I have a 2000 non-Si Civic
I plan on buying this NEUSPEED front upper strut bar for my car, but after looking at so many pictures here, there seems to be a bolt missing on each side of my engine bay chassis, but rather there is a black rubber plug that is stuck in there.

From the neuspeed site, it says Honda Civic 1996-2000 (Excluding Si) Part #35.20.72

YodaisGod's 2000 Si:


dogpile5's EJ1:


So where does the bar bolt into? (most bars like spoon/skunk2 bolt into A & B)


Since my car has that rubber plug I was referring to (area C), then the neuspeed bar will not bolt perfectly into my 2000 civic???

 

anybody know??????????
through further research here, I found out that the neuspeed bar connects to the SIDES OF THE SHOCH TOWER(where there ARE ONLY RUBBER PLUGS!!) and NOT into the bolts on top of the shock tower.....
Is this right, that means the Neuspeed bar will be TOTALLY USELESS to my car since it doesn't have any bolts to fit into?

 

bump for a good question. I've never heard of anybody having an installation issue with their neuspeed strut bars. Maybe if you took the rubber plugs out and just put the bolts through there it'll work? Not sure though, i'm just guessin.

 

no body knows?

 

it mounts to your shock bolts A & B. nice drawing btw


[Modified by SilverCivic2k, 10:02 PM 10/29/2002]


[Modified by SilverCivic2k, 10:02 PM 10/29/2002]

 

no, it doesnt. the bar connects to where you have those rubber plugs. just go to a hardware store and get some nuts and bolts. make sure they are grade 8.

 

I'm a Idiot and I put mine on =P wish I had some pics of it to show u good luck

 

This was in the Tech forum: GREAT answer Now I'm happy again and the Neuspeed bar #35.20.72 will bolt into A/B of my diagram

 

Through further research, I found that:
on the 6th generation Civics the Neuspeed bar mounts on the upper shock mounts
on the 5th generation Civics it mounts on the upper wishbone mounting points

 

This is correct. On 5th gen civics, the upper control arms mounting bolts are located on the top (where the rubber plugs are on the first pic) The 6th gen civic UCA's mount on the side of the shock tower support.


[Modified by 6ghatch, 9:17 AM 10/30/2002]

 

A & B

 

I'll show you mine if you show me yours


this is on a 2000 hatch.
mine mounted to the a and b points, according to your awesome diagram!
hope the picture helps.

 

good pic isotopesope!
that shows the different mounting method required, and a bar is required that is specific to the 96+ civics if you have that type of car.

you cannot use a 92-95 civic neuspeed bar in a 96+ civic UNLESS you add the bolts to come thru the top of the strut towers, and still the 96+ civic has a strange sandwich of sheet metal in there that prevents using "normal" bolts... it is like the metal is three layers thick but they are 1/4" from each other so you will crush them together but that is not a kosher thing to do structurally. So if you have a 96+ civic, get a neuspeed bar for that model otherwise you will not be a happy camper because you need to buy specific bolts that will cost you an arm and a leg plus you need a special tool to use them, insertnuts or something, I forget.

(it is possible that the 99+ civic is the type with this sheet metal "issue" but I think it is all 96+ civics)

 

What sucks is that bolting to the upper control arm bolts is actually a better place for a shock tower brace, because that is what gets the most direct lateral forces during cornering (those upper control arm bolts). That's what makes the Neuspeed bar for 92-95 Civics and 94-01 Integras unique. The Neuspeed bar for 96-00 Civics really is no different from any of the other cheap bars that bolt to the upper shock mount bolts. The shocks don't have to resist lateral forces in a double wishbone setup (like McPherson struts have to), so a bar connecting to the upper shock mounts really doesn't do that much, at least in theory.

 

patrick,
wow, i never realized there was a difference between the eg and ek mounting points for the upper control arm bolts. here are some diagrams i found that display the different methods and help me understand your point about the effectiveness of the neuspeed bar on the two different applications:
eg:

ek:

 

Either way if the bar mounts on the upper wishbone mounting points(EG) or the upper shock mount bolts(EK), your civic will be more stabilized and will have a better handling responce, while reducing flex in the front chassis. I like the design of the Neuspeed bar because it is one solid piece and no pivot-points. Eventhough it is not as strong-looking and beefy as the Skunk2/Spoon bars, the Neuspeed bar won't make a big hole in your wallet and does a superior job for a front tower strut bar (i think, i havn't used it yet!)

Oh yeah, is there any difference in "strength" of the two different color bars?
(35.20.72)Black powder coated finish bar
(35.20.72P)Polished chrome finish bar--> more expensive

 

i agree that it still is effective, but i see patrick's point that it would be more effective on an eg. i did notice a change in handling after i installed mine. i installed it after installing my 15" wheels, which seemed to take away a lot of the pre-hubcentric ring vibrations i was experiencing. after installing the rings the vibration was totally gone, but the bar really helped quite a bit. this was also prior to my new shocks and springs, so i'm sure the effect would've been more noticeable if i would've installed it after my suspension.

i really doubt there is much of a rigidity or strength difference between the powder coated bar and the chrome one.