Strut Bar Install

[GTS-2ZZGE]

Hey there guys, I have a question which may seem dumb, but here it goes?

What is the purpose of using a Strut Bar? :confused:

I ask this because I would like to install one on my GTS, but first wanted to find out if this will enhance the suspension of my GTS, or if its just mostly for looks.

Also, I have stock suspension on my GTS, would it matter that I install an aftermarket strut bar on stock struts?

And last question, how difficult is it to install a strut bar on the GTS? I see three bolts on top of the strut assembly under the hood. Would I just have to remove these three bolts, or is there more to it?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Gtsjeg04]

It keeps your struts from flexing or moving in or out. Now b/c your entire suspension is stock I dont know how dramatic an effect you will get. It will fit on your stock struts. depends on what kind of strut bar you get. You might have to grind down your battery tie down unless your bar comes with one, and turn your battery terminals so they dont hit the bar. you would be looking at 30 mins top to install. I am sure there is an install thread somewhere on this site.

[GTS-2ZZGE]

thanks for the info Gtsjeg04

[GTS-2ZZGE]

As far as the install, would I just remove the 3 bolts on top of the strut assembly (to the right of the battery, and next to power steering fluid reservoir) and then hook of the stru bar and re-tighten bolts?

[TRD08]

it is the so easy to intstall its not even funny lol what one r u getting i have the APR one and gt and gts are the same to install one

[GTS-2ZZGE]

Where can I get the APR strut bar for my 2000 GTS?

[EazyE17]

Quick question regarding the rear strut bar. I installed my rear strut tower this afternoon and immediately felt a difference. But I would also like to get a strut bar that connects to the top of the struts. I found where it would go, just a single bolt on the top of each one. I need to know if anybody has a part number for this strut bar. I want to make sure Im buying the correct part and not something thats intended to go underneath the car. Thanks.

[Orijinalx]

^ i dont think there are any rear strut bars that directly connects to the rear struts. For one thing...it be extremely difficult to fit anything in that small hole where the rear sturts are located.
ohh and what type of rear bar did u get? 2 point or 3 point?

[EazyE17]

I got a 3 point TRD tower. It was so easy to install. The hardest part was drilling holes into the metal along the bottom. I have stock struts and springs so I was impressed with the results. I took it to a couple curves I drive daily and could easily drive 5mph faster around them. I am waiting on my front strut bar to arrive which will probably add a little more stability.
I know the area to install a strut bar on top of the rear struts is small but im sure it could be done. It seems like you'd get even better results with that than just the tower. Sometimes it gets annoying not being able to ever have enough :crazy2:

[krazieboy]

i picked up a megan one today and i ended up cutting part of my battery clamp off. From what i seen, there are a few strut bars that come with a battery clamp. might want to look into those, but i felt a difference after installing it

[vegeta4ss]

Quick question regarding the rear strut bar. I installed my rear strut tower this afternoon and immediately felt a difference. But I would also like to get a strut bar that connects to the top of the struts. I found where it would go, just a single bolt on the top of each one. I need to know if anybody has a part number for this strut bar. I want to make sure Im buying the correct part and not something thats intended to go underneath the car. Thanks.

A long long time ago I had a megan racing bar for the rear. Like an idiot I installed it to the strut tower bolts, and wondered why I barely felt a difference. When I went back in and mounted it to the seat lockback pin only then did it work right.

Your not going to get anywhere looking for a 2nd bar, not to mention its really hard to fit down there.

[EazyE17]

A long long time ago I had a megan racing bar for the rear. Like an idiot I installed it to the strut tower bolts, and wondered why I barely felt a difference. When I went back in and mounted it to the seat lockback pin only then did it work right.

Your not going to get anywhere looking for a 2nd bar, not to mention its really hard to fit down there.

Ok thanks I'll just stick with the tower. I never install anything unless I have a diagram or picture to go by. I know I would mess it up. The tower was prety straight forward tho. Ive seen towers that bolt into the top part where there are holes that werent previously used by anything. The bolts my tower bolted into were previuosly used by the bars that the seats snap into. I left the bars out because the seats sit back fine enough anyways.

[ZaneMan]

3 point is the way to go a 2 point bar is just for looks. I had a 2 point megan bar and I'm so glad I put a 3 point in.

Also a front strut bar is pretty meaningless compaired to the front lower bar, the cusco or presumably the half priced ebay cusco knock offs. I took my top bar off recently and can't notice a lick of differance.

[darkshadowceli]

RMM Front Strut Bar Install:
http://newcelica.org/other/installs/rmmfrontstrutbar/index.htm

I would suggest getting this bar since it is a one piece bar but the install would be the same if you got apr/megan
EDIT: Oh and the RMM comes with the bat tie down

[EazyE17]

3 point is the way to go a 2 point bar is just for looks. I had a 2 point megan bar and I'm so glad I put a 3 point in.

Also a front strut bar is pretty meaningless compaired to the front lower bar, the cusco or presumably the half priced ebay cusco knock offs. I took my top bar off recently and can't notice a lick of differance.

Where can I find a front lower bar and where exactly does it install. I would buy more if I knew I was buying the right stuff.

[ZaneMan]

I've seen them on ebay and there was an install on this websites install guide. Under cusco underbody brace or some such matter. Rav spec a vendor on here offers a 4 point version that couldn't hurt to pick up might work even better then the cusco

[Celicasaur]

I fitted my APR front brace on saturday...yep, it took all of about 5 minutes to install.

And um...yep, inline with what everybody says about this bar...it's totally useless and the only good thing about it is that it makes the engine bay look more prettier.

Mind you, I got it for cheap, so I'll just leave it be.

[slidr]

I fitted my APR front brace on saturday...yep, it took all of about 5 minutes to install.

And um...yep, inline with what everybody says about this bar...it's totally useless and the only good thing about it is that it makes the engine bay look more prettier.


Who said that? It's not useless.

The underbrace is though.

[peeper06]

Front strut bars are easy. Take the nuts off the top of the struts, put the bar on, stick the nuts back on. Rear strut bars are a little more difficult. You have to remove or cut the plastics, and if it's all one piece (especially a 3 pt), it's a pain in the azz to put in.

Pretty much, they stiffen things up and brace the rear so you can corner better. I've heard that 2 pt rear strut bars don't do too much though. I've got the C-ONE Type R and it looks sick and works well.

[Celicasaur]

oh...loads of people man ^^^

Whenever this topic has come up over the years, I've rarely ever seen anybody say anything positive about it (or perhaps any top strut bar for the zzt for that matter).

Even when I did a seach a few weeks ago, prior to buying this brace, most of the reviews said it doesnt really do anything due to the firewall being so close to the strut towers anyway. I'm not nessesarily saying that's why it might not be good...but that's generally what I've read over here.

[krazieboy]

it diffidently wasn't a big improvement, but i did notice the difference. I liked it. 60 bucks wasn't much newayz.