Hi guys. So i just installed my Tanabe front strut bar and the bar is making noise when im driving. I'm thinking this is just the bar working(flexing) when i drive but i dont know. The bar is on there pretty tight. when i was attaching the bar to the mounting bracket, the hole wouldnt line up perfectly so that i could stick the bolt through. i acually had to pull the bar closer the the mounting bracket so the holes would line up. Than when i got the bolt in, i dropped the car back down. So i think theres alot of tension on the bar, thats what a strut bar is for though right? So will i continue to hear the noise when i drive? will it stretch out or settle in and stop making noise? or should i adjust the bar and make it longer so that the holes will match up perfectly, than re-attach it to the mounting bracket so there isnt as much tension on the bar? Sorry that was really long but info would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot!

 

there shouldn't be tension on the bar. It's there to keep the two shock towers from flexing, not pulling together. If the holes didn't line up, u can actually unscrew the threaded ends to give it some length for it to reach. I'd recommend going back and removing the bar and releasing the tension and then putting it back on.

 

once again kev, you have saved me! and yeah that makes alot of sense. I know i can extend it by turning it once but i wanted to keep it tight. but not being meant to pull the towers together makes alot of sense too. so ill probably extend the bar than re-attach it. i took it for a test drive and i did feel less body roll. thanks for the info kev!

 

So last night i extended bar by twisting it once, than the bolt fit through the holes perfectly and i bolted the bar and the bracket by together. Just now while driving to work i still heard some noise in the front. Is this still normal? it sounds like metal rubbing or something. its weird. I mostly hear it when i start off on 1st gear. any ideas?

 

werd. there is no noise on my cusco or any of the STB's i installed through the
years...

 

yeah its weird . it kinda sounds like the noise my car makes if i kinda hit a big dip, since i didnt trim my bumpstops after installing my springs. oh on more thing. each bracket has 3 bolts, so 6 total. one of sides is missing one, so one side only has 2 because i dropped the nut and lost it. could this be the reason for the noise?

 

Any pics?...

 

ill try to take a picture tonight. thanks guys

 

up date. I'm also hearing rattling up front while starting off in 1st gear. result of the missing bolt possibly? =[

 

You're missing a bolt?

 

yeah . there are 3 bolts per side that mount the bracket. i dropped the nut and washer and it didnt fall on the ground so its either on the tranny somewhere or fell off while i was driving. So one side only has 2 bolts. The noise i hear is kind of like rattling or a rubbing noise. maybe the part that isnt bolted down is moving?

 

That sure could cause the rattling noise.

 

I'm going to go to Home depot after work and get a replacement nut and washer and see if fastening down the last area will eliminate the problem. Hopefully! =/

 

You should try to find those missing parts.

 

yeah i was trying last night with a lamp/ but i couldnt see anything. so i have no idea where to start.

 

Do you have any of those long ass magnetic screwdrivers?

 

unfortunately i dont. I used to have one of those extending magnet thingies. but i think the nut and washer should be long gone by now. ive already driven to work, lunch, work, to get gas. So im just gona bring the bolt and washer to home depot, and find a nut to fit the bolt and find more of the washers. hope i dont drop it again, that little tiny area was so hard to thread the nut on the bolt.

 

Yup. Gotta be careful with those little bastards.

 

haha. true dat. thanks dude