deschlong

iTrader: (8)

[DIY] 92-95 JDM/EDM Honda Civic OEM Front Tower Strut Bar Install

Another DIY that I'm going to keep short. And that doesn't involve wiring! Hurrah.

One feature that came on upper-end 5th Generation Civic models in Europe (VTi) and Japan (SiR variants) was a factory-installed front strut tower bar. A strut tower bar provides extra stiffness between the struts and presumably leads to improved handling. Read more about them on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strut_bar. There are many aftermarket manufacturers of strut bars, but as can be seen in my other DIYs, I do prefer OEM Honda where I can get it.

Once again, this is another feature that Honda in North America did not think we deserved on our vehicles. Or, maybe our "puny" D-series engines don't warrant a strut tower bar. A bit of both, perhaps. Well, if you do want added stiffness, or if you've already done your B-series engine swap, this DIY is for you.

Thankfully, finding one of these strut tower bars is not very hard. The 94-01 Acura Integra GSR and the 99-00 Civic Si (USDM) or SiR (CDM) came with a strut tower bar that is the exact same part number as on the EDM VTi and JDM SiR 5th Gen Civic: 74300-SR3-010. These sell for ~$40 brand new from Honda, and you can find them for $25-30 shipped on eBay or hondamarketplace.com. Try to get the retaining nuts from the bar, too, with your purchase.

The OEM attachment location for the bar is not directly to the struts, as it is on many aftermarket bars, but is through two holes in the body just in front of the struts, covered by body-paint coloured grommets (Figure 1).


Of course, these are painted because on a vehicle with a factory-mounted bar in this location, there are bolts welded to the body in this spot. Those without, get a rubber grommet before being painted. In the absence of a welder, I bought some 2 cm-long 8mm bolts that fit the OEM nuts and slid them through these holes (Figure 2). You can reach the holes easily if you reach your arm up by the front upper control arm.


On goes the strut bar and tighten down (Figure 3). Now, hopefully the first hard corner you take doesn't tear the sheet metal (it shouldn't).


The finished product should look like Figure 4. This upgrade took all of 20 minutes, max. It's so easy, it probably doesn't deserve a DIY. But, at least now you know that the Integra & Civic Si/SiR strut tower bars are a perfect fit.

u238fist

nice write up! will be doing one in my 92 hatchback. So you said you can order it in a local honda dealer? cause i found one at Hmotorsonline for 20$.

instructor74

since you love the OEM chassis parts so much you should also source the front lower bar for the integra 94-01 bolts right up to the sub frame with 4 bolts the nuts are already weldded n place.

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

^ Yep, it's on the list.

talonboy1991

These sway bars also came factory on the del sol I'm 99% sure. Mine came with one

hardtarget2

Deschlong, thank you for your posts. I have used several to upgrade my 93 Civic DX. They are extemely detailed & help a novice-me!

I was interested in the OEM front strut mod but I noticed that all the pictures were recently deleted. Could you pls put them back up or email them to me?

Again thanks

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

That shouldn't happen! Pic links fixed. And, be sure to bump my DIYs when you use them!

hardtarget2

Thanks. I'm pick up a strut bar today! Did you ever do the lower front strut bar that was mentioned-? My 93 4 door dx didnt come w/any sway bars & would appreciate any advice abt adding them. What model would I source it from & would I need to add/change control arms etc? Thanks again.

deschlong

iTrader: (8)

Front sway bars are a pain since you need to swap out the front control arms from an EX or Si and to actually remove the bar I think is a serious pain. If you're running the stock engine you really don't need one anyway. The lower front strut bar can be found on just about any Acura Integra 94-01. It's not really a strut bar, more like a stiffener on the subframe.

The rear sway bars can come from a 4DR EX / EX-V or else any 94-01 Acura Integra. You'll need the rear LCAs too.

Custom93

I have 93 dx you dont need to swap control arms just buy the end links to swap in a sway bar as the cx,vx and dx arms already have the holes for them.

ps i just replaced both frt lower control arms i ordered them for a 93 dx hatch with a d15b7 they are beck-arnley brand (i highly trust this brand for all jdm cars as they manufacture many oem parts for honda toyota and hyundai) they also had the mounting holes for the sway bar end links.

angrysmileyface

93 Civic CX DX coupe and hatch do not have the end link holes by default. And to my recollection, only th EX sedan did.

instrument

Type r strut tower bars look nicer and fit the same holes.

SLURS

iTrader: (1)

Good diy