Fitting a strut Brace (pics)

  1. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Yorkshire Posts: 5415 Saxo
    #1
    Took about 15 Minutes, and was dead easy. Its the version that goes behind the washer bottle;


    Step 1 - Unscrew the two bolts holding the red thing (fuel cut off switch)



    Step 2 - Get a small bolt, and bolt the red thing to this catch



    Step 3 - Undo the suspension strut bolts;



    Ste 4 - Position your strut brace and tighten it up to make sure its not moving side to side. Then replace the bolts - Do tighten them up because if you didnt it wouldnt be good.

  2. Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP
    #2
    seems a good guide mate just a few things, some strut braces dont require relocation of the fuel cut off switch and the strut top bolts torque setting is 20 nm
  3. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2006 Dartford Kent Posts: 5251 Pug 1007 HDi Sport (daily) / Abarth 500
    #3
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Predator_VTR View Post
    seems a good guide mate just a few things, some strut braces dont require relocation of the fuel cut off switch and the strut top bolts torque setting is 20 nm
    Agree with Predator - Good Clear pictures, but not all braces need the fuel cut off switch moved. OMP and Sparco items need nothing to be moved
  4. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Yorkshire Posts: 5415 Saxo
    #4
    Are those the ones that go infront of the pas fluid bottle? Or are their some that go straight across that work the same?

    Ty for the torque setting aswell.
  5. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5
    #5
    i was going to do one for lower brace but couldnt get the nuts off to put it on
  6. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Yorkshire Posts: 5415 Saxo
    #6
    Im getting one of the lower ones eventually, so i might check my bolts before i do lol!!!

    Do they sit lower than the bottom of the exhaust/manifold?
  7. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: May 2006 Kent Posts: 3669 Fiat Seicento, MK2 Furio 2000 X, Pug 206
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Steve_VTR View Post
    i was going to do one for lower brace but couldnt get the nuts off to put it on
    Are the nuts really that hard to get off? Think ill use some wd40 a few days before I get mine
  8. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2006 leciester United Kingdom (England) Posts: 720 Westie, Clio 172
    #8
    nuts are easypeasy to get off mate. mine were any way. if they act up get some WD40 on them and then if they are still playing up get a blow lamp or heat gun to warm them up and that should do the trick. loosey goosey!! make sure you do it on level ground as well and deffo don't jack the car up to do this.
  9. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: May 2006 Kent Posts: 3669 Fiat Seicento, MK2 Furio 2000 X, Pug 206
    #9
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jablitt View Post
    nuts are easypeasy to get off mate. mine were any way. if they act up get some WD40 on them and then if they are still playing up get a blow lamp or heat gun to warm them up and that should do the trick. loosey goosey!! make sure you do it on level ground as well and deffo don't jack the car up to do this.
    dont you need to jack the car up to get to the nuts?
  10. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2006 leciester United Kingdom (England) Posts: 720 Westie, Clio 172
    #10
    oh right, are we talking about a lower strut brace then! lol, sorry. ive never tackled one of them so i wouldn't know mate. definatly try the heat gun trick though, get the bolts/nuts really warm and it deffo makes a difference! the expansion causes the threads to widen and they are easier to undo!
  11. Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP
    #11
    yes you have to jack the car up for the lower brace, put it on axle stands as always though
  12. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Yorkshire Posts: 5415 Saxo
    #12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Predator_VTR View Post
    yes you have to jack the car up for the lower brace, put it on axle stnds as always though
    Yea, we dont want any squashed sax-p members now do we....
  13. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 aylesbury buckinghamshire Posts: 4822 Astra Turbo, saxo vts, punto turbo
    #13
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ste_1 View Post
    Yea, we dont want any squashed sax-p members now do we....
    i was working on a car at the scrap yard, had it jacked up but had no axel stands so instead i put the spare steel wheel under the sill and it was lucky i did because while i was under it the jack made a noise so i looked across at it and it was twisting the metal so i started getting out but "bang" it went while i was under it but it jsut fell on the steel wheel. so make sure u def use axel stands or something as it can happen to you
  14. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2007 Yorkshire Posts: 5415 Saxo
    #14
    Yea, my astra did similar... Although im suprised it didnt land on your chest before the rim....

    I didnt ave any stands so i used a steelie, but it was jacked up on a slight hill... i couldnt really see it. I was tightening up the heat sheild around the exhaust cause it was rattling.... Then almost instantly it just fell off the jack and hit the steelie...... i got a nice graze from squeezing out from under the car.....

    My dad had a right go at me for doing it!!!!!!
  15. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5
    #15
    the nuts on mine stuck solid, going to wd40 the living shit out of them, got to use spanners cant get in with a socket set!
    Will get it on, got clearance but not loads between the brace and the manifold