If I was able to post some pictures I would, but if you would like to see some pics just email me at chenr050@earthlink.net.
I fabricated my rear shock tower bar with some scrap steel I had and it turned out pretty good. It is made out of 3/4 inch square tube steel (to match the boxyness of the xB) and a couple of 1/8 inch angle pieces. I gave it a coat of black textured coating to match the interior. Fits awesome and looks great, had to trim a little off of the tower covers for the bar to go thru.
If anyone is interested, I could make one for you. I am in the process of fabricating one for the front as well, waiting for my steel plate to come in. I will post on how that one turns out as well.

Email for pics and info if you are interested in it. chenr050@earthlink.net. Chris

posting pics as favor: <click> for bigger pic

http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/superjeer/subs/th_147b3d52.jpg (http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/superjeer/subs/147b3d52.jpg) http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/superjeer/subs/th_cf600689.jpg (http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/superjeer/subs/cf600689.jpg)
http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/superjeer/subs/th_c1a1def1.jpg (http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/superjeer/subs/c1a1def1.jpg) http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/superjeer/subs/th_fd8f5068.jpg (http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/superjeer/subs/fd8f5068.jpg)

*finally looks at the pics*

Wow, that's real clean. Good work. I'm always putting the seats down to load stuff in my xB.

Whats up!!! Thats fun. How long did it take you? Probably not long huh? :twisted:

that looks real nice. cleaner than others i have seen

8) Thanks for the compliments. And thank you for the posting of my pics, very greatful. I wanted something clean and functional.
It took about a day, reason for taking that long was to get the right setup.

did you fab a jig while doing it?

A jig? No not yet, I am going to take the bar back off and make a jig. I wanted to make sure it worked good before I make a permanent jig. I basicaly built it using the car as a jig. :D

I'm new here (just bought xb 2 weeks ago). Please explane what this shock tower bare does?

If you like to drive hard and want your car to handle good you need to stiffen up the suspension, and the strut or shock tower braces help keep the towers from flexing and makes for a tighter suspension. Springs and swaybars also come into play here as well.
*Best desciption I can come up with.

cool thx....

Welcome aboard "blockhead". Hope to see you around town. What color did you buy? Any mods yet?

A jig? No not yet, I am going to take the bar back off and make a jig. I wanted to make sure it worked good before I make a permanent jig. I basicaly built it using the car as a jig. :D

If I didn't have my new box in the back, I would love to get one. Well done.

:lol: Yeah! That box does take up alot of the space. If I wasnt into suspension too much I would go with the big box as well. But, if there is a will there is a way, I would buid around it. :D

If you like to drive hard and want your car to handle good you need to stiffen up the suspension,
*Best desciption I can come up with.

Yes, but don't stiffen it up too much... could be a disaster on the autoX

Nice fab though! Very clean!

What happened autocrossing??? I have seen a VW GTI that was too tight and it would be on three wheels cornering fast.

Well... sure having a tight suspension can make you go around the corner on three wheels; however this is a timed event. You want to maximize everything for time, so if you have more traction on four with a well adjusted suspension (not just really stiff) you can corner more around the corner with efficient control.

Just an Idea :) guys... not wanting to stur a dilema among ourselves. From the test drive I had with the xB, I would agree that it needs improvement on stiffening the suspension. I could feel a lot of body roll into sharp turns.

:) Good point! True, you want it stiff but not too stiff. But I think if someone was to add performance swaybars that were too agressive, (not the ones available from the aftermarket like Hotchkis and such) then alot of problems would occur. Definately dont want the suspension to be 'solid'.
Someone has asked me about building subframe connectors, like the ones for camaros and mustangs. I dont know if I would want to attempt something like that. What do you think?

I think there are sum out there 2 buy already.

Well, you're right on target... it depends on each application. I know the older Mustangs were uni-body construction and they were loose when it came to the body and suspension (I had a 1966 that I restored). So those would need the sub-frame connectors.

I don't know enough about the xB to say whether they need them or not.... 'cause I'm a noob around here lol :P

another guy in SE toyxbox fabricated the hotchkis strut bar to fit the rear. it came out real nice.

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