GT Spec strut tower brace

[suby01]

just ordered mine. will be in in about a week. updates shorty. merry chrstimas to me and my car however dont think it will stay in the box until christmas eve. haha.

http://www.gtspec.com/index.ph...t=152
Modified by suby01 at 4:26 PM 12/11/2008

[G_whizz]

I just installed mine... great mod!

I did a quick write up on it.

First and foremost... the most important thing to remember when doing this mod is NOT TO LIFT THE CAR!!

Also, if you have a spacer, this brace will not fit over your engine cover.

Ok.

Step 1- remove the end brackets on the strut bar.



Step 2 - With a 12mm socket wrench, remove strut retaining nuts. There are 6 in total, 3 on each side



Step 3 - Mount the bracket, reinstall bolts.



NOTE - when installing the bracket on the driver side, you will have to slightly raise up the plastic brake/AC line clamp to fit the bracket properly. As pictured below



Also, because I have a spacer, I had to replace the AC line metal retainer clamp with a longer bolt (M6x20) and 6 x 8mm washers



Lastly, reinstall strut bar onto brackets and tighten using an 8mm Allen Key and 17mm wrench



That's it and your done!

[4drmadness]

so did handling improve or is it just a bling bling mod?

[G_whizz]

I'm not really a blingy kinda guy. I have snow tires on and I noticed a difference right away.

Definitley improves the handling.

I highly recommend this Mod.

[4drmadness]

nice. how much clearing did u have
Modified by 4drmadness at 9:56 AM 12/16/2008

[suby01]

look at whats under my hood.







big to whizz for the install pics. i was going to try to put it in with the whole bar attached but then i remembered the way that you did it and it helped out. it was a pain getting all the brackets in. probably the hardest mod i did till now took only about 15 mins to get it all in but was still hard because the wires were in the way and took a lot of force to jam it in there.

so thats how it look havent tested anything out yet, almost two feet of snow out so i want to test it out good not see how my car slides.

road and track updates as soon as i drive it.

[zozoka1212]

Looks pretty good. Nice clearance you have. Should help you out in handling.

zozo

[joe603]

I wonder if the new engine cover is shorter then the non-HR VQ35...

[tollboothwilley]

Whizz...

what spacer are you using? How much clearance do you have over the top of your plenum with that GTSPEC bar?

[johnnyd6mt]

niceee. makes me wanna sell my unpolished richies strut bar. haha

[G_whizz]

Geez...sorry for the REALLY late reply!! If you ever see I haven't answered you, email me!!

I have the 5/16 Motordyne. As for the clearance, I'mm check the exact measurement for you on my next trip to the store or something. It's damn cold out right now and I'm not leaving my nice warm house! lol

[tollboothwilley]

trying to decide if this GT Spec bar is gonna fit with the 5/8" spacer which is twice the size of your 5/16...

[4drmadness]

this person installed the gt spec strut bar on a 1/2 spacer and took out that carpet thing on the hood. it is adjustable so you can go up and down.

[G_whizz]

trying to decide if this GT Spec bar is gonna fit with the 5/8" spacer which is twice the size of your 5/16...

I believe that is a negative sir. Beaner gave me this part because it didn't fit on his G.

[motobman]

So, what was the general consensus ? Did everyone who installed this notice a big handling improvement?? I just installed my new GT Spec bar tonight and have not driven it yet. Will let you know what I think, on my 25 mile commute to work tomorrow early morning.

I do notice, stock, that the G turns a little "Fat".... Like, When you take a sharp corner, semi fast, it wants to push.... Im thinking this will help.

Thanks and talk to ya soon,

Brett

[suby01]

honestly i did NOT notice a difference. as far as a butt dyno for other mods or whatever. but everyone else says it does help a lot. so im saying it does.

[tollboothwilley]

So, what was the general consensus ? Did everyone who installed this notice a big handling improvement?? I just installed my new GT Spec bar tonight and have not driven it yet. Will let you know what I think, on my 25 mile commute to work tomorrow early morning.

I do notice, stock, that the G turns a little "Fat".... Like, When you take a sharp corner, semi fast, it wants to push.... Im thinking this will help.

Thanks and talk to ya soon,

Brett

This, BRETT, is called understeer. When I installed my circuit sport under tie brace it was virtually gone. I also have some other suspension goodies installed so I don't know if it was a collective thing, but I am willing to bet if you get the GT SPEC or Circuit Sport under brace for the front end you will have much crisper turning.

SUBY....i saw that you sold your GT Spec bar, that true?

[suby01]

sold yes. that was a spare i came across. i still have mine on.