Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat - Strut Brace Tightness

Hey guys,

I just bough my new front upper strut brace (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190098742845), and am awaiting it's delivery.

I was wondering though, how tight I should make it? Is there a specific pressure? Should I tighten only one side or both equaly?

Also, if I bought a front lower strut brace, where would this go? I know where the upper one goes.

Help would be appreciated!

I believe the torque spec on those nuts is only like 14lbs, but don't quote me on that. Best to get a manual (Helms/Haynes) and check that.

As for the lower, it goes here...

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a209/Forty04/StrutFrontUnder2.jpg

Great, thanks Forty!

I have the normal manual car for my car, I don't suppose that would say?

If anyone can look it up, I have a 1998 3dr Hatch 1.4.

Thanks!

That lower one seems kinda useless IMO. Can thatcrossmember really flex enough to warrant a strut bar? The upper one makes sense though, I'm planning on getting one.

Yeah I doubt I'll be getting a lower one.

Can anybody help me with the tightness? I looked around and some people just do it until it feels tight.. This doesn't seem right to me. I need to know where to find how tight I should make it.

ORIGINAL: alecrust

Yeah I doubt I'll be getting a lower one.

Can anybody help me with the tightness? I looked around and some people just do it until it feels tight.. This doesn't seem right to me. I need to know where to find how tight I should make it.


Sorry man, I meant to check mine last night and completely forgot. Too busy packing for Sno*Drift this weekend.

Someone on here has to have a manual handy to check it out.

Side note, I have the manual that you need for your car if you want it. Just pay the shipping and its yours.

Thanks Forty, I wouldn't want to steal your manual though (besides I'm in the UK) but if you or somebody could point me in the right direction of the manual I need?

Or look it up for me on theirs. I can't see why a standard car manual would have information on strut braces though..?

ORIGINAL: alecrust

Thanks Forty, I wouldn't want to steal your manual though (besides I'm in the UK) but if you or somebody could point me in the right direction of the manual I need?

Or look it up for me on theirs. I can't see why a standard car manual would have information on strut braces though..?


haha, yeah shipping to the UK might get pricey. I don't need it anymore though, because I no longer own my Civic.

But anyway, here is what you'd need. CLICK HERE (http://www.haynes.com/products/searchType/vehicleApplicationSearch2/searchEnd/yes/sfID1//sfID2//sfID3//year/1998/make/Honda/model/Civic/x/14/y/6/productID/201) You could find it on EBAY and have it shipped over, I'm sure. Or, you can order them right from the site

Those manuals are amazing. If you have a little bit of common sense and tools, that manual can walk you through just about anyting

Yeah I have heard lots of good things about them. Are you sure it would explain the tightness needed for the strut braces though?

Also, will THIS (http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&produ ctId=17901&langId=-1) manual do? It's on the UK Haynes site.

The Factory Service Manual is better than Chiltons or Haynes. It's available from your dealer, some bookstores, or possibly some places online. Most manuals don't cover aftermarket parts though. The mounting points for a strut bar should just use factory torque specs though. You shouldn't have to "tension" most bars.

Did your bar not come with installation instructions? Are they not available on a mfr website or through a phonecall?

Thanks Kommando, that was useful. I don't know, I haven't seen the brace yet, it may come with torque specs but I doubt it.

So what are the factory torque specs? This is for how much I should tighten the two adjustment bolts on either side..

Honestly man, it's not that big a deal. You're not trying to pull the two sides together, you're trying to add to the rigidity of the frame by stiffening up that area. So just do them till they're tight with a half inch drive wrench or something. If it was like wheel torquing, I'd say something different, but this is a non important spec and even if they did come lose (highly unlikely) nothing would happen.

ORIGINAL: mybrokenblinker

Honestly man, it's not that big a deal. You're not trying to pull the two sides together, you're trying to add to the rigidity of the frame by stiffening up that area. So just do them till they're tight with a half inch drive wrench or something. If it was like wheel torquing, I'd say something different, but this is a non important spec and even if they did come lose (highly unlikely) nothing would happen.


Yeah thats a great idea until you strip the holes [:@]


OP, Find the Torque Specs

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4149/dampervl1.jpg

Thanks Solid_Snake, but I don't think people understand what I'm talking about. Let me explain in laymans terms.

In the below image I have illustrated two adjustment bolts. This adjusts the horizontal tightness of the brace.

This is why I am confused as to why people think something like this will be in any manual, unless there is a specific modification manual for my car, which I doubt.

http://xs223.xs.to/xs223/08046/strut-brace647.jpg

Thanks for all your help, I think I will just tighten it untill I feel resistance.

ORIGINAL: alecrust

Thanks Solid_Snake, but I don't think people understand what I'm talking about. Let me explain in laymans terms.

In the below image I have illustrated two adjustment bolts. This adjusts the horizontal tightness of the brace.

This is why I am confused as to why people think something like this will be in any manual, unless there is a specific modification manual for my car, which I doubt.

OK. Now that we've seen a picture of what you're talking about, that model of bar DOES have tension adjusters. Those will NOT be covered in something like a service manual. They should be covered in the mfr's installation instructions, or available from the mfr by website or phonecall.