Strut brace, like a sway bar in the front.

Ahhhhh... DUH.... I should have known that.

Thanks :)

ughhh a strut bar is NOTHING like a swaybar for the front. Cars have swaybars in the front, that's not it.

a strut bar does absolutely nothing unless you have coilovers installed, same goes for a c-pillar bar and rear strut bar. but if they are installed it just keep it stiff, if not then its mostly for looks.

I think it helps reduce some of the Unibody flex also, helps you take curves a little better....

Thanks guys.... I appreciate the explanations. :icon_biggrin:

That's not completely true. A front strut brace reduces chassis flex regardless of what shocks/struts are installed. A rear sway bar reduces body roll/lean angles in the rear during hard cornering. The combination of shorter/stiffer springs, rear sway bar and strut brace make a very noticeable improvement in handling.

Technically speaking, the front struts are "coil-overs", not that it matters.

ScionFred has the right idea about the strut bar.

Here are some more pics of my engine:
http://www.importcarsite.com/sl/eng.jpg
http://www.importcarsite.com/sl/oilcap.jpg
As you can tell I only spent ten minutes before I stopped polishing the heat shield with some synthetic steel wool and some smartwax blue be gone metal polish and just that ten minutes made a huge difference when I get some time I will finish it and put on my strut bar I have sitting in my room too lol. Tip when polishing the heatshiled get some gloves it gets dirty.

I need to get rid of those stock nut that hold down the engine cover any suggestions as to where to get something chromed ones or spikes, I know I have seen some people with spikes on them

TRD Strut Bar and i also have the TRD Sway Bar with Tanabe NF-210 Springs and just love it....

Haaahaaa Maybe Just alittle lol

Yea dame Bolts fell off!!!!

I still have my engine cover studs and nuts if you need them. I haven't decided yet whether to polish or paint my valve cover. Polished would look good with the polished pipes but red or black paint would look good too.

What do you think?

I say polish it, Def would look clean and sweet looking with the turbo kit and pipes.

You have the bolts and studs?? Wanna sell them... Please :icon_smile:

You sir have excellent taste! I like polished too. Bring on some warm weather!

I'm sure you could pick up those studs and nuts from the local dealer or a good hardware store for under $10 but if you want, I'll search for them, take them to the post office, buy an envelope for them and mail them to you for $10. :icon_biggrin:

My engine bay
Attachment 94405

oh man thats how my valve cover use to look like! i love it

Im likin the custom paint jobs :) Its like tC owners who bought a box and got better at painting their engine covers haha. I Usually cant stand painted covers... Metal painted valve covers Im cool with :)

This was the extent of my underhood mods... lol

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1746/38561933.jpg

Now back to stock basically.

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/7562/42892830.jpg

And this will be my engine bay in about a month... :lol:

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2893/45353151.jpg

Okay, I give up. What car does that engine bay belong to that you are trading in your XB to own?

Buying the ex's MS3 in a few weeks :pray: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7643/ms3q.jpg

Nice! One used MS3, ~$20,000... buying it from your ex-wife because she can't afford to keep it... priceless!