BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text

[MO Dale]

My BT Tech Strut Tower Brace arrived this past Friday just moments after I got home. After all the compliments of how nicely finished their bars were, I was a bit disappointed with mine, as it was pretty marked up. Of course, it's under the hood, so looks aren't important.

The install went well, but for having to spend 20 minutes fishing out a dropped washer. Even from the small amount of driving so far, I have to say the handling is much improved. Feels a lot stiffer. The only thing left will be new tires later on.

Here' comes the question. The bar appears to have plenty of clearance. Yet, it rests very closely over the back of the brake fluid reservoir, and near enough to the coolant cap, though it can be completely loosened, it cannot be removed. I tried flipping the bar, but went to zero clearance. Shouldn't I be able to remove the cap?

Thanks!

[Boo]

Originally Posted by MO Dale

....Here' comes the question. The bar appears to have plenty of clearance. Yet, it rests very closely over the back of the brake fluid reservoir, and near enough to the coolant cap, though it can be completely loosened, it cannot be removed. I tried flipping the bar, but went to zero clearance. Shouldn't I be able to remove the cap?

Thanks!

Yes, you should be able to remove all caps.

Here are pictures of mine installed (btw, isn't the reservoir in question the one that holds the inverter coolant?):



I have approximately 7/8" clearance between the bar and the [inverter] coolant cap:



With the 7/8" clearance and the curve and location of the strut bar a little behind the cap, I am able to tilt the cap enough to clear the reservoir opening:



Cap removed:




I would PM and/or call Brian of BT Tech.

[MO Dale]

Originally Posted by Boo

Yes, you should be able to remove all caps.

Here are pictures of mine installed (btw, isn't the reservoir in question the one that holds the inverter coolant?):

I have approximately 7/8" clearance between the bar and the [inverter] coolant cap:

With the 7/8" clearance and the curve and location of the strut bar a little behind the cap, I am able to tilt the cap enough to clear the reservoir opening:

I would PM and/or call Brian of BT Tech.

Thank you, Tom! After seeing your pictures I would say that my bar sits further forward, directly over the top of the reservoir cap. I'll get a message in about it.
Thanks again!

[wicastawakan]

I have several mods I will be getting completed soon & this info makes me anxious. I've slowly added a few mods as I've gone & soon to add the strut tower brace, chassis stiffening plate, block heater & EV switch. I also have the rear bumper guard & side molding to install. I'll be adding the suspension items at the same time, so it will be interesting to see if I notice much/any difference.

I have the parts or in transit as we speak. Hurry, hurry, hurry!! Please.....

[MO Dale]

Today, I finally got in a long drive. I love THE BAR! It makes amazing improvement to the handling. It's just so solid feeling now. Driving home today it was very windy. There was no drama for once. Sure there was some pushing from the crosswinds, but, it just wasn't as big a deal as before. Lanes could be changed quickly, and with confidence. I wasn't over-correcting the steering anymore, either. I think the Prius could actually go through a slolam course now! LOL

I'll say it again...I love THE BAR!

Thank you BT Tech!

[efusco]

Originally Posted by wicastawakan

I have several mods I will be getting completed soon & this info makes me anxious. I've slowly added a few mods as I've gone & soon to add the strut tower brace, chassis stiffening plate, block heater & EV switch. I also have the rear bumper guard & side molding to install. I'll be adding the suspension items at the same time, so it will be interesting to see if I notice much/any difference.

I have the parts or in transit as we speak. Hurry, hurry, hurry!! Please.....

What info makes you nervous about what?

[nickfromny]

BT make us a big stiff front replacement SWAY bar.
Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[windstrings]

Now that sounds like a manly drink!... Brian is the bartender!

[wicastawakan]

I didn't say anything about being nervous, I'm just looking forward to getting some changes completed. I am going with the Sigma Automotive EV switch that mounts in the factory space. I just curious how much the mods will change/improve ride, handling, etc. See, out here in the middle of nowhere, we look forward to things like this. Ha. I've spent some $ & now we'll see if it was worth it.

[CBarr31]

Originally Posted by BT Tech

No problem Chris... I installed your brace to test fittment so please let me know what you find and report back.

Good morning all. I FINALLY got around to attempting to install the replacement tower strut brace that Brian sent me many many moons ago. Sorry for the delay but it has been cold here and I have been in and out of the country on business.

Unfortunately it appears that North Carolina does not hold the same magical properties as Florida. When I unboxed the new tower strut brace from BT it had 2 Driver's Side Strut Brackets and no Passenger Side Strut bracket. I'm not exactly sure how Brian "installed your brace to test fitment" as he stated above.

Anyway, for those keeping score this is the 3rd BT Tower Strut Brace that I have attempted to install in my 2006 Prius. Every one of them has installed properly before this one but NONE have had enough clearance over the inverter coolant cap to allow it to be removed once the brace is installed.

It is hard to beleive that BT has had this many "quality" issues but it is just has hard to believe that my Prius is so "out of spec" from Toyota that the brace won't fit? Pretty much at a loss on this one. I PMed Brian yesterday to give him an update and tell him I would be returning the brace and was willing to try one more time with a 4th brace. I will post again after #4 arrives and let you know if it fit or not.

One thing I can STRONGLY advise against is trying to "modify" the brace or brackets to get them to fit. We tried to bend both the bar and the brackets at different times, add a little height to the brackets by welding on a washer, "tweak" the angles a little, etc... etc... and nothing worked. Trying to get the angles correct after making even minor adjustments was a nightmare. We probably could have gotten the tower strut brace to fit but it might have caused some undue stress on the strut bolts that the brackets are mounted to if we "forced" it so we didn't. Even if we could have made the brackets and bar fit it may not have fixed the cap clearance issue.

Anyway, that's my update on #3. I will post again when I receive and attempt to install #4. Wish me luck .

Happy driving,
Chris