TOM'S STRUT BRACE

[pri]

Received my Tom's strut tower brace but the instruction sheet is written in an Asian language.
I noticed there are torque specs listed but I can not make for which bolts. Also noticed there is some removal of parts required in order to access the strut towers.
Can anyone help?

[Presto]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pri @ Jul 18 2007, 10:07 AM) [snapback]480980[/snapback]</div>

Received my Tom's strut tower brace but the instruction sheet is written in an Asian language.
I noticed there are torque specs listed but I can not make for which bolts. Also noticed there is some removal of parts required in order to access the strut towers.
Can anyone help?
[/b]

Here are DocVijay's instructions taken from his mods thread. This is what I used to install my strut and it worked great:


1. Remove cap covering bolt on driver's side wiper and remove bolt. Unscrew the two black bolts on the passenger's side wiper. Now grab the wiper and pull at an angle. THe wiper arms are press fit on the studs, and you need to free them. Prying them up is not an option becuase it's all soft plastic underneath them. Simply pull at an angle, and they should pull off very easily. Set aside.

2. Open hood. Unclip the rubber weather strip from the front edge of the plastic cowl (8 clips). First the driver's side cowl will be removed. At the very edge is a plastic pin. Push up from underneath to get the pin to pop out. Now just grab the cowl and wiggle and pull towrds you and it should come right off. Repeat for the passenger side. Set aside.

3. Wiper motor. First unplug the motor wiring from the harness. Remove the 5 bolts and lift the entire wiper motor assembly out. Set aside.

4. Last step! Unscrew the two bolts from the realy box on the front of the black metal panel that was under the wiper motor. This is for easier access later. Remove the seven bolts holding the metal tray on. Two on each side and three along the middle. Do not try and remove the tray, as the harness is attached to it. Simply rotate it towards you to reach the three bolts.

5. Here comes the instgallation. Unscrew the three bolts on each shock tower. Put the corresponding bracket on each strut tower and replace the three bolts. Tighten. Halfway done!

6. Now flip the black tray back. Bolt on the relay box again. Place the strut bar oto the two brackets. It fits only one way, as the realy box is in the way. It is easier to screw the relay box back on to make sure you put the bar on correctly. Now once you are sure it's on right, put a bolt through each side. The bolt goes on from the back and the nut goes on the front. Insert an 8mm allen wrench into the bolt and tighten. Don't forget the washers!

7. Now reinstall each piece as it was removed. For the wipers, place the arms over the studs loosely and hold it in the right place on the windshield. Now screw on each bolt as you hold the wiper arm in the correct place.

8. Celebrate and take pictures. Then get out and DRIVE!

[pri]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jul 18 2007, 12:42 PM) [snapback]481007[/snapback]</div>

Here are DocVijay's instructions taken from his mods thread. This is what I used to install my strut and it worked great:
1. Remove cap covering bolt on driver's side wiper and remove bolt. Unscrew the two black bolts on the passenger's side wiper. Now grab the wiper and pull at an angle. THe wiper arms are press fit on the studs, and you need to free them. Prying them up is not an option becuase it's all soft plastic underneath them. Simply pull at an angle, and they should pull off very easily. Set aside.

2. Open hood. Unclip the rubber weather strip from the front edge of the plastic cowl (8 clips). First the driver's side cowl will be removed. At the very edge is a plastic pin. Push up from underneath to get the pin to pop out. Now just grab the cowl and wiggle and pull towrds you and it should come right off. Repeat for the passenger side. Set aside.

3. Wiper motor. First unplug the motor wiring from the harness. Remove the 5 bolts and lift the entire wiper motor assembly out. Set aside.

4. Last step! Unscrew the two bolts from the realy box on the front of the black metal panel that was under the wiper motor. This is for easier access later. Remove the seven bolts holding the metal tray on. Two on each side and three along the middle. Do not try and remove the tray, as the harness is attached to it. Simply rotate it towards you to reach the three bolts.

5. Here comes the instgallation. Unscrew the three bolts on each shock tower. Put the corresponding bracket on each strut tower and replace the three bolts. Tighten. Halfway done!

6. Now flip the black tray back. Bolt on the relay box again. Place the strut bar oto the two brackets. It fits only one way, as the realy box is in the way. It is easier to screw the relay box back on to make sure you put the bar on correctly. Now once you are sure it's on right, put a bolt through each side. The bolt goes on from the back and the nut goes on the front. Insert an 8mm allen wrench into the bolt and tighten. Don't forget the washers!

7. Now reinstall each piece as it was removed. For the wipers, place the arms over the studs loosely and hold it in the right place on the windshield. Now screw on each bolt as you hold the wiper arm in the correct place.

8. Celebrate and take pictures. Then get out and DRIVE!
[/b]

Presto-Wow! Thanks your awesome!

[pencil pusher]

I'm a newbie and would like to know what the Tom's strut tower brace is exactly.

Thanks!!

[pri]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pencil pusher @ Jul 19 2007, 07:27 AM) [snapback]481507[/snapback]</div>

I'm a newbie and would like to know what the Tom's strut tower brace is exactly.

Thanks!!
[/b]

No problem. The strut tower brace is a metal bar that gets attached to the top of the front stut tower shocks located under the hood. The purpose of this support brace is that it 'ties' the two towers together preventing the two shock towers from flexing during turns. This prevention of flexing stiffens the front suspension offering better handling. It is considered more of a performance handling accessory. However, more manufactures are installing them as standard parts on alot of vehicles. For example, my other vehicle, Toyota Highalnder, has the strut brace from the factory. The only difference is that it's a black piece of bracket. The after market bars are painted a pretty color or chrome. I hope this helped.