SPT Front Strut Tower Bar - 2008 STI

Slimey · 06-30-2008, 06:59 PM

Just installed this. I have not seen one of the SPT versions posted yet. I got it from Subarugenuineparts last week -- I think it's only been available a month or so. It's all powdercoated gray and I cannot tell if steel or aluminum. SPT claimed it is aluminum center bar with steel rings on top of the strut towers. Didn't weigh too much.

Super easy install.

Torque for front strut tower fasteners is 14.5 ft-pounds. Torque for bar bolts is 35 ft-pounds. Sorry for the night time photo - but I'm sure you've seen these before.

It clears almost everything....it does rub against this hose that goes to the brake booster. Looks like I'll also have to remove it to access the brake or clutch fluid reservoirs.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Does this hose flex a lot while driving? It looks like it connects the intake manifold to the brake booster - is this a vacuum line to the booster?

It rubs this wire cover (to the wiper motor?). I doubt this flexes at all while driving and am not concerned here.

Given the strength of unibody construction I've thought of these more as engine compartment bling then anything real significant in the steering department. That being said, I took for a quick test drive after install. I <<think>> that there might be a hair less understeer. Could I be hallucinating?

RFFG · 06-30-2008, 08:15 PM

Looks good

mattjk · 06-30-2008, 08:20 PM

any strut bar that ties together a macpherson strut has to help somewhat. some cars more than others.

strut bars that tie together double wishbone with a subframe? purely bling.

alex911s · 06-30-2008, 08:24 PM

Great job I love it.. I'll check the site

GhoSStRyda · 07-01-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slimey

Given the strength of unibody construction I've thought of these more as engine compartment bling then anything real significant in the steering department. That being said, I took for a quick test drive after install. I <<think>> that there might be a hair less understeer. Could I be hallucinating?

that brace looks really good! do you mind me asking how much it was? i have the cusco brace and i really couldn't tell a difference after it was installed. i think i felt the steering to be tighter? but i too could be hallucinating! as mattjk said, its pure bling.

btw, i doubt those hoses will pose any problems. but you might want to protect the area that touching the brace in case it wears the hose down with time.

Slimey · 07-01-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhoSStRyda

that brace looks really good! do you mind me asking how much it was? i have the cusco brace and i really couldn't tell a difference after it was installed. i think i felt the steering to be tighter? but i too could be hallucinating! as mattjk said, its pure bling.

btw, i doubt those hoses will pose any problems. but you might want to protect the area that touching the brace in case it wears the hose down with time.

$182.35 + shipping from SubaruGenuineParts

***Bownse*** · 07-01-2008, 06:45 PM

Did the Cusco strut bars and the best test was a sweeper on the way to work that has a set of street-level rr tracks right at the apex of the curve. Hitting them "at speed" results in the car having a much flatter reaction (stays on track with no side stepping or body roll) than without the struts.

It's a more nuanced change than beefier anti-sway bars would be, but there is a difference.

2008 Subaru WRX STi - Cusco Front Strut Brace Installation

looks like there's more clearance of the fluid reserviours than on the SPT design.

Slimey · 07-01-2008, 07:36 PM

Interesting - from the pics, the Cusco is set above the rear plastic flange on the engine compartment, and SPT is placed just below it.

Just putting the pics together for future reference.

hmmm...SPT is aluminum & steel & $182 (SubaruGenuineParts)

and the Cusco OS is aluminum & steel & $160 (RallySportDirect)

Slimey · 07-02-2008, 07:27 PM

Picked up some plastic electrical conduit (~$2 for 7 feet) from Home Despot on the way home today. Trimmed about a two inch length and partially covered the hose to the booster to keep from rubbing. Secured with zip tie.

Our engine compartment really gets hot. The strut tower bar was quite hot to touch (guessing ~120º - 130ºF) just from the home commute.

