ke20sprinter
Member
- :
- Daily Driver Protege5
Ripper323 said:
Please show pictures when you're done...that would be great to see.
Wil
Installing P5 rear strut bar??
- Thread starter mazdaspeed777
- Start date
Please show pictures when you're done...that would be great to see.
Wil
No worries Wil, I was actually supposed to go and TIG weld the top bits up today, but the guy whose welder I was going to use has to go somewhere, so it will be sometime next week when I get the welding done. But I will definitely post up pics, and comments about how it works.ke20sprinter said:
urbanbiker
Member
- :
- 2003 MP5
hey guys,
Just got the Megan Racing bar in the mail and installed it. I don't have any rear panels in the interior so it was a 5 minute job. Needed to use the washer on the center stud on the strut tower and then two extra washers on either end of the bar to take up a bit of play between the bar and the mount.
Once that was done and everything snugged up it is a beautiful fit. The length is just right and it is a sturdy bar considering how cheap it is. I noticed a few little flaws in the annodizing but only upon close inspection but nothing to worry about.
The car definately feels a little different. Its hard to give it a good test because our roads are either soaking wet or still covered in snow. The tail seems to come around the corners with a better feel. The car feels alot shorter when cornering if that makes sense.
It is a really worthwhile upgrade as far as i'm concerned. The better the feel of the car as a whole the more confident you can be.
Matt
Just got the Megan Racing bar in the mail and installed it. I don't have any rear panels in the interior so it was a 5 minute job. Needed to use the washer on the center stud on the strut tower and then two extra washers on either end of the bar to take up a bit of play between the bar and the mount.
Once that was done and everything snugged up it is a beautiful fit. The length is just right and it is a sturdy bar considering how cheap it is. I noticed a few little flaws in the annodizing but only upon close inspection but nothing to worry about.
The car definately feels a little different. Its hard to give it a good test because our roads are either soaking wet or still covered in snow. The tail seems to come around the corners with a better feel. The car feels alot shorter when cornering if that makes sense.
It is a really worthwhile upgrade as far as i'm concerned. The better the feel of the car as a whole the more confident you can be.
Matt
- :
- 03' Mazda Protege 5
Urban biker, we would love to see some pictures. That goes for you too bpoche. Did you ever finish that custome rear strut bar??
urbanbiker
Member
- :
- 2003 MP5
mazdaspeed777 said:
I'll get some up for you, keep in mind I have no panels in it. I will have to tackle that part of it in the near future.
matt
susamafone
lil' red
- :
- Red '03.5 Protege5
wow. does look good. didnt think not having any rear panels would look ok.
Thanks guys.
Susamafone: I'm not going to leave it like that, I will eventually get around to cutting a hole in the plastic panels and put them back on, at the moment I'll just have to stick with the race look, cause I can't be stuffed dealing with the panels!
Susamafone: I'm not going to leave it like that, I will eventually get around to cutting a hole in the plastic panels and put them back on, at the moment I'll just have to stick with the race look, cause I can't be stuffed dealing with the panels!
pics look great..
For future reference to anyone doing this.. It is always good to jack up the car when putting on a strut bar oth front and back. What that does is takes the load off the strut so when you have it on and lower the car, your bar is adjusted properly to take the load and brace the struts for proper support evenly.
You'd be surprised how much the top of the struts flex when the load is taken off...
Honestly, when just putting a strut bar on when its on the ground not jacked up, the strut bar is doing nothing really and beating its purpose.
For future reference to anyone doing this.. It is always good to jack up the car when putting on a strut bar oth front and back. What that does is takes the load off the strut so when you have it on and lower the car, your bar is adjusted properly to take the load and brace the struts for proper support evenly.
You'd be surprised how much the top of the struts flex when the load is taken off...
Honestly, when just putting a strut bar on when its on the ground not jacked up, the strut bar is doing nothing really and beating its purpose.
I found a mx-6 bar that you wont have to cut or bend nearly as much. Check out this ebay bar:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160073641063&fromMakeTrack=true
Notice how the part sticking off the "horseshoe" almost comes to a triangle when it meets the bracket, instead of being rounded or squared off. That means you wont have to cut as much or bend as much, whichever you decide to do!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160073641063&fromMakeTrack=true
Notice how the part sticking off the "horseshoe" almost comes to a triangle when it meets the bracket, instead of being rounded or squared off. That means you wont have to cut as much or bend as much, whichever you decide to do!
- :
- -- 03 P5 / 23 CX-5 --
That's the same one I have that I was talking about in the PM.amsgator said:
How much does the bar get in the way of rear cargo? I use my "trunk" all the time. I was wondering if you could put in a bolt w/ a cotter pin in it instead of the threaded bolts so you can just pull the pin and yank the bar out really quick for those times when you need to haul cargo.
Any ideas?
This is what I'm talking about, or something similar:
Any ideas?
This is what I'm talking about, or something similar:
Thekid760 said:How much does the bar get in the way of rear cargo? I use my "trunk" all the time. I was wondering if you could put in a bolt w/ a cotter pin in it instead of the threaded bolts so you can just pull the pin and yank the bar out really quick for those times when you need to haul cargo.
Any ideas?
This is what I'm talking about, or something similar:
i wouldnt advise it...but someone in another thread advised using the quick release bolts on bicycles...some bikes have the quick release on the front wheel and he advised using those. could get them at a bike store. he said they should be the same size...but i've never tried.
