Strut bar - To preload or not to preload that is the question - Toyota Yaris Forums

YarisSedan · 04-02-2009, 12:41 PM

So. I had the oppertunity to drive my car without preloading and then preloading the strut bar. Story goes was trying to install my strut bar in my driveway with only basic hand tools and my cars own floor jack. jacked up one side and put my hand under the fender and slipped the bolts in and tightend them from the top. I can say after going for a test drive it made a real big difference.

After driving for awile i put the car on a lift today and then took off one end of the strut bar and it was dificult to pull off. Once off it wouldnt go back in easily being it was under tension while being installed. But not the kind you would want. I could actually turn one of the ends maybe 4 full turns. Reinserted it back and tightend the nuts up. Now the bar is under a slight tension. Put the car back down and went for a spin. All i can say is wow. I couldnt belive that it owuld make that much difference.

If you dont have acess to a rack easy way is just jack up the front of the car to relive the load off the strut towers when you install the strut bar. It is worth the extra effort.

Brian · 04-02-2009, 01:23 PM

I was wondering if this would make a difference. Now I have to buy a strut tower bar.

YarisSedan · 04-02-2009, 05:18 PM

Yeah its well worth the money. Plus garm has them on sale now for $99 shipped!!!!!!!!!

Kaotic Lazagna · 04-02-2009, 08:55 PM

Tanabe recommends doing that too.

YarisSedan · 04-02-2009, 09:38 PM

Thats the bar that i have. I notice when i tried to remove the bolt after lifting it up. Its like it was trying to unload itself cause of the opposite tension from being installed and tensioned on the ground. Maybe about a 1/2 a inch of movement. I twisted the end of the strut bar several turns to take out that 1/2 inch slack now that its install that way its properly preloaded.

04-02-2009, 12:41 PM	#1
YarisSedan Drives: 08 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: California - Bay Area Posts: 2,773	Strut bar - To preload or not to preload that is the question So. I had the oppertunity to drive my car without preloading and then preloading the strut bar. Story goes was trying to install my strut bar in my driveway with only basic hand tools and my cars own floor jack. jacked up one side and put my hand under the fender and slipped the bolts in and tightend them from the top. I can say after going for a test drive it made a real big difference. After driving for awile i put the car on a lift today and then took off one end of the strut bar and it was dificult to pull off. Once off it wouldnt go back in easily being it was under tension while being installed. But not the kind you would want. I could actually turn one of the ends maybe 4 full turns. Reinserted it back and tightend the nuts up. Now the bar is under a slight tension. Put the car back down and went for a spin. All i can say is wow. I couldnt belive that it owuld make that much difference. If you dont have acess to a rack easy way is just jack up the front of the car to relive the load off the strut towers when you install the strut bar. It is worth the extra effort. __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3210549

04-02-2009, 01:23 PM	#2
Brian Drives: '07 Yaris turbo, '11 Juke Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 849	I was wondering if this would make a difference. Now I have to buy a strut tower bar. __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3875996

04-02-2009, 05:18 PM	#3
YarisSedan Drives: 08 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: California - Bay Area Posts: 2,773	Yeah its well worth the money. Plus garm has them on sale now for $99 shipped!!!!!!!!! __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3210549

04-02-2009, 09:38 PM	#5
YarisSedan Drives: 08 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: California - Bay Area Posts: 2,773	Thats the bar that i have. I notice when i tried to remove the bolt after lifting it up. Its like it was trying to unload itself cause of the opposite tension from being installed and tensioned on the ground. Maybe about a 1/2 a inch of movement. I twisted the end of the strut bar several turns to take out that 1/2 inch slack now that its install that way its properly preloaded. __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3210549

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DIY: Strut Tower Brace Bar	redyaris	DIY / Maintenance / Service	18	03-16-2014 06:52 PM
Do you HAVE to remove the wheels to install strut bar?	Yawesh	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	9	02-10-2009 02:35 PM
Installed the Tanabe Strut bar but had to remove my ground wire kit..	vacantj	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	6	10-01-2007 01:56 PM
Question about 2 kinds of TRD springs & rear strut bar	Astroman	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	3	06-18-2007 05:44 PM
C-ONE Front Strut Tower Bar - Installed & Impressions (Pics to Come)	bigsky2	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	20	01-10-2007 06:53 PM

04-02-2009, 08:55 PM	#4
Kaotic Lazagna View User's Garage Drives: '14 GT86, '08 Vitz Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Valley, CA Posts: 9,873	Tanabe recommends doing that too.