rear strut tower bar

soundemon · 05-20-2007, 03:17 PM

anyone have experience installing this in an '06 WRX? just from a quick look the front strut tower bar looks quite straight forward to install, but I can't see where the rear one might go. It looks like there is no access to the top of the rear strut towers.

on the same lines: anyone with opinions on whats the best way to go, front, rear, or both? even stock I get understeer on hard cornering. I was looking at the Cobb tuning site, and they only offer the rear bar, not the front. just wondering if there's a good reason for this...
TIA!

highwayman · 05-20-2007, 06:27 PM

To install the rear you have to pull the rear seat back & the top of the struts are at the upper corners near the corresponding pillar. The front is basically for show & no real advantage to put one on based on the strut mount locations on the body (basically no flex here stock). The rear will improve structural stiffness some. As far as oversteer you're out of luck, the strut bars will have no effect on that. Look at swaybars & endlinks fr & rr and you'll see a night & day difference in handling. It'll still push when cornering hard though untill you learn to use your right foot to help steer. I personally went Cobb Stage 1 on the suspension Swaybars fr & rr, upgraded the end-links & rear strut bar (you'll love it). Best bang for the buck next to Stage 2. Do a search & you'll find an install here, I don't have the link, but you should pull it w/a search.

auto228 · 06-02-2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highwayman

The front is basically for show & no real advantage to put one on based on the strut mount locations on the body (basically no flex here stock).

Why the JDM STI all come with the front upper tower bar and Mitsu EVO come with stock one also?? They all make that for show only ???

DCH · 06-02-2007, 04:34 PM

GarageSpec.com has a picture of their BeatRush Rear Strut Bar that'll give you an idea as to how it's installed.

That Beatrush bar looks hella beefy!

highwayman · 06-03-2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auto228

Why the JDM STI all come with the front upper tower bar and Mitsu EVO come with stock one also?? They all make that for show only ???

Maybe do a search on front strut bar and you too would find out a front strut bar doesn't benefit our cars. The placement & angle of the strut towers are not a weak point for flex on our cars. I never stated for every car. Anyways thx for the info, SA. Why would I tell him to waste money on a front strut bar when he can spend that towards a real benefit like sway bars & endlinks.

***wdb*** · 06-03-2007, 01:47 PM

Yes do swaybars before a front strut tower bar, unless you're one of the many afflicted with the dreaded windshield creaking/cracking issue. Then get a front strut tower bar ASAP, any one will do.

RFFG · 08-08-2007, 10:11 AM

Bump*

I need to do my rear strut brace...

Does anyone know if there's a write up on this?

slyguySTI · 08-08-2007, 10:34 AM

the rear seat comes out real easy, the two bolts near the floor take off the bottom half, and there are bolts on the inside near the seat belts and then the top comes off, the seats weigh about 3 lbs total max.. real simple, hope that helps

***Novtec1*** · 08-08-2007, 12:55 PM

wife did her own took her all of 30 minutes from start to finish. pretty simple

RFFG · 08-09-2007, 12:00 PM

I'm doing it Saturday, I'll snap some pics

2dino · 08-10-2007, 07:42 AM

try this:

http://www.oakos.com/wrx/installs/RSTB/index.htm

wsirianni · 11-29-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highwayman

Maybe do a search on front strut bar and you too would find out a front strut bar doesn't benefit our cars. The placement & angle of the strut towers are not a weak point for flex on our cars. I never stated for every car. Anyways thx for the info, SA. Why would I tell him to waste money on a front strut bar when he can spend that towards a real benefit like sway bars & endlinks.

yes this is true this isnt a weak point for the sti but i always thought that the point of strut bars are to join th top of the shocks to make a square and make a stiffer car when turning so it doesnt flex

***VSGTS14*** · 11-29-2007, 01:38 PM

you're right but with our cars, the strut placement is right by the firewall which aids in the stiffness of them.

chitownsti07 · 12-01-2007, 07:10 AM

I just did my front strut tower bar, and it did make a diffrence!!! You can tell right away!!! Gotta try it before you knock it!!!! i did a tein bar (100. on ebay)

wsirianni · 12-01-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chitownsti07

I just did my front strut tower bar, and it did make a diffrence!!! You can tell right away!!! Gotta try it before you knock it!!!! i did a tein bar (100. on ebay)

same here i did my first on my sti and what a diff. i was a pain to put in because the ac lines but worth it

