OBX Strut is nice, but WTF?
May-1st-2002, 07:49 AM
#1
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OBX Strut is nice, but WTF?
Ok, I became like a child in a candy store when my strut arrived, and DAMN does it look sweet. My problem is how the heck do I install the SOB. For those who don't know, I have a 99 1.6L LX Pro, and the darn cruise control unit is in the way on the left tower (facing the engine). I've looked around and I even PM'ed that guy with the 99 1.6L up north somewhere that has basically every mod possible. Now, I only did it 5 mins ago, but I REALLY wanted to ask this question.
ANY AND ALL HELP IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
Mr. Green
ANY AND ALL HELP IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
Mr. Green
May-1st-2002, 08:03 AM
#2
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are you refering to the strut BRACE? if so, i would like to know as well. of course, it probably means modifying it to work like with the corksport bar. either that, or you should have bought the mazda one from mazdastuff.com for $99.
May-1st-2002, 08:21 AM
#3
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yes, I am talking about the brace. robikman (sorry if i got that wrong) HAS the OBX strut and that's why I PM'ed him. I would hope there isn't too much modification needed.
And I didn't get the Mazdastuff one is because $60 < $99. And i'm not sure about the Mazdastuff strut, but this OBX is fat so it will hold a ton of pressure. That and my price was $60 shipped! Funny thing is, I work in a sheet metal plant, and the guys laughed at me when they saw the brace and bar. One said, and I quote "I see a bar that could hold 100+ pounds EASY, and a brace that may hold 20." So, we're modifying the brace so that it will hold more.
Sometimes it works out perfectly to work here.
And I didn't get the Mazdastuff one is because $60 < $99. And i'm not sure about the Mazdastuff strut, but this OBX is fat so it will hold a ton of pressure. That and my price was $60 shipped! Funny thing is, I work in a sheet metal plant, and the guys laughed at me when they saw the brace and bar. One said, and I quote "I see a bar that could hold 100+ pounds EASY, and a brace that may hold 20." So, we're modifying the brace so that it will hold more.
Sometimes it works out perfectly to work here.
Last edited by Mr_Green; May-1st-2002 at 08:24 AM.
May-1st-2002, 08:44 AM
#4
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did you buy it off ebay? i saw those, and thought that fittment might be a problem so i am in the process of convincing my wife i need the mazda one.
anyway, i like your car but i think you need some rims.
anyway, i like your car but i think you need some rims.
May-1st-2002, 09:43 PM
#6
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fitment with the obx strut bar might cause a couple of problems..
I tried installing mine today (I got an OBX one off ebay for about $70 shipped, too).. and installation went without a hitch except..
AFTER installation, I heard big clunking noises anytime the car started to roll in motion (and engine movement) from the damn 1.6 liter engine's intake manifold area hitting the bar though because of the very tight clearances..
so I said screw it and pulled it out for the time being.. I can't have a clunking sound which might cause mechanical. probs when i'm driving far to a car show on Friday (Carlisle)
the fit is very good and snug, otherwise, but I would recommend getting some spacers to bring the bar higher up
as far as how you install it.. you untighten the 4 bolts at the strut tower, drop the bar and side pieces in, and retighten. I would suggest assembling the 3 pieces of the obx strut bar into one big component first, rather than assembling it after putting the braces on the left and right side.
keep in mind, I do not have cruise control as I have a DX..
I dont know what the cruise control module looks like at all and it probably will make the installation a little more tricky.. wait till you hear back from biknman or somebody else who's got it.
good looking strut bar though.. really good looking
cant wait till I have it on right.
I tried installing mine today (I got an OBX one off ebay for about $70 shipped, too).. and installation went without a hitch except..
AFTER installation, I heard big clunking noises anytime the car started to roll in motion (and engine movement) from the damn 1.6 liter engine's intake manifold area hitting the bar though because of the very tight clearances..
so I said screw it and pulled it out for the time being.. I can't have a clunking sound which might cause mechanical. probs when i'm driving far to a car show on Friday (Carlisle)
the fit is very good and snug, otherwise, but I would recommend getting some spacers to bring the bar higher up
as far as how you install it.. you untighten the 4 bolts at the strut tower, drop the bar and side pieces in, and retighten. I would suggest assembling the 3 pieces of the obx strut bar into one big component first, rather than assembling it after putting the braces on the left and right side.
keep in mind, I do not have cruise control as I have a DX..
I dont know what the cruise control module looks like at all and it probably will make the installation a little more tricky.. wait till you hear back from biknman or somebody else who's got it.
good looking strut bar though.. really good looking
cant wait till I have it on right.
