BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text

Gadgetdad · 03-01-2008, 02:01 AM

If you would like to see pictures and the complete installation instructions from BT Tech, click on this: BT Strut Tower Brace Install (by Gadgetdad) - a photoset on Flickr

This is a fairly easy installation that requires a few common tools and a torque wrench. I installed mine and took pictures in about an hour.

The Strut Brace looks sharp and fits perfectly in the tight engine compartment. The handling feels much more responsive and precise with definite improvement in cornering and any "slalom" maneuvers. Well done, BT Technologies!

Lee

Bill Merchant · 03-01-2008, 02:39 AM

Thanks for the great pics and comments, Lee!

Boo · 03-01-2008, 02:42 AM

Thanks Lee. The photos with text are great.

**efusco** · 03-01-2008, 06:23 AM

Well done...any photos you want me to take to add to the set when I do my install?

donee · 03-01-2008, 09:48 AM

Hi All,

Gadget..., those are great pictures. While looking at them I had an idea. It would be nice for maintenance to have the nuts on the rear end of the flanges that the bar drops down into be captured. That way, one could just pull the long bolts out from the front, and lift the bar out of the bracket and pull it forward and out of the car.

This could be done with a block of aluminum alloy, possibly. The block would have a hex pocket, and on axis through-hole. It would also have slots to position it over the flange. Another way would be a hex through-hole, with pins at the far end to keep the nut captured.

Ford did allot of this type of thing on the Tempo. Which made it easy to work on. I specifically remember the exhaust system had nuts with long tangs welded on. So, one could just crank the bolt and the tang would wip around till it caught on something and the bolt would unthread. I was able to replace the whole exhaust system on that car in a about an hour thanks to these devices.

Gadgetdad · 03-01-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efusco

Well done...any photos you want me to take to add to the set when I do my install?

Thanks... I wish I had taken a close-up of the strut brace flange where the bar bolts on. Also as I was getting finished with the install, my excitement grew and I didn't take as many shots of the replacing of the various removed parts. It may be good to note any maintenance things to do while you have the covers removed... like cleaning up the debris or even installing an EBH from the top side.

Lee

jammin012 · 03-01-2008, 03:54 PM

Beautiful install. I started getting worried after the first few pics thinking "this was supposed to be an "easy" install?". Turns out it seams that way. Hand it to BT, that is one great looking install and goes very well with the look under the hood. If you didn't know, you could almost miss it.

BT Tech · 03-03-2008, 11:29 PM

Thanks Gadgetdad for your in-depth review and for taking the time to post great pictures of your installation. Your install looks awesome!!

Bobbyb · 03-06-2008, 08:20 AM

Much thanks for the pics and your time .

mrichman · 03-18-2008, 12:14 AM

Would adding Tom's front lower brace in conjunction with the BT upper front brace add rigidity over just the front upper brace? Any drawbacks to doing so (other than to my bank account)? Do the BT folks plan on a lower brace for the front or rear?

Mike

03-01-2008, 02:01 AM	#1
Gadgetdad Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Modesto, California Posts: 300 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text If you would like to see pictures and the complete installation instructions from BT Tech, click on this: BT Strut Tower Brace Install (by Gadgetdad) - a photoset on Flickr This is a fairly easy installation that requires a few common tools and a torque wrench. I installed mine and took pictures in about an hour. The Strut Brace looks sharp and fits perfectly in the tight engine compartment. The handling feels much more responsive and precise with definite improvement in cornering and any "slalom" maneuvers. Well done, BT Technologies! Lee Last edited by Gadgetdad; 05-31-2008 at 02:34 AM. Reason: Double word

03-01-2008, 02:39 AM	#2
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 3,962 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 6 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 53	Re: BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text Thanks for the great pics and comments, Lee!

03-01-2008, 02:42 AM	#3
Boo Boola Boola Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,399 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 13	Re: BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text Thanks Lee. The photos with text are great.

03-01-2008, 06:23 AM	#4
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,226 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	Re: BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text Well done...any photos you want me to take to add to the set when I do my install?

03-01-2008, 09:48 AM	#5
donee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,536 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text Hi All, Gadget..., those are great pictures. While looking at them I had an idea. It would be nice for maintenance to have the nuts on the rear end of the flanges that the bar drops down into be captured. That way, one could just pull the long bolts out from the front, and lift the bar out of the bracket and pull it forward and out of the car. This could be done with a block of aluminum alloy, possibly. The block would have a hex pocket, and on axis through-hole. It would also have slots to position it over the flange. Another way would be a hex through-hole, with pins at the far end to keep the nut captured. Ford did allot of this type of thing on the Tempo. Which made it easy to work on. I specifically remember the exhaust system had nuts with long tangs welded on. So, one could just crank the bolt and the tang would wip around till it caught on something and the bolt would unthread. I was able to replace the whole exhaust system on that car in a about an hour thanks to these devices. Last edited by donee; 03-01-2008 at 09:53 AM.

03-01-2008, 03:54 PM	#7
jammin012 The man behind The Man Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cali Posts: 494 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text Beautiful install. I started getting worried after the first few pics thinking "this was supposed to be an "easy" install?". Turns out it seams that way. Hand it to BT, that is one great looking install and goes very well with the look under the hood. If you didn't know, you could almost miss it.

03-03-2008, 11:29 PM	#8
BT Tech Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 870 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Re: BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text Thanks Gadgetdad for your in-depth review and for taking the time to post great pictures of your installation. Your install looks awesome!!

03-06-2008, 08:20 AM	#9
Bobbyb bobbyb Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island Posts: 62 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: Pioneer #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text Much thanks for the pics and your time .

03-18-2008, 12:14 AM	#10
mrichman Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 20 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: BT Tech Strut Tower Brace install pictures and Text Would adding Tom's front lower brace in conjunction with the BT upper front brace add rigidity over just the front upper brace? Any drawbacks to doing so (other than to my bank account)? Do the BT folks plan on a lower brace for the front or rear? Mike

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