impreza strut bars on a BD

[ah_alex_]

I just recieved the strut bars i ordered from ebay, http://cgi.ebay.ca/Subaru-96-97-98-99-0 ... dZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.ca/Subaru-96-97-98-99-00-94-01-Impreza-Strut-Bar-2p-Bars_W0QQitemZ320068641255QQihZ011QQcategoryZ33591QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
.super easy to install the front bar, took me only about an hour and thats with drilling out the holes on the black bracket to make everything fit under the hood. i havent tried the rear yet. pretty good bargain for both as long as the rear fits. just the front one is available for purchase as well. I would recommend it. I took it for a drive after and noticed an improvement, more streering response, less body roll.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/01/DSC01642-1.jpg
on the passenger side the black bracket sits on top of a metal A/C pipe. Not sure if its bad for it but my A/C doesnt work so i dont care

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/01/DSC01641-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/01/DSC01640-1.jpg
now i just need new struts and sway bars!!

[d1giPhux]

nice! So the stock holes drilled on the strut bar did not work? How off were they? What size drill bit did you use.. do you know? Also, were you not able to move the AC line. Hmm, i thought these would have been the same oem fit as on an impreza.. but at least i know now! Looks good man! :cool:

[ah_alex_]

the stock holes were off just enough that the bar wouldnt fit under the hood so i took a drill bit that would fit in the hole and kind of made the circle into an oval. i didnt even try moving the line, i just went right over top :lol:
do you know where the tops of the rear stuts are. i was looking in the trunk and removed some of the trunk liner and couldnt find the top. I was going to check the haynes manual but if you know it could save m e some time. \
thanks

[d1giPhux]

Thats cool.. so you dont think it will really move around any because of the oval shape? Also, why would the holes being off cause the bar to not fit in the engine bay.. was it that the strut bar could not fit under the hood, or what?

Here is the rear suspension removal PDF.. might help you a bit :

www.designlabx.com/subaru/suspension/MSA5TCD99L236.pdf (http://www.designlabx.com/subaru/suspension/MSA5TCD99L236.pdf)

[Huffer]

that doesn't look quite right - the bar should fit on perfectly?

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/08/050928_EngineBay-1.jpg

Looks like your AC line was replaced at some point, probably with a non-OEM part...

[d1giPhux]

cant you just move that line out of the way.. or is it like held down? What type of bar you got there huffer?

[blackgtbeauty]

So I'm NOT the only person with my washer fluid tank taped in!

[ah_alex_]

So I'm NOT the only person with my washer fluid tank taped in!
:lol: i'm just glad im not the only one. I'll fix it eventually :roll:
and i think you have a different bar than me Huffer. the drilling out of the holes was very minor so im not worried. Its because i had to rotate the bar towards the interior instead of having it point straight up like an arch(if this doesnt make sense to anyone let me know) so it could clear the hood. minimal drilling was needed

[Huffer]

What type of bar you got there huffer?

El-cheapo ebay bar for 93-01 Impreza. $20 shipped.

[d1giPhux]

What type of bar you got there huffer?

El-cheapo ebay bar for 93-01 Impreza. $20 shipped.

Werd.. but you didnt have to drill your holes out at all? Do you have a rear strut bar?

[Huffer]

What type of bar you got there huffer?

El-cheapo ebay bar for 93-01 Impreza. $20 shipped.

Werd.. but you didnt have to drill your holes out at all? Do you have a rear strut bar?

No - and no.
Perfect fit first time.

I have a feeling that the bar ah_alex got would fit with some adjusting on the bar itself (mine has a bar that unscrews a little to cope with the extra width on the Legacy) and the correct AC line.

[d1giPhux]

yea.. looks like his is the same type of bar.. because i had one like that on my crx and you could unscrew the actual bar from the mounts to make it have more room and such.. hmm, debating picking one of these up.. and maybe a rear too.. but maybe just the front first!

[Huffer]

but maybe just the front first!

I wouldn't bother with the front. I actually took mine off when I did the suspension on my car last week, haven't bothered to put it back on.

I would do a rear strut brace first, next time. But, with nearly 200k on the car, I can't be bothered spending the money. Better to put it toward the next wagon.

[d1giPhux]

Why not do the front? Hmm, i think it would improve things a bit over stock.. plus, the rear ones seem like a bitch / time consuming to put in. Dont you have to cut the plastic in the rear too.. or maybe not?

[Huffer]

Ok... here we go again...

Front strut towers are VERY close to the thickest, most rigid piece of metal - the firewall.

Rear strut towers are only joined by the metal supporting the rear seats and the rear parcel tray.

[shazapple]

Ya really.

If you dont trust the firewall to hold all that stress, why are people putting these ebay tinfoil specials on their cars, complete with oversized strut holes, incomplete strut mounts, and probably the cheapest metal money can't buy

[d1giPhux]

Ya really.

If you dont trust the firewall to hold all that stress, why are people putting these ebay tinfoil specials on their cars, complete with oversized strut holes, incomplete strut mounts, and probably the cheapest metal money can't buy

Because its cheap.. and probably offers SOME upgrade over stock. Mostly because its cheap though.

[rougeben83]

Ya really.

If you dont trust the firewall to hold all that stress, why are people putting these ebay tinfoil specials on their cars, complete with oversized strut holes, incomplete strut mounts, and probably the cheapest metal money can't buy

Better than spending $200 for something that serves the same non-functional purpose :wink:

[ah_alex_]

Ya really.

If you dont trust the firewall to hold all that stress, why are people putting these ebay tinfoil specials on their cars, complete with oversized strut holes, incomplete strut mounts, and probably the cheapest metal money can't buy

Better than spending $200 for something that serves the same non-functional purpose :wink:

exactly, cheap and i have noticed some difference, im hoping it will make more of a difference when i do struts and swaybars.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Better than spending $200 for something that serves the same non-functional purpose :wink:

For the front, anyways...if you have a wagon, it'll be pretty nice in the rear.

No sick jokes.

[rougeben83]

Better than spending $200 for something that serves the same non-functional purpose :wink:

For the front, anyways...if you have a wagon, it'll be pretty nice in the rear.

No sick jokes.

lol Mark likes it from be...Nevermind :grin:

Yeah, the reply was regarding the front brace...I think it's pretty well regarded that the rear brace does make a difference for wagons though.