Suspension & Brakes Theory, alignment, spring rates....

should strut bars be fitted with the car jacked up?

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Old Dec 20, 2007 | 06:52 PM
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an2ny888's Avatar
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Default should strut bars be fitted with the car jacked up?

i posted this in the itr forum, but i want to know what you guys think. i've always installed my strut bars with the car on the ground, then i came accross this on the tanabe website. makes me wonder if they're right

Adjustable Preload
A very common error when installing tower bars, It is always recommended to raise the vehicle when installing so that the load of the shock uppermounts on the shock towers is relieved and balanced out. When raised, and the tower bar is placed onto the vehicle, the preload can be adjusted and set. After it is bolted on and the car is lowered, each shock tower will have equal load and will prevent independent movements of each shock. This will provide an extremely noticeable difference after installing. If a tower bar is installed on a car that is not raised, great benefits will be missed.
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Old Dec 21, 2007 | 09:07 AM
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lol? If you take out the bolts on the strut tower while the car is on the air, the shock will fall out!
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Old Dec 21, 2007 | 07:59 PM
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Default Re: (EK_B)

hmm.. so do you put the nuts back on the shock tower wit the strut bar on, tighten them up, then lower the car?

or do you put the strut bar on, put the nuts on, lower the car then tighten the nuts?
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Old Dec 23, 2007 | 03:19 PM
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Default Re: should strut bars be fitted with the car jacked up? (an2ny888)

If you've always done it with them on the ground and nothing has went wrong... just keep doing it that way... don't fix it unless its broken!
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Old Dec 27, 2007 | 08:36 AM
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Default Re: (EK_B)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EK_B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lol? If you take out the bolts on the strut tower while the car is on the air, the shock will fall out! </TD></TR></TABLE> not if they are still in the fork..... well at least mine didn't fall out....
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Old Dec 27, 2007 | 09:47 AM
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Default Re: should strut bars be fitted with the car jacked up? (an2ny888)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by an2ny888 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Adjustable Preload
A very common error when installing tower bars, It is always recommended to raise the vehicle when installing so that the load of the shock uppermounts on the shock towers is relieved and balanced out. When raised, and the tower bar is placed onto the vehicle, the preload can be adjusted and set. After it is bolted on and the car is lowered, each shock tower will have equal load and will prevent independent movements of each shock. This will provide an extremely noticeable difference after installing. If a tower bar is installed on a car that is not raised, great benefits will be missed.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

as much as i respect tanabe for its mostly quality parts, this is where i COMPLETELY DISAGREE. preloading a strut bar is

its a structural member. constrained at both ends. it will have some elasticity and stretch and flex and act like a spring. but preloading it will not benefit or change its behavior otherwise as a structural member. in fact, if you preloaded it too much and it flexed past its elastic limit, it will yield and fail. but really, it doesnt need to be.

the only reason why id mess around with raising one side up, or both while installing is to help install it. my neuspeed front strut bar can be a pain to install sometimes. so it helps to be able to sink the shocks a bit to get the holes to line up better. but thats it.

btw, i AM a believer in strut bars. many arent and are just going to say strut bars are complete anyway. but i think preloading a structural member like this is
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