06-30-2008, 06:59 PM	#1
Slimey Junior STI Driver Car: 2008 DGM STI Fav Mod: Fuel Location: Near Milwaukee Posts: 131 Join Date: Apr 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	SPT Front Strut Tower Bar - 2008 STI Just installed this. I have not seen one of the SPT versions posted yet. I got it from Subarugenuineparts last week -- I think it's only been available a month or so. It's all powdercoated gray and I cannot tell if steel or aluminum. SPT claimed it is aluminum center bar with steel rings on top of the strut towers. Didn't weigh too much. Super easy install. Torque for front strut tower fasteners is 14.5 ft-pounds. Torque for bar bolts is 35 ft-pounds. Sorry for the night time photo - but I'm sure you've seen these before. It clears almost everything....it does rub against this hose that goes to the brake booster. Looks like I'll also have to remove it to access the brake or clutch fluid reservoirs. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Does this hose flex a lot while driving? It looks like it connects the intake manifold to the brake booster - is this a vacuum line to the booster? It rubs this wire cover (to the wiper motor?). I doubt this flexes at all while driving and am not concerned here. Given the strength of unibody construction I've thought of these more as engine compartment bling then anything real significant in the steering department. That being said, I took for a quick test drive after install. I <<think>> that there might be a hair less understeer. Could I be hallucinating? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad. Last edited by Slimey : 06-30-2008 at 07:26 PM.

06-30-2008, 08:15 PM	#2
RFFG Spec C Club Car: 1998 Impreza GF8 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 2,384 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: SPT Front Strut Tower Bar - 2008 STI Looks good

06-30-2008, 08:20 PM	#3
mattjk Grassroots STI Racer Car: 2008 wrx sti wrb Fav Mod: brown chicken brown cow Posts: 522 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: SPT Front Strut Tower Bar - 2008 STI any strut bar that ties together a macpherson strut has to help somewhat. some cars more than others. strut bars that tie together double wishbone with a subframe? purely bling.

06-30-2008, 08:24 PM	#4
alex911s Silver Member Car: 2008 Sti Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 117 Join Date: Jun 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: SPT Front Strut Tower Bar - 2008 STI Great job I love it.. I'll check the site

07-01-2008, 06:45 PM	#7
*Bownse* Platinum Member Car: 08 Gray STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: USA Posts: 727 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: SPT Front Strut Tower Bar - 2008 STI Did the Cusco strut bars and the best test was a sweeper on the way to work that has a set of street-level rr tracks right at the apex of the curve. Hitting them "at speed" results in the car having a much flatter reaction (stays on track with no side stepping or body roll) than without the struts. It's a more nuanced change than beefier anti-sway bars would be, but there is a difference. 2008 Subaru WRX STi - Cusco Front Strut Brace Installation looks like there's more clearance of the fluid reserviours than on the SPT design.

07-01-2008, 07:36 PM	#8
Slimey Junior STI Driver Car: 2008 DGM STI Fav Mod: Fuel Location: Near Milwaukee Posts: 131 Join Date: Apr 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Comparison of SPT and Cusco Strut Tower Bars Interesting - from the pics, the Cusco is set above the rear plastic flange on the engine compartment, and SPT is placed just below it. Just putting the pics together for future reference. hmmm...SPT is aluminum & steel & $182 (SubaruGenuineParts) and the Cusco OS is aluminum & steel & $160 (RallySportDirect)

07-02-2008, 07:27 PM	#9
Slimey Junior STI Driver Car: 2008 DGM STI Fav Mod: Fuel Location: Near Milwaukee Posts: 131 Join Date: Apr 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: SPT Front Strut Tower Bar - 2008 STI Picked up some plastic electrical conduit (~$2 for 7 feet) from Home Despot on the way home today. Trimmed about a two inch length and partially covered the hose to the booster to keep from rubbing. Secured with zip tie. Our engine compartment really gets hot. The strut tower bar was quite hot to touch (guessing ~120º - 130ºF) just from the home commute. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.