Strut Bar????

Old Feb 19, 2002 | 11:19 PM
  #1  
mkdxxx's Avatar
Thread Starter
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 109
From: Illinois
mkdxxx is on a distinguished road
Question Strut Bar????

Who makes them and what do you guys recommend??? I would like to buy but I don't want one that needs to be modified to fit!
Old Feb 20, 2002 | 03:34 AM
  #2  
blueprotege's Avatar
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 71
From: dallas
blueprotege is on a distinguished road
what year pro do you have??? some can be bought off of ebay. what kind you can get depends on the year of your car.
Old Feb 20, 2002 | 07:36 PM
  #3  
mkdxxx's Avatar
Thread Starter
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 109
From: Illinois
mkdxxx is on a distinguished road
theman-
Thanks I have read the FAQ's but wanted the opinion of others.

Others-
Currently I own a 02 and I don't really want the yellow mazda one.
Old Feb 20, 2002 | 08:23 PM
  #4  
MikeD's Avatar
Make it bounce!! (BOING!)
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 348
From: Northern Virginia
MikeD is on a distinguished road
Then buy the red Mazda one from a Protege 5. The yellow one came on the MP3.
Old Feb 20, 2002 | 08:44 PM
  #5  
ProRedWagon's Avatar
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 75
From: Baltimore Maryland
ProRedWagon is on a distinguished road
Arrow Your Strut Bar

I got one word !
www.Mazdastuff.com for all your stut tower bar needs LOL. They actualy have to from the MP3, the one for cars w/cruise and w/out. Both yellow, but that's what spray paint is for LOL. Go to the 2002 Protege Performance Accessories Page and yur GTG.
Old Feb 20, 2002 | 09:16 PM
  #6  
mkdxxx's Avatar
Thread Starter
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 109
From: Illinois
mkdxxx is on a distinguished road
But would be better to buy one that is adjustable???
Old Feb 20, 2002 | 09:37 PM
  #7  
blueprotege's Avatar
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 71
From: dallas
blueprotege is on a distinguished road
i believe obx makes one for the 02 models. they sell them on ebay alot and they are adjustable and come in different colors. i think the ones that are on there now are polished. they go for about 140 if you buy them from a performance shop but on ebay you can normally get one for about 70 .
Old Feb 21, 2002 | 10:07 AM
  #8  
ZoomZoomH's Avatar
Cripple Fight!!!!
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,944
From: Northern VA
ZoomZoomH is on a distinguished road
get the Mazda strut bar kit. Great quality, perfect fit, no free play, I love it
Old Feb 21, 2002 | 01:53 PM
  #9  
Eric F's Avatar
Protege God
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,525
From: Evanston, IL
Eric F is on a distinguished road
Yes and no. If you think about what a strut bar does for a minute, you'll realize you don't really need any adjustability. All a strut bar does is stiffen the front end of the chassis by connecting the upper strut mounting points. The best strut bar is one stiff enough to do the job, and as light weight as possible. The so called adjustable bars are for ease of installation, due to the design of the bar, or slight variations in manufacturing tolerances. I have the cheap ($59) RaceTech bar from Corksport. It's a polished aluminum bar with black steel end links. It's adjustable because the end links bolt to the center aluminum bar with bolts and lock nuts. The bolts and lock nuts allow some adjustment for length of the bar for easy installation. You can preload the bar by tightening the end links, then rotating the bar until it is tight. Hold it there and tighten the lock nuts. The bar will have no play if mounted this way. The only reason I can see for spending more money for the strut tower bar is for lighter weight. It would require carbon fiber to be notably lighter than aluminum, which would be considerable more expensive.


Originally posted by PseudoRealityX


Not really. Anywhere there is an adjustment, there is free play. Free play is bad.
Old Feb 22, 2002 | 01:09 AM
  #10  
Davard
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by Eric F
You can preload the bar by tightening the end links, then rotating the bar until it is tight. Hold it there and tighten the lock nuts. The bar will have no play if mounted this way.
Once again, yes and no. The strut towers flex both ways. If you tighten the bar to pull the towers together, it still has some free play when the towers flex inward.
Old Feb 22, 2002 | 10:20 PM
  #11  
mkdxxx's Avatar
Thread Starter
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 109
From: Illinois
mkdxxx is on a distinguished road
I understand that but which way do you want to put the pressure to? Should the bar push outwards or should the bar pull inwards.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ImportCarPartsPlus
Vendor Section
31
Jun 8, 2007 08:38 AM
leungwingkei
3rd gen Suspension/Brakes
2
Mar 18, 2003 09:39 PM
ibanez78
3rd gen Suspension/Brakes
5
Dec 3, 2002 05:14 PM
-Shaky
2nd gen Suspension/Brakes
3
Mar 15, 2002 01:21 PM
biknman
3rd gen Suspension/Brakes
2
Feb 26, 2002 08:28 AM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:12 AM.