DIY: GTSPEC Front and Rear Bars
12-08-2008, 10:03 AM
#1
DIY: GTSPEC Front and Rear Bars
Had a couple of customers ask me to do this so no problem and here it is. Pretty much straight forward but for informational purposes to make things easy.
Removal of the OEM Front Strut bar is quite easy remove the two bolts on each side, and then pull of the bar.
Beneath you will see a C-ring with some more nuts, remove this as well as the the GTSPEC bar will sit flush on the mount. Save the 14mm nuts you will reuse them.
Here is a pic of the C-Ring to explain:
Now attaching the new bar is made easier by first loosening the Nut that connects the bar and bracket together, this will allow you to wiggle it in to place.
I Found it easier to seat the drivers side bracket first then passenger side.
Here is a picture of it Finally seated properly, when you have both sides lined up you may notice a slight gap or difficulty seating it. When you tighten the nuts in a clockwise pattern equally, then a final tighten you will see they will get pulled tight to the car.
Finally Make sure to re-tighten the nut/bolt that you loosened to make a secure fit.
Onto the rear bar. This was actually a little more difficult and too more time. Remove the Trunk carpeting where the bar will sit, they have the plastic screw and pulls....screws that are easily removed. Pull it all the way back so you can get a clear view of the towers.
Attached is the picture installed:
The easiest way to install this I found is to completely disconnect the bar from the bracket and secure both brackets first. (Disconnect only one side from bracket and bar)
After both brackets are attached you can now raise the bar and line it up from its disconnected end. You might need to use some force to slide the bar back into the holes.
Tighten and the bar is secured.
For re-seating the carpet in the trunk I did a cutout of the bar so the bar can go through the carpeting. What I did was cut a vertical line into the carpet which leads to the cut-out of the hole. Sliding the carpeting over the bar and seating it through the cut-out. Finally then re secured back all of the tiny plastic screws.
Removal of the OEM Front Strut bar is quite easy remove the two bolts on each side, and then pull of the bar.
Beneath you will see a C-ring with some more nuts, remove this as well as the the GTSPEC bar will sit flush on the mount. Save the 14mm nuts you will reuse them.
Here is a pic of the C-Ring to explain:
Now attaching the new bar is made easier by first loosening the Nut that connects the bar and bracket together, this will allow you to wiggle it in to place.
I Found it easier to seat the drivers side bracket first then passenger side.
Here is a picture of it Finally seated properly, when you have both sides lined up you may notice a slight gap or difficulty seating it. When you tighten the nuts in a clockwise pattern equally, then a final tighten you will see they will get pulled tight to the car.
Finally Make sure to re-tighten the nut/bolt that you loosened to make a secure fit.
Onto the rear bar. This was actually a little more difficult and too more time. Remove the Trunk carpeting where the bar will sit, they have the plastic screw and pulls....screws that are easily removed. Pull it all the way back so you can get a clear view of the towers.
Attached is the picture installed:
The easiest way to install this I found is to completely disconnect the bar from the bracket and secure both brackets first. (Disconnect only one side from bracket and bar)
After both brackets are attached you can now raise the bar and line it up from its disconnected end. You might need to use some force to slide the bar back into the holes.
Tighten and the bar is secured.
For re-seating the carpet in the trunk I did a cutout of the bar so the bar can go through the carpeting. What I did was cut a vertical line into the carpet which leads to the cut-out of the hole. Sliding the carpeting over the bar and seating it through the cut-out. Finally then re secured back all of the tiny plastic screws.
02-06-2011, 08:57 PM
#6
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
Well yeah but I could see someone screwing up a spark plug install by cross threading and breaking a plug. But if you cannot install a strut bar then you may want to leave the installation of modifications to someone more qualified 
02-07-2011, 07:36 AM
#7
^ +1 I couldn't agree more. Replaciing the front took all of 5 minutes. The back took a bit more time being you had to remove the interior panels to expose the bolts to the struts. If someone needs a DIY for this they may also need a DIY for popping the trunk.
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