corners on the everyday drive to/from work. And for the joy rides i take out in the back country twisty ass roads. THey seem to work great for that sorta thing, but i can't vouche for them on a track as i've never raced this car yet.

But i loves my suspension upgrades, believe you me!

They wouldn't bend, but they would flex. But hey, something's better than nothing. Nice job.

yeah, i saw some megan racing strut bars on ebay once, and I was wondering why they were so cheap...I thought megan racing was a good brand. So you feel a huge difference with them? Cause like you, I'm not going to be racing or anything like that, but some better handlng for daily driving might be nice

Sounds good. I was thinking about the DC sport titanium front brace but I don't think they make one for 97 EX. I guess I will have to go with something else. What was the total time on the install?

Looks good dude, but please clean that engine.

Definitely feel a nice difference, it was actually more of an improvement than i thought it was going to be. I'd highly recommend something like this to anyone looking to add a little extra confort and "zing" as i like to call it, to their ride.

Total install time is a little hard to judge because i had to go to a buddy's metal shop and bore out the brackets for the front lower bar. The bolts they mounted to were just little bigger than the holes. Then we ripped off a heat shield underneath and that took a little while. If i had to ball park it i would say about 2 1/2 hours to get them all in, torqued to spec, and ready to roll. Well worth it, it was a nice bolt on DIY and we had a blast.

This is the first time i've modded a car of my own, in case you can't tell. I've been working on other peoples cars since i was about 14, but nothing compares to improving your own ride, what a feeling...

Next comes the cat-back exaust... just a few more days!!


OH YEAH, and i'm going to be putting up a DIY for the front lower strut bar, as i had a HELL of a time trying to find one online. Gimme a few days and that will be up.. peace!

ngoti8tor yeah i know, i'm planning on doing that this weekend cause i dont have any money to but stuff to put on. And now i'm hooked on working on this thing, so cleaning is the only thing i got. I'll get more pics up. What do you suggest i use to clean the head and what not?

I've tried the degreasers before, and they all seem about the same.
The last time I bought a gallon can of a no-name degreaser and saved a pile of cash. It worked alright and the engine was nice and clean.

thats a nice job on the strut bar... i have a front strut and im looking at getting the full kit

thats a nice job on the strut bar... i have a front strut and im looking at getting the full kit


Thanks man, i highly recommend completing the set. Cornering is just awesome now

what kind of tools will i need to install the front and back strut bars?

socket or ratchet wrenchs, torque wrench, Crescent wrench, and an alan key.

for cleaning, i like Simple Green. it works great, and is non-toxic and biodegradable, so you cant get in trouble for it washing into the storm drains. (with some cleaners, that can be a $10,000+ fine.)

hey, got a question...im thinking about ordering a skunk2 front strut bar and was wondering how important is it that u torque the bolts to the right specs (considering i dont have a torque wrench)?

peace, Evan

tights tight, too tights broken...

...and not tight enough means your struts get to flop around.

Does anyone have any input on carbon fiber bars? I was looking on eBay and they have carbon ones for about the same price, I was just wondering if there's a reason not to get them.

Besides the fact that they are probably just painted that way or even worse, carbon stickerfied?

Might as well get titanium. Stronger and lighter than carbon fiber.

nice i must get the under the hood one 1st ...i gotta take baby steps

they look a lil skinny but atleast its a effort nice find if they were cheap and do want u want roll it

ORIGINAL: maddawg

nice i must get the under the hood one 1st ...i gotta take baby steps


Check out e-bay man. I got all of these for 65 shipped to my door

dang that is cheap...nice find

ORIGINAL: absoulute

dang that is cheap...nice find


yeah, ebay can be your friend too!:D (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&sojs=0&catref=C6&from=R10&mppfqy=99-00+Strut+Bars+CIvic&satitle=Strut+Bars+CIvic&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&fmmk=&fmmd=&fylo=&fyhi=&mppfqy=99-00+Strut+Bars+CIvic&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=ZIP%2FPostal&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search)

not bad a $65 upgrade and you're happy with the results I say thats a good deal...

its so true i wash my car like twice a week. i have the stock front strut bar and i was thinking about adding one to the back but im not sure. its on the list. along with a lot of other stuff

woohoo for stock airboxes

ORIGINAL: z6 FoRiLLa

woohoo for stock airboxes


yeah, woohoo for old pics[sm=smiley24.gif]

ORIGINAL: Forty04

yeah, ebay can be your friend too!:D (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&sojs=0&catref=C6&from=R10&mppfqy=99-00+Strut+Bars+CIvic&satitle=Strut+Bars+CIvic&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&fmmk=&fmmd=&fylo=&fyhi=&mppfqy=99-00+Strut+Bars+CIvic&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=ZIP%2FPostal&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search)



Don't ever buy anything from TuningPros... it'll take FOREVER to get to you and you may end up like me and only get three of them two days before you're driving 6 hours round trip to install them.

I bouht my front and rear struts off the bay for like $20. They havent bent on me yet and ive taken those suckers through the gauntlet in the mountains :)

ORIGINAL: remington870_20ga

I bouht my front and rear struts off the bay for like $20. They havent bent on me yet and ive taken those suckers through the gauntlet in the mountains :)


Hell yeah, i havent really put mine to the test fully since i got the new wheels and tires. But the few sharp turns and twisties i have taken, were sooooo damn fun.

Looks good, makes me want to go and install mine. got a set of 3 bars, front upper, rear upper and lower and now i can't wait to install them.

ORIGINAL: ALX

Looks good, makes me want to go and install mine. got a set of 3 bars, front upper, rear upper and lower and now i can't wait to install them.


cool man, you wont be let down i promise.

Well i installed the two upper ones last night and i can totally feel a difference. Now for the rear lower one tonight. Just want to know if you had to support the lower control arm when you loosened the bolt? I don't want anything flying out at me when i break it loose. Any hints or tips for that install?

Definately support it. you will have a hell of a time trying to put the bolt back in if you don't.

ORIGINAL: Chimera02EX

Definately support it. you will have a hell of a time trying to put the bolt back in if you don't.


False, we didnt support it at all and the bolt slid right back in.

I could not get the bolt on mine to slid back in, I had to jack up the arm to get all the holes lined up to get the bolt back in.

ORIGINAL: Chimera02EX

I could not get the bolt on mine to slid back in, I had to jack up the arm to get all the holes lined up to get the bolt back in.


huh... no kidding? Thats definitely wierd cause like i said, we didnt even have to touch that part