05-20-2007, 03:17 PM	#1
soundemon Amateur STI Driver Car: '06 WRX blue Fav Mod: Cobb Shortshifter + bushings Location: Newmarket ON Posts: 9 Join Date: May 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	rear strut tower bar anyone have experience installing this in an '06 WRX? just from a quick look the front strut tower bar looks quite straight forward to install, but I can't see where the rear one might go. It looks like there is no access to the top of the rear strut towers. on the same lines: anyone with opinions on whats the best way to go, front, rear, or both? even stock I get understeer on hard cornering. I was looking at the Cobb tuning site, and they only offer the rear bar, not the front. just wondering if there's a good reason for this... TIA! This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

05-20-2007, 06:27 PM	#2
highwayman Junior STI Driver Car: 06 STI Posts: 160 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: rear strut tower bar To install the rear you have to pull the rear seat back & the top of the struts are at the upper corners near the corresponding pillar. The front is basically for show & no real advantage to put one on based on the strut mount locations on the body (basically no flex here stock). The rear will improve structural stiffness some. As far as oversteer you're out of luck, the strut bars will have no effect on that. Look at swaybars & endlinks fr & rr and you'll see a night & day difference in handling. It'll still push when cornering hard though untill you learn to use your right foot to help steer. I personally went Cobb Stage 1 on the suspension Swaybars fr & rr, upgraded the end-links & rear strut bar (you'll love it). Best bang for the buck next to Stage 2. Do a search & you'll find an install here, I don't have the link, but you should pull it w/a search.

06-02-2007, 04:34 PM	#4
DCH Professional STI Racer Car: 2006 Aspen White STi Fav Mod: Q-Rack! Location: Southern California Posts: 727 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (4)	Re: rear strut tower bar GarageSpec.com has a picture of their BeatRush Rear Strut Bar that'll give you an idea as to how it's installed. That Beatrush bar looks hella beefy!

06-03-2007, 01:47 PM	#6
*wdb* dances with roads Posts: 4,909 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	Re: rear strut tower bar Yes do swaybars before a front strut tower bar, unless you're one of the many afflicted with the dreaded windshield creaking/cracking issue. Then get a front strut tower bar ASAP, any one will do.

08-08-2007, 10:11 AM	#7
RFFG Spec C Club Car: 1998 Impreza GF8 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 2,299 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: rear strut tower bar Bump* I need to do my rear strut brace... Does anyone know if there's a write up on this?

08-08-2007, 10:34 AM	#8
slyguySTI Spec C Club Car: 06 OBP Fav Mod: Catless....and smoke Location: Ft. Knox, KY Posts: 1,123 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (4)	Re: rear strut tower bar the rear seat comes out real easy, the two bolts near the floor take off the bottom half, and there are bolts on the inside near the seat belts and then the top comes off, the seats weigh about 3 lbs total max.. real simple, hope that helps

08-08-2007, 12:55 PM	#9
*Novtec1* STI PILOT Car: 07 STI,03 WRX,00 RS Fav Mod: MY GARAGE PERIOD Location: Lawton Oklahoma Posts: 263 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: rear strut tower bar wife did her own took her all of 30 minutes from start to finish. pretty simple

08-09-2007, 12:00 PM	#10
RFFG Spec C Club Car: 1998 Impreza GF8 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 2,299 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: rear strut tower bar I'm doing it Saturday, I'll snap some pics

08-10-2007, 07:42 AM	#11
2dino Junior STI Driver Car: 04 Posts: 109 Join Date: Aug 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: rear strut tower bar- try this: http://www.oakos.com/wrx/installs/RSTB/index.htm

11-29-2007, 01:38 PM	#13
*VSGTS14* Muller Chevrolet Car: 05 WRB STi Fav Mod: fp green Location: Milford, NJ Posts: 9,621 Join Date: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (8)	Re: rear strut tower bar you're right but with our cars, the strut placement is right by the firewall which aids in the stiffness of them.

12-01-2007, 07:10 AM	#14
chitownsti07 Lurker Car: 07 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: huntley illinois Posts: 3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: rear strut tower bar I just did my front strut tower bar, and it did make a diffrence!!! You can tell right away!!! Gotta try it before you knock it!!!! i did a tein bar (100. on ebay)