[flipp]

step 1 : jack the car up and put on jackstand (i hate this freaking part)

step 2 : test fit the bar and mark the 3 holes

step 3: drill the holes. we started out w/ wood bits... not fun. the pilot hole took some time, but the final hole was faster (that and we switched to a 7/16ths[i believe] titanium bit, and used spray lubricant )

step 4: bolt it on

 

[flipp]

Re: s3 strut bar install (flipp)

when you're done :

it also fits on a vr6, you just have to watch the coolant lines.

 

[djsilvera]

Re: s3 strut bar install (flipp)

who's the beautiful guy in the fourth photo? damn, work that drill.

 

[flipp]

Re: s3 strut bar install (djsilvera)

that's my sexy assistant. you can rent him from me for $5.99 an hour. plus he gets coke (the soda) breaks or else he gets crabby.

 

[VR_Zoom]

Re: s3 strut bar install (flipp)

Whats the advantages of a s3 brace as opposed to lets say a newspeed one? Just curious.

 

[djsilvera]

Re: s3 strut bar install (VR_Zoom)

quote:[HR][/HR]Whats the advantages of a s3 brace as opposed to lets say a newspeed one? Just curious.[HR][/HR]​

look at how each of them mounts, and then you can answer your own question

-Dan
(ps - also look into pricing -- [email protected])

 

[ThunderGolf]

Re: s3 strut bar install (VR_Zoom)

quote:[HR][/HR]Whats the advantages of a s3 brace as opposed to lets say a newspeed one?[HR][/HR]​

It's OEM (and from an S3) so it's inherently cooler.

 

[terribleone]

Re: s3 strut bar install (flipp)

slick

 

[Max Rebo]

Re: s3 strut bar install (djsilvera)

I'm still waiting for mine.

We're pretty confident that the original one that was shipped got lost in the mail. Either that, or the mailman was a VW fan and decided to keep one of the bars for himself.

Dunno . . . but Josh will send another out to me this week. USPS sucks!

 

[spcycle]

Re: s3 strut bar install (flipp)

Isn't the S3 brace the same as the TT? also, doesn't jacking up your car, letting the strut towers droop a bit, then installing a strut bar affect the alignment? the car does flex enough on the jack stands to allow this to happen, i would think you would want the wheels on solid ground.

 

[djsilvera]

Re: s3 strut bar install (spcycle)

quote:[HR][/HR]Isn't the S3 brace the same as the TT? also, doesn't jacking up your car, letting the strut towers droop a bit, then installing a strut bar affect the alignment? the car does flex enough on the jack stands to allow this to happen, i would think you would want the wheels on solid ground.[HR][/HR]​

not the same as the TT. The TTs towers are angled slightly differently, and the engine bay layout differs. As for the flex, we used a rolling floorjack which, although noisy, doesnt cause chassis flex - it moves with the car while jacking it. To answer your second question, there is no other way to get the nuts on wthout removing the wheels or letting them droop. either way, unless you wanna rest your car on the shocks (cough, max rebo), you have to lift it.

 

[Jman5000]

Re: s3 strut bar install (flipp)

Get some washers on there.
And you did use grade 9 fastners, right?
Just a double-check for ya. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

 

[flipp]

Re: s3 strut bar install (djsilvera)

quote:[HR][/HR]To answer your second question, there is no other way to get the nuts on wthout removing the wheels or letting them droop. either way, unless you wanna rest your car on the shocks (cough, max rebo), you have to lift it.
[HR][/HR]​

[try getting a hand back there

it's hard enough to change the dampening settings w/out raising the car (you can turn the wheel to lock.. but it's still not much fun)]
we *could* have put it on w/ nutserts w/out raising the car. but i like the nuts & bolts we used better.

 

[adg44]

Re: s3 strut bar install (djsilvera)

Did you notice any difference in handling after this was installed?
And I'm sure glad that you didn't let flippie use the drill.... that would have been scary.

Kids these days...

 

[flipp]

Re: s3 strut bar install (Jman5000)

quote:[HR][/HR]Get some washers on there.
[HR][/HR]​

they're on underneath w/ the nut. the heads of hte bolts were thick enough that we didn't see the reason for a washer.

 

[djsilvera]

Re: s3 strut bar install (adg44)

quote:[HR][/HR]Did you notice any difference in handling after this was installed? [HR][/HR]​

too early to tell. it was wet outside yesterday when I did my "practice autocross" in a hidden parking lot. Plus I got a new front sway and engine mount this weekend, so the 'difference' will be the sum total of all these parts. Boy it feels good now. I'll go drive it hard during lunch and see what, if anything, feels different.

 

[ONEsickVDUB]

Re: s3 strut bar install (djsilvera)

Nice... I put the Autotech one in, and it just didn't work out to well. One of the bolts wouldn't tighten all the way down. Oh well.

 

[macdadmorgan]

Re: s3 strut bar install (ONEsickVDUB)

wow, for a oe part is sure does have sloppy welds, had a euro sport bar on my car and it understeered like a bioch

 

[Max Rebo]

Re: s3 strut bar install (flipp)

quote:[HR][/HR]To answer your second question, there is no other way to get the nuts on wthout removing the wheels or letting them droop. either way, unless you wanna rest your car on the shocks (cough, max rebo), you have to lift it.[HR][/HR]​

What???

 

[djsilvera]

Re: s3 strut bar install (Max Rebo)

quote:[HR][/HR]
What???

[HR][/HR]​

I was referring to your installation debacle...where "someone" lowered the caroff the lift to try and jam the shock up into place.

macdadmorgan: As for your 'understeer' problems, those were probably not caused by the brace. Besides tire pressure, the only thing up there that might cause understeer is the sway bar. I have a 25mm sway up front, a 28mm in the rear, along with front and rear upper strut braces....and I notice no such understeer...just incredibly controllable driving characteristics, with oversteer on demand (and easy to pull out of) and a very rigid chassis. The car handles excellently.