I am planning on purchasing the Cusco Rear Strut Tower Brace. I was just wondering where it goes and what is required in installing it?

Jason

You just remove the rear seats, unbolt the seatbelts, put the mounts in, bolt them down (15ft/lbs) and then pop the trunk (don't forget to replace the seatbelts and the rear seats and then bolt on the rear bar portion, torque to 15 ft/lbs and there ya go!

Phil

I did mine 2 weeks ago, you must remove the rear seat, seatbelt tensioners and the rear deck, then you unbolt the three bolts (12mm) at the top of the struts. Unbolt the mounts from the strut bar, place the mounts on the three bolts with the hook pointing down through the hole in the body into the trunk (you may have to remove some insulation to open up the hole), then replace the bolts (12mm) and tighten to 11-15 ft-lbs. Replace the rear deck, seat belt tensioners and rear seat. Take the strut bar and bolts and open the trunk, look in the top rear corners and you will see the hooks pointing through the hole in the body. Install bar, tighten bolts and your done!

Thanks guys!

Jason

Only 15 ft/lbs!? Uh oh. I put mine on and torqued the bolts down as hard as I could with a six inch socket wrench, in fact, it probably should be done that way to properly secure the struts in the tower.

Only 15 ft/lbs!? Uh oh. I put mine on and torqued the bolts down as hard as I could with a six inch socket wrench, in fact, it probably should be done that way to properly secure the struts in the tower.

BE CAREFUL Delectron. Those bolts are NOT supposed to be torqued down very heavily. I'm surprised you didn't snap any of them when you did your install. 15ft/lbs is probably what the manufacturer's spec is, although I've never checked. THIS GOES FOR THE FRONT STRUT TOWERS AS WELL. When I first played with my suspension in the rear I made the mistake of over-torquing one of the bolts and snapped it clean off; didn't even take much pressure.

Greg I.

How do you check this-"15 ft/lbs"?

You gotta buy yourself a torque wrench - INVALUABLE - and the only way to do certain things properly.

delectron, 14 ft-lbs IS the spec for those tower bolts!! You better back them off! *SNAP*

if one was to install the rear tower brace and didnt have a torque wrench.. how much elbow grease is one to use? http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smile.gif

"if one was to install the rear tower brace and didnt have a torque wrench.. how much elbow grease is one to use?"

Answer : enough elbow grease to drive down to your local hardware or tools store and buy yourself a $15 torque wrench... : P

Sorry to jump on the joke but it's true... You NEED a torque wrench to do any or this stuff... just like trying to judge the tire pressures with a swift kick and a look to see if it bulges out : ) NO GOOD!

->>> MrP0nch0 <<<-

Yes, but what is the improvement?