May-4th-2002, 01:28 AM
#7
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UPDATE: Today a buddy of mine and I decided to try to install the strut for ***** and giggles. The problems we encountered were horrible. Now, just to get this out first, I LOVE the bar it comes with. The braces suck.
Now working in a sheet metal plant, the guys I work with laughed at me. (mentioned above). So just to get my solution out of the way, biknman pm'ed me and said he would help me and send pics also stating that the braces sucked. My solution, unless biknman has a better way, will be just to get the guys I work with to custom make me braces that are MUCH stronger and will fit a heck of a lot better. So here were the problems.
1: One brace, I had to use a hammer just to get it down so that I could TRY to screw on the bolts.
2: The braces were designed so that you couldn't screw the screws down once you got the POS onto the strut tower. So a I used a hammer to BEAT down the edges (which for some dumb reason were bent up) just to TRY to screw down the screws.
3: After all the beating (which helped relieve some stress) we screwed MOST of the screws down. FINALLY it was time to actually attach the beautiful bar to these POS braces.
4: THE STUPID F$%@ING THING DOESN'T EVEN FIT!!!!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, THE TOP OF THE BRACES ARE TOO LOW TO HAVE THE BAR ACTUALLY GO OVER THE ENGINE.
Lesson learned: Nothing really.
So in conclusion as I said before, i'm gonna get some custom braces that will be more powerful anyway. So who knows what could happen. I'm keepin my fingers crossed.
Mr Green
Now working in a sheet metal plant, the guys I work with laughed at me. (mentioned above). So just to get my solution out of the way, biknman pm'ed me and said he would help me and send pics also stating that the braces sucked. My solution, unless biknman has a better way, will be just to get the guys I work with to custom make me braces that are MUCH stronger and will fit a heck of a lot better. So here were the problems.
1: One brace, I had to use a hammer just to get it down so that I could TRY to screw on the bolts.
2: The braces were designed so that you couldn't screw the screws down once you got the POS onto the strut tower. So a I used a hammer to BEAT down the edges (which for some dumb reason were bent up) just to TRY to screw down the screws.
3: After all the beating (which helped relieve some stress
) we screwed MOST of the screws down. FINALLY it was time to actually attach the beautiful bar to these POS braces. 4: THE STUPID F$%@ING THING DOESN'T EVEN FIT!!!!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, THE TOP OF THE BRACES ARE TOO LOW TO HAVE THE BAR ACTUALLY GO OVER THE ENGINE.
Lesson learned: Nothing really.
So in conclusion as I said before, i'm gonna get some custom braces that will be more powerful anyway. So who knows what could happen. I'm keepin my fingers crossed.
Mr Green
May-5th-2002, 12:40 AM
#9
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first off, that strut is bad ***, just shitty braces........
if a sheet metal professional tells you that that bar is very good, then i believe it.......
so all i gotta do is fix that. That bar is soooo much thicker than any OTHER bar i've seen for the pro.......
if a sheet metal professional tells you that that bar is very good, then i believe it.......
so all i gotta do is fix that. That bar is soooo much thicker than any OTHER bar i've seen for the pro.......
May-14th-2002, 03:29 PM
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Originally sent by biknman by Private Message
We have the same exact car. The OBX bar was pain the mounts where the bar bolts in and to be modified so that the bar does not hit the throttle body and the holes where the mouts attach to the strut tops had to be modified with a dribble tool so th bolts would go on. As far as the cruize control braket I just cut away the piece of the cruize control braket that got in the way of the strut bar mounting plates. I'm really busy with a big car show and NASA road race this weekend in PA but if you e-mail me next week I'll take some more detailed pics of the mouts and e-mail them to ya.
We have the same exact car. The OBX bar was pain the mounts where the bar bolts in and to be modified so that the bar does not hit the throttle body and the holes where the mouts attach to the strut tops had to be modified with a dribble tool so th bolts would go on. As far as the cruize control braket I just cut away the piece of the cruize control braket that got in the way of the strut bar mounting plates. I'm really busy with a big car show and NASA road race this weekend in PA but if you e-mail me next week I'll take some more detailed pics of the mouts and e-mail them to ya.
Mr Green
May-14th-2002, 04:00 PM
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that's what I thought, but I just got pissed off and beat the hell outa the braces...... He sent that to me quite a while back, maybe 3 or so weeks. Basically a couple days after the start of this thread.....
he said he'd email pics, so I guess it's about time to email him.
Mr Green
he said he'd email pics, so I guess it's about time to email him.
Mr Green
May-15th-2002, 01:22 PM
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well..
tommorrow afternoon, i am taking it up to the shop to have part of the cc bracket cut off. we tried to put it on yesterday, but it just won't fit. part has to be cut off. its still a good bar though. i like it.
ben
ben