Trunk floor strut bar.

Bigbacon · 10-05-2009, 03:30 PM

I got a trunk floor strut bar today (thanks raceroots!)

Question as come to my attention, are there torque settings for those bolts I need remove in order to install the bar?

Want to make sure I don't mess anything else up while I install this.

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fastlaneracing · 10-05-2009, 03:38 PM

100Nm would be fine.

Bigbacon · 10-05-2009, 06:16 PM

thanks, I got it installed. Very easy.

Bigbacon · 10-06-2009, 06:03 AM

I am sure I am paranoid but I need to make sure....

Is it possible to damage anything with the suspension when installing one of these things? Like being tightened to much or one side being more than the other?

bhop · 10-06-2009, 06:38 AM

No, you should be fine as long as it was installed properly.....

If you are that paranoid then have a performance shop inspect your car or a dealership.

Bigbacon · 10-06-2009, 08:56 PM

heres the deal

I install the bar last night.

This morning I start driving to work and the steering didn't seem right. it seemed really loose. The car felt wobbly (not like alignment messed up). Cornering seems A'ok. it didn't feel different there but over all it just felt odd.

I get to work, park in the garage and get out. open the back door ot get my laptop bag and notice that car seems kinda low in the back. check out the passenger side and it looks normal. Driver side seems lower. Thought maybe it was lighting in the garage (its 7am and dark) so oh well... I go to work.

Same thing on the way home, steering feels very loose. Get into my garage and park, look again and the driver side still seems lower. Get out a measuring tape and try to make some measurements. The driver side seems lower by 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch.

Looking under the car everything seems normal.

Again, it could just be me being paranoid as I get that way after messing with expensive things.

Is there anything I should look for specifically? Is there a better way to measure the gap??

I suspect everything is ok as I've been driving the car without issues since I got it and I really don't think I could have messed up anything installing a silly bar that requires 4 bolts. I just can't see that.

kersh4w · 10-06-2009, 09:04 PM

installing a bar inside the car is not going to affect the suspension underneath the car....?

KRMRX8 · 10-06-2009, 09:27 PM

Your steering should feel no different in a straight line but the"looseness" you report, could just be that it is actually tighter, less flex in the rear so the front "feeels" differnt but not_ loose.

Ride height is only affected by the status of the springs and tire pressure

and amount of weight in the trunk.

relax_

9krpmrx8 · 10-06-2009, 09:32 PM

Trunk floor bar? Monkey bar? Pics.

SiLVeRE8 · 10-06-2009, 10:07 PM

Just recheck everything you touched and make sure its tight. And by loose do you mean by the response increased when steering left and right?

Bigbacon · 10-07-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiLVeRE8

Just recheck everything you touched and make sure its tight. And by loose do you mean by the response increased when steering left and right?

I dont know, it almost feels like I need to keep making little corrections all the time. Almost like the back end wants to slide but I fix it by making the correction. It's like it wants to shift around left and right but it doesn't feel like a normal alignment issues, but since this car drives and feels so different than all old cars I've had it might be I can't tell but.

Something just doesn't feel right. Thats all I can say, it's just felt different since tuesday morning.

Sorry, I really wish I could explain better.

Mazurfer · 10-07-2009, 03:30 PM

Trunk floor strut? We wanna see pics.
I think you're being paranoid, but let's see where it mounts.
The normal position is not on the floor, but up where the spare tire hanger assembly would bolt on.

Nemesis8 · 10-07-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigbacon

I dont know, it almost feels like I need to keep making little corrections all the time. Almost like the back end wants to slide but I fix it by making the correction. It's like it wants to shift around left and right but it doesn't feel like a normal alignment issues, but since this car drives and feels so different than all old cars I've had it might be I can't tell but.

Something just doesn't feel right. Thats all I can say, it's just felt different since tuesday morning.

Sorry, I really wish I could explain better.

I have my car so tight from struts bars, coilovers, etc., that I feel everything on the road. I have the same issue with certain roads that are not completely flat. It seems the car wants to wonder into the grooves all on it's own, etc. If I let go on the wheel on Highway 101 going through town, I bet I would end up on the sidewalk! LOL

I suggest finding the flattest stretch of pavement you can and see if the problem goes away.

J8635621 · 10-07-2009, 04:08 PM

There are 2 different kinds of rear struts. One is on the floor and one is higher up like the spare tire bar. Some people even have both.

Bigbacon · 10-07-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemesis8

I have my car so tight from struts bars, coilovers, etc., that I feel everything on the road. I have the same issue with certain roads that are not completely flat. It seems the car wants to wonder into the grooves all on it's own, etc. If I let go on the wheel on Highway 101 going through town, I bet I would end up on the sidewalk! LOL

I suggest finding the flattest stretch of pavement you can and see if the problem goes away.

hmm, the road I live off of was just paved with in the last month, not that it is completely flat but its the newest road per se that I drive on a daily basis.

9krpmrx8 · 10-07-2009, 04:17 PM

Pictures?

SiLVeRE8 · 10-07-2009, 04:37 PM

The best way to find out what is causing the issue is to remove the bar and see if that resolves it.

Bigbacon · 10-07-2009, 05:11 PM

pics of what?

bhop · 10-07-2009, 10:41 PM

Bacon, since you have a rear strut bar, there is less flex/ roll and when that happens the front will feel more loose but if you get a front strut bar as well you will also notice a difference in the car's overall stiffness and it will feel more balanced

I've notice that ever since I have gotten coilovers etc my car wants to hug every part of the road so if the road is not completely flat and smooth but a bit bumpy, uneven pavement leaning to one side, basically the car will catch every groove and since you are just cruising you will feel it more so the car will seem out of wack at times. Put you car through some sort of hard turns and you will notice how well the car is balanced but I suggest you either take the strut bar out and drive it to find out the problem and or buy a front strut bar which will help a lot IMO.

9krpmrx8 · 10-07-2009, 11:30 PM

The bar installed, mounting points , etc.