Hey people, I searched for hours and found nothing that answers this question in particular. I am about to buy a DC Strut Bar, but I noticed that there are 2 different DC strut bars. What is the difference? and which one is more effective???


http://www.xtuner.com/main.php?item_no=0700


http://www.ptuning.com/html/Item-Des...l&ModelDesc=tC

For both of these, the front of the car should be jacked up prior to install, correct?
Thanks for any input.

 

the bottom link is just a sample pic the top one is the real one.

 

I'm pretty sure they're the same bar. If you look at the second pic, it says "sample only." They're the same bar.

And yes, for the maximum effect of a strut bar, it should be installed with zero load on the strut towers.

 

Great, so the bar issue is settled. Now installing the DC bar, should all three nuts be taken off the strut to get the maximum affect even though only 2 are necessary to get the bar on?

Thanks for the help guys

 

If you look at the bar, there's only two nuts that go onto the strut tower. So you only gotta work with TWO on each side.

 

You should be OK with just the two nuts. The strut assembly itself shouldn't be affected.

 

Great. Thanks for the help. This shouldn't be too bad - actually sounds like it could be "easy" (dare I say)

 

It is pretty easy. The only PITA is removing the wiper cowel and putting it back on. That's annoying.

 

Yep I hear ya...still worth saving the money though rather than having the dealership do it and spend God knows how much for the install. DIY seems like a pretty good option even for a someone like myself who is new to this. Heck, it's probably the easiest thing to DIY!

 

yeah the cowl is not hard, but annoying. Dc is a good bar as well as the greddy bars.

 

Does anybody have a tip as to how high one should jack up the car when installing the bar? Wheels off the ground? Almost off (just enough to relieve pressure)?

 

wheels just off the ground.

 

Ah, alright. Glad I asked. Thanks

 

Make sure you mount the strut bar first *LOL* or when you unbolt the struts with the wheels off the ground they will fall down into the wheel well!! haha

 

Honestly, I have no idea what your trying to say, but I'm not going to let the struts fall down into the wheel well. Yet, that would be funny!

I plan on taking off the nuts, putting it on with the wheels on the ground, partially tightening the nuts, then raising the car and finish tightening it up. Ain't that right???

 

That is what I meant, not raising up the car and then taking the nuts off, saw a kid do it in the parking lot of an old apartment complex I lived in, funny as hell! Just poped into my head and I said to myself, oh man! I hope he does not raise the car first hahahaha!

 

O man, Wish I could've been there!

 

I put my DC strut bar on yesterday without raising the car. Is this bad? Should I redo it? The bar fit on perfect without having to lift the car.

 

I would suggest loosening the bolts for it and then jack up the car. Tighten the bolts back up and let the car down.

It's not a problem or anything the way you did it. But to get the maximum suspension effect of a strut bar, you should do it while jacked up so there is no load or force on the strut towers.

 

Thanks! I will try to do this when i get home with 2 jacks on the sides since I dont have one of those big jacks you put in the front.