Strong Strut Bars Installation Tips

[XMetal]

I have to say that Paul and Strong Strut has been one of the better vendor that I've dealt with. I told Paul about the issue on a Sunday afternoon and he shipped out a thicker set of shims with additional hardware on Monday morning! That is awesome customer support! Just wished more vendors/companies would be like this.

Just installed the 1/8" shims (in place of the 1/16"). I'll give it a few weeks to see whether that is sufficient. Hopefully, I won't need to add the 1/16" on top of the 1/8".

Originally Posted by RBull

^great to see a vendor responding like this.

The only thing I didn't do is check the clearance with something like clay after installing the 1/8" shims. I did not notice any visible contact on the paint or hear anything unusual however.

Glad to hear that the 1/8" shims are working fine without clearance issue.

[RBull]

thanks. G/L with yours and post up if even more clearance is needed. Visibly I've got plenty from the bar to the pipe now.

Originally Posted by XMetal

I have to say that Paul and Strong Strut has been one of the better vendor that I've dealt with. I told Paul about the issue on a Sunday afternoon and he shipped out a thicker set of shims with additional hardware on Monday morning! That is awesome customer support! Just wished more vendors/companies would be like this.

Just installed the 1/8" shims (in place of the 1/16"). I'll give it a few weeks to see whether that is sufficient. Hopefully, I won't need to add the 1/16" on top of the 1/8".



Glad to hear that the 1/8" shims are working fine without clearance issue.

[45ACP]

When my car goes over a bump the air tube bounces up and hits the FSB. Previously the vendor commented that only 3 group buy participants brought this to his attention. This got me thinking -- any possibility that it is indicative of the engine mount bolts being loose resulting in more movement or play of the engine?

[RBull]

^do you know for sure the air tube is jumping up and making contact. You should be able to check the bolts especially on the passenger side for looseness.

According to others you should have other symptoms if they are.

[45ACP]

Yes, I can see where the air tube has been rubbing against the bottom of the FSB due to the black transference marks. I can also hear an audible clanging sound when the front of the car goes over a bump at speed -- something I did not experience before the installation. Strong Strut is sending 1/8" shims to help rectify the issue.

[RBull]

^G/L with shims. Worked for me.

[reyebe]

Originally Posted by XMetal

After contacting Paul, he sent me a set of 1/16" riser shim kit for the bar. That didn't do much. I still had to "grind" a bit more off the bar to provide more clearance. So, now, even with all the "mods" made to the bar, the tube will still make minor contact with the bar, but only on really bad roads with big bumps. May be I should have just gone with the OEM bar to begin with...But the SS bars are so beautifully made

Can't believed I ran into so many issues on my car with what should be a "simple" mod. Guessed I just don't have any luck with SS

We do not recommed the customer engage in any modifications to our product, nor do we ignore an issue voiced by a customer. If the thin plate was insufficient, the customer should have notified us and we would have sent a thicker plate. We have found the subject tube is not in exactly the same place on any two vehicles but the Strong-Strut fits about 98% of the cars right from the start. The remaining 2% we work with until the issue is corrected. We have recently changed the bend on the cross bar building in an added clearance factor and we believe this will solve the issue completely in the future. Paul & the Strong-Strut Team

[Diokaef]

Would I be able to get the new piece? I'm in my second set of shims 1/8 and 1/16 otherwise I feel like going back to stock even knowing that I really like your piece.

[reyebe]

please email us directly at pebeyer@cox.net
thank you
Paul

[Diokaef]

I pm'd you, the email did not work, Sorry

[reyebe]

Originally Posted by Diokaef

I pm'd you, the email did not work, Sorry

pebeyer@cox.net
or
480 513 3222

[Gyrian]

Count me in as having this issue as well.
I wish had found this thread earlier, as the sound was driving me nuts. I didn't think it was the strut bar at first because the problem didn't begin until a week after the install.

[RBull]

Looks like the 1/8" shim will do the trick for you.

