ever seen this before?, Apex'i Front Strut Bar Options

[azian_advanced]

i saw it online, it resembles closely to that of a Cusco strut bar

anyway, i was in absolute awe when i saw it.. thinking "whoa, never seen this before on a 6th gen"
it's not in the Parts Database, so i'm guessing it is now discontinued? or maybe atleast it's very rare.

here are some pics: (u can never get sick of pics..)








well, i just got it in earlier today, and because i haven't worked for 2 weeks straight due to an injury on my right leg, i had nothing else to do and i just HAD to install it!
you know how it is when you get a part you've been waiting to get... hehe



here it is installed:




unfortunately, the power steering reservoir is sort of in the way and now it's tilting slightly to the inside when the bar is in place.. i'm guessing it's located elsewhere on a gt-four. but let's just hope that the bar does it's job and doesn't push the reservoir any further during a hard turn or else i'll have a big problem.

also, since the bar is meant for an st205, it kinda bridges upward.. which makes the stock hood hard to close. but that's okay.... for now

[Bitter]

its hinged at either end which means the bar will twist and flex with the car and NOT keep the body rigid.

you can make your own bar with a little work and a few tools that will actually stiffen things and costs alot less. im making one soon for my prizm, i'll make a little thread when i'm done.

the stock bar is 3 point which is ALOT better than any 2 point bar. the shorter the bar spans the less it'll flex and the thinner and lighter the material can be.

This post has been edited by Bitter: Jun 22, 2006 - 9:20 PM

[azian_advanced]

i just got back from a quick test drive..
the car feels a lot more solid during turns than the stock bar did. with the stock bar, the car felt like the front chassis was still flexing during a hard turn which slows the car down but with this, it felt more rigid and solid which made turning quicker and more responsive.

and yes, the bar is hinged but it isn't hinged loosely. cuz then, what is the point in adding a strut bar? i believe they're hinged for easier installation and can be adjusted to spread to really tighten the gap between the struts..

a fully closed 3-point strut bar like TRD, JSpeed and C-ONE truly is better than any 2-point. however, the stock strut bar only has 2 members going diagonally from the firewall. with that said, the stock strut bar allows for better bracing during linear hard braking but the 2-point bar allows for better bracing while actually doing the turn.
but that's just my opinion..

[jdg371]

is there a possibel way to combine the stock sway bar and a straight bar making a full 3pt?

[Bitter]

is there a possibel way to combine the stock sway bar and a straight bar making a full 3pt?

its really easy, get a peice of pipe bent and welded to the stock bar.

[GT4WRC]

unfortunately, the power steering reservoir is sort of in the way and now it's tilting slightly to the inside when the bar is in place.. i'm guessing it's located elsewhere on a gt-four. but let's just hope that the bar does it's job and doesn't push the reservoir any further during a hard turn or else i'll have a big problem.

I find this quite worrying. Should you really be modding cars if you think that the brake fluid resevoir is where the power steering fluid goes?



PAS Fluid Reservoir
Brake Fluid Reservoir

Besides, forcing the brake reservoir over to one side means that it won't seat properly and that means a huge risk of leaks and even air getting into the system. That brace is obviously not meant to fiit your car. Simply bending (critical) parts out of the way is not the ideal solution to making things fit.

Gary

[devilsden97]

OMG! ^ the above post kills me lol

check your halogen fluid lately??? lol

easy mistake....others have made worse confusions (mostly me lol)

This post has been edited by devilsden97: Jun 23, 2006 - 7:21 PM

[azian_advanced]

woops... my bad. i didn't even read what it said on the plastic before making the assumption that it was the power steering reservoir.
thanks for clearing that up.. all i know is it's some kinda reservoir..
and Gary you're right, critical parts shouldn't be risked in order to make things fit..
so i think i'll put a couple washers beneath the strut bar to lift it a little? anybody want to make a suggestion to this?

it's just touching it but not bent over completely.. it's fine as it is now but if it flexes inwards by more than an inch, then maybe i'll have some problems.. but i truly doubt that'll happen.

[WH95TE]

My car doesnt even have one of those bars Should I get one?

[devilsden97]

My car doesnt even have one of those bars Should I get one?

dude its because u have an ST lol

Gt's came with a factory strut bar (as shown in the second picture under the A'pexi one)

St's did not. You can find gt ones for cheap.

[WH95TE]

My car doesnt even have one of those bars Should I get one?

dude its because u have an ST lol

Gt's came with a factory strut bar (as shown in the second picture under the A'pexi one)

St's did not. You can find gt ones for cheap.

I know That's why im asking if I should get one lol. Like is it even worth it?

[snapshotgt]

Gt's came with a factory strut bar (as shown in the second picture under the A'pexi one)

Not ALL GT(s) years came with braces -- i think 98-99 they stoped putting them on...

~snap

[devilsden97]

Gt's came with a factory strut bar (as shown in the second picture under the A'pexi one)

Not ALL GT(s) years came with braces -- i think 98-99 they stoped putting them on...

~snap

i stand corrected

[azian_advanced]

My car doesnt even have one of those bars Should I get one?

that depends on how you drive.. the more aggressive you drive, the more you can feel the difference...

do you want my stock one? errr... first, do STs even have the two holes on the firewall for where the stock bar bolts to?

This post has been edited by azian_advanced: Jun 24, 2006 - 12:33 AM

[celicasteve]

yes they do, tapped and everything. Theres just black cirlces on them

Steve

[WH95TE]

Yeah they have the holes for the front and rear bar.

[Tech9ine]

are you getting rid of your stock one cheap azn? I may take it from you, considering i'd jump on anything thats actually local for a change.

[azian_advanced]

^^ yeah sure.. it beats having to ship it out. especially for something that's large and isn't worth much $$$.

PM me an offer..