Front Upper Strut Tower Bar
July-14th-2003, 10:47 PM
#1
Protegé Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 194
Front Upper Strut Tower Bar
The product in question is:
http://www.procarparts.com/store/dis...XXXX-FRUP-STBX
Its only $39.95 US on the site, but there's a $15 documentation fee if I have it shipped to Canada, which to me doesn't make any sense.
Is this product any good and is it available through a retailer that's a little friendlier to the folks up North?
http://www.procarparts.com/store/dis...XXXX-FRUP-STBX
Its only $39.95 US on the site, but there's a $15 documentation fee if I have it shipped to Canada, which to me doesn't make any sense.
Is this product any good and is it available through a retailer that's a little friendlier to the folks up North?
July-15th-2003, 10:16 AM
#3
Protegé Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 194
Originally posted by Funky Buddha
Why don't you just goto the dealer and buy the strut bar for the Protege5?
Why don't you just goto the dealer and buy the strut bar for the Protege5?
July-15th-2003, 03:20 PM
#5
Protege Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Melbourne, FL
Posts: 19
Matt is right, you get what you pay for. A $40 brace probably isn't going to brace much at all.
Besides, a front strut brace alone won't give any dramatic change in handling. It is, however, a good complement to some good sway bars.
Besides, a front strut brace alone won't give any dramatic change in handling. It is, however, a good complement to some good sway bars.
July-15th-2003, 03:31 PM
#6
031 - Deathtech
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Petawawa, ON. Canada
Posts: 401
You'd be surprised what a big difference the strut bar makes... even the P5 one. I took mine off yesterday (I was bored and was messing around under the hood) and tried it without the bar.
Also, you'd be surprised just how cheap the Ractive bar would be... even in Canada. I'm not sure what the exact price is but in the Toronto area they go for under 80 bucks. And if you happen to shop in some of the asian performance shops they are even less... and if you are asian, chances are there is no tax either...
Also, you'd be surprised just how cheap the Ractive bar would be... even in Canada. I'm not sure what the exact price is but in the Toronto area they go for under 80 bucks. And if you happen to shop in some of the asian performance shops they are even less... and if you are asian, chances are there is no tax either...
July-15th-2003, 03:34 PM
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ON, Canada
Posts: 130
strut bar
damaster, I'm in the same boat as you. If I buy the ractive I have to hack into the cruise control mounting bracket to make it fit.
Forget about going to the dealer in Canada for a P5 strut bar because the bar is one price and then all the mounting hardware is sold seperately and you'll end up paying over $250.
On U.S. side they sell the whole thing under one part number for $99.95.
The poor sedan guys get screwed again!
Forget about going to the dealer in Canada for a P5 strut bar because the bar is one price and then all the mounting hardware is sold seperately and you'll end up paying over $250.
On U.S. side they sell the whole thing under one part number for $99.95.
The poor sedan guys get screwed again!
July-15th-2003, 04:13 PM
#8
Protegé Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 194
ESsedan01, do you know if the one on procarparts.com requires hacking of the cruise control mounting bracket? and how much hacking does the Ractive one require?
There's gotta be other Canadian sedan owners on this board that have successfully installed an inexpensive non-OEM strut bar or are we asking too much???
The one on mazdastuff.com is sold out... not sure what brand that is. Does that one require hacking of the cruise control mounting bracket as well???
There's gotta be other Canadian sedan owners on this board that have successfully installed an inexpensive non-OEM strut bar or are we asking too much???
The one on mazdastuff.com is sold out... not sure what brand that is. Does that one require hacking of the cruise control mounting bracket as well???
July-15th-2003, 04:15 PM
#9
Protegé Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 194
by the way, here's the one on mazdastuff.com:
http://www.mazdastuff.com/product.cfm?ProductID=972
http://www.mazdastuff.com/product.cfm?ProductID=972
July-16th-2003, 02:12 PM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ON, Canada
Posts: 130
Originally posted by damaster
ESsedan01, do you know if the one on procarparts.com requires hacking of the cruise control mounting bracket? and how much hacking does the Ractive one require?
There's gotta be other Canadian sedan owners on this board that have successfully installed an inexpensive non-OEM strut bar or are we asking too much???
The one on mazdastuff.com is sold out... not sure what brand that is. Does that one require hacking of the cruise control mounting bracket as well???
ESsedan01, do you know if the one on procarparts.com requires hacking of the cruise control mounting bracket? and how much hacking does the Ractive one require?
There's gotta be other Canadian sedan owners on this board that have successfully installed an inexpensive non-OEM strut bar or are we asking too much???
The one on mazdastuff.com is sold out... not sure what brand that is. Does that one require hacking of the cruise control mounting bracket as well???
I was going to buy the P5 strut bar from another member until I found out the mounting bracket just for that one side is $60.00.
The one you you found at Mazdastuff is the one that comes complete with the mounting hardware.
I will probably end up going with the Ractive and cutting the bracket.
July-16th-2003, 02:16 PM
#12
"Pimpin Protege"
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: the rat's mouth
Posts: 530
They send you a silver one, it is the mazdaspeed one, which now replaces all the MP3 parts. And it requires you to order the one with the cruise control brackets. But it is the same price for the one with cruise control. So if you aren't in a rush put an order in with them and they will be more than cooperative. I have dealt with them on a few things and they are great with customer service.
July-16th-2003, 03:49 PM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 241
Originally posted by mixmaster_matt
They send you a silver one, it is the mazdaspeed one, which now replaces all the MP3 parts. And it requires you to order the one with the cruise control brackets. But it is the same price for the one with cruise control. So if you aren't in a rush put an order in with them and they will be more than cooperative. I have dealt with them on a few things and they are great with customer service.
They send you a silver one, it is the mazdaspeed one, which now replaces all the MP3 parts. And it requires you to order the one with the cruise control brackets. But it is the same price for the one with cruise control. So if you aren't in a rush put an order in with them and they will be more than cooperative. I have dealt with them on a few things and they are great with customer service.
July-16th-2003, 08:02 PM
#15
Protege Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 3
Front strut tower bar
I have been trying to find a bar as well. Mazdastuff (& other dealers)m have told me they are on National backorder, not sure when they will be available. Does anyone have an opinion on the Corksport bar? I know they are on backorder as well (redesign) bu they at least tell me about 3 weeks. Cost - $59.00 HAPPY TRAILS!