[reyebe]

Originally Posted by Diokaef

I pm'd you, the email did not work, Sorry

The email address is correct and working properly. We also provided you our direct phone number, here it is again 480 513 3222. We are trying our best to help you with this issue and it is easily solved if you will simply contact us but we have not hear a word from you other than your post on the forum which solves nothing. PLEASE CONTACT US AND WE WILL WORK THIS OUT TO YOUR SATISFACTION. Thanks,

Paul

[Gyrian]

If you're experiencing the problem, definitely contact Paul directly.

My post above was concurrent with an e-mail I wrote him, and he surprised me by answering with a commitment to resolve everything to my satisfaction only a few minutes later.
This over a Sunday!.

Unbelievably responsive Vendor, the praise is well deserved.

[XMetal]

Hopefully, Paul sent you the 1/8" shim and maybe the 1/16" on top of that. The 1/16" shim plus my "grind" didn't work for me. The 1/8" plus my "grind" on the bar appears to be OK so far after about a month. Still have to wait and see as I haven't gone over any really "rough" roads yet.

[drbvac]

Strong has some great customer relations I must say and I love the black powder coated bars. For those of us north of the border in Canada there is also Cosmo Racing and although NO black they do have a polished aluminum which I bolted on in 1/2 an hour and no adjustments at all.

I was happy with the product and sent them pics of the install and - its my M coupe on their web site !

http://www.cosmoracing.com/productin...d=241&pid=2078

No money was paid for this endorsement - just another happy customer..

[Hairballs58]

Thanks to this thread, I finally found out what was knocking under my hood. I tighten every nut I could to get rid of the noise, but still it kept persisting!





Well checked my strut bar and bingo. Emailed Paul and much props to him, he mailed the larger shims with necessary hardware and instructions the same day. Once again zpost + Paul saves the day! Thanks guys!

[inTgr8r]

I finally got around to installing my Strong Strut bar.

Following are few things that I ran into and how I worked around them.
First, I did not contact Paul @ Strong Strut, mainly because I didn't want to wait around.
I know their product support is 1st rate, I just wasn't willing to wait.

I had the same clearance issues as some others have had here.

One thing that I noticed while installing was that the clearance looked fine with everything loosely fitted.
I thought I was good to go.

I first snugged ( not fully tightened) the rings, then the threaded bar bolt then the inner bolt & nut.
...everything still good.

I fully tightened the rings, then the outer bar bolts.
Then as I tightened down the inner bolt & nut I could see the bar draw down closer & closer to the tube on the engine.

This told me that the bar itself is not a problem, but that the plane (angle) of the rings to bar mating surface is off a bit, thus bowing the bar down.

I know Paul supplies spacers as req'd, but I thought a tapered shim would be the best solution.

Well, since it was a holiday and I didn't have a source to pick up a taper shim; I made my own.
I used 1/8 aluminum flat stock, put it in a vise and ground it down to a taper.

..my tapered shim.


bar installed & torqued down with tapered shim installed.
....tons of clearance.


I decided to check clearances to the bonnet.


....results
The middle still has lots of room.
The rings are the tightest for clearance.


One other thing of note.
IMO the washers used under the ring nuts are inadequate.
Note how this washer is dished after being torqued once.
IMO, I think this could lead to problems, so I will be replacing them with something more substantial.

[XMetal]

inTgr8r...Took you long enough to have it install Definitely admire your patience! Let us know what you come up with for the washer. I still preferred the OEM flange nut type...but have come up empty thus far

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by XMetal

inTgr8r...Took you long enough to have it install Definitely admire your patience!

lol.. at first it was mainly due to the car being in winter storage.
Then I had a bunch of other things to install as well.
The STB was last on the list because I wasn't too worried about getting it on until I had a track session coming up.

Let us know what you come up with for the washer. I still preferred the OEM flange nut type...but have come up empty thus far

Until I find something better, I'll probably just double them up for now.

[MakoBimmer1]

Originally Posted by Gyrian

Count me in as having this issue as well.
I wish had found this thread earlier, as the sound was driving me nuts. I didn't think it was the strut bar at first because the problem didn't begin until a week after the install.

Same here....Im having the exact same issue. Was considering removal but waiting to see what the final solution is.... Love the setup though!