Hi all. Today I installed my Cusco front strut bar. Nice looking unit and quality seems well done too. However, the instructions are in Japanese and so I basically had no guidance. That said, it is not a difficult install to perform.

Anyway, I came on to see what the torque settings should be on the bolts that attach the bar to the car frame. If anyone knows can you please post?

Also, as I was researching I came across several threads talking about pre-loaded and unloaded installation, and raising the car and suspending the wheels in air vs doing it with the wheels on the ground. I did mine with the wheels on the ground, not sure if that was a bad thing or not. I used a total of 4 spacers to gain the clearance I needed. I didn't get a chance to drive the car but plan to do so soon so hopefully I don't discover flexing and strange sounds of rubbing coming from under the hood.

Recap:
1. What should the torque settings be?
2. Should I have installed with wheels in the air, or is wheels on the ground ok?

*** NOTE *** for anyone that might be wondering, this strut bar does clear with a plenum spacer installed. I have the Power Labs 3/8" and it clears just fine.

Thanks all.

W

 

18-23 ft/lbs for the tower bolts

For the install the FSM does not specify in the air or on ground. It does call for 1.7 turns of the tightener on the factory bar which tells me there should be a bit of preload.

Either way your new bar is non-adjustable correct?

 

Guitman32, thanks for the response. I'll adjust accordingly once I can get under the hood again.

in response to your question, i have the Cusco front strut tower bar. i don't think its adjustable. Thanks again.

W

 

guitman is right, the FSM wouldn't specify air or ground because the OEM strut bar is adjustable. Personally, I always have both front wheels off the ground when I have to re-install my Cusco; that's just the way I learned. Can you tell the difference? Probably not.