HOW-TO: Install a MX-6 Rear Strut Tower Bar in a Protege5

[mazdaspeed777]

You shouldn't have any problems if you cut the seatbelt positioner. It doesn't weaken it at all. Some people have hammered it so it would fit around the brackets if your more comfortable with that. It was pretty easy to cut it though. I just used a marker to mark what I needed to cut out, clamped it to a saw hoarse, and cut it with a jigsaw that had a metal cutting blade on it. Make sure the piece is clamped down though. I tried cutting it first by just holding it down and the blade skipped of and nicked my hand pretty good.

 

[amsgator]

i dont have a jigsaw :-( wud a dremel saw attachment w/ a metal cutting blade be strong enough to cut it or not?

 

[amsgator]

does anyone know if the dremel saw attachment will get through the seatbelt bracket? It says it takes U and T-Shank jigsaw blades...so do you think it will be good enough to cut them?

 

[mazdaspeed777]

That should do it. I used a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. It is suprisingly easy to cut through. Knife through butter

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

It's also amazingly easy to just bend the lip enough to get over the stb bracket with a large-15" crescent wrench.

 

[amsgator]

rear strut bar in today. (ebay bar)

the initial hole didnt fit right so i had to redrill it so now it's kind of oval shaped :-\ i may go over it w/ a 2 in hole saw (instead of 1.5) to make it a circle...but that would entail me buying another hole saw and i dont wanna blow 6 bux on that. we'll c. i forgot to hook up the dome light before we put the panels on...so it doesnt work right now, and i really dont feel like taking the panels off to hook it up. I might get a https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)so I dont have to fight the panels again.

 

[mazdaspeed777]

rear strut bar in today. (ebay bar)

the initial hole didnt fit right so i had to redrill it so now it's kind of oval shaped :-\ i may go over it w/ a 2 in hole saw (instead of 1.5) to make it a circle...but that would entail me buying another hole saw and i dont wanna blow 6 bux on that. we'll c. i forgot to hook up the dome light before we put the panels on...so it doesnt work right now, and i really dont feel like taking the panels off to hook it up. I might get a https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)so I dont have to fight the panels again.

Let us know if you need any tips or help with your install. Make sure to post up some pic's when your finished with the install

 

[amsgator]

the only thing left if i decide to do it is enlarge the holes. i didnt use the washers like it says though b/c they were too big and didnt fit right, but i dont see much point in them anyway, and it appears to work fine. when had to finish piecing it back together in the dark, NOT FUN, so i'll get some pics soon.

 

[amsgator]

i also might paint the bar black, but i kinda like how it sticks out at you when you open the hatch. idk we'll c.

i didnt jack the car up when i put the bar on, so i might unscrew it and jack it up and put it back on. idk if it makes much difference or not though

 

[mazdaspeed777]

i also might paint the bar black, but i kinda like how it sticks out at you when you open the hatch. idk we'll c.

i didnt jack the car up when i put the bar on, so i might unscrew it and jack it up and put it back on. idk if it makes much difference or not though

Yes, it makes a very big difference. If you don't jack the rear up before puting the bar on the brackets the bar will basically be doing nothing. When you jack the car up you take the weight off the struts and they go to there original factory setting, so when you put the bar on and tighten it it will keep it in that position. Naturally as a car gets older the struts will actually sag inward at the tops, this bar keeps it from doing so.

 

[amsgator]

yea. thats what i read. i will prolly do it today. will i ahve to do each side individually? idk where to jack from the back. i mite just jack up each side separate and stick it on jack stands.

 

[mazdaspeed777]

yea. thats what i read. i will prolly do it today. will i ahve to do each side individually? idk where to jack from the back. i mite just jack up each side separate and stick it on jack stands.

Best way to do it is jack it up from the center of the rear axle, there are also a few other solid parts near the center of the axle you could jack it up on. It would also be smart to put a jack stand on each side of the rear axle once you jack it up from the center. Here is a pic of a good what it should look like:

 

[amsgator]

Best way to do it is jack it up from the center of the rear axle, there are also a few other solid parts near the center of the axle you could jack it up on. It would also be smart to put a jack stand on each side of the rear axle once you jack it up from the center. Here is a pic of a good what it should look like:

i got it to fit on the rear axle. I didnt think the jack would get it high enough but it got the wheels about 1.5 inches off the ground. so its back on. i had to extend the bar about a half cm to get it to fit once the weight was off. so its on good now

 

[mazdaspeed777]

i got it to fit on the rear axle. I didnt think the jack would get it high enough but it got the wheels about 1.5 inches off the ground. so its back on. i had to extend the bar about a half cm to get it to fit once the weight was off. so its on good now

Good job! (cool) show us some pics if you can

 

[amsgator]

i'll have to get them later :-( i forgot to take my camera w/ me and i have to park in a lot thats not by my dorm.

i want to get the panels re-drilled though b/c they look kinda bad oval shaped and i need to sand down the edges cuz they are rough from the saw. got a bunch of pieces stickin out that need to be sanded. i tried a scotchbright bad since i dont have sandpaper but it didnt work. :-\

 

[musiclikscreams]

just got mine in today. freakin FedEx waited till 8pm to get it to me. started puttin it in. turnin out a lil tougher than i thought... maybe cause it's dark out. looks like i'll have to wait till my next day off... sunday... so far away...

 

[amsgator]

yea the panels are a pain in the @$$. i drilled the holes a lil off so i had to redrill over them...so hopefully soon i will get a 2 in hole saw and make it all one round hole instead of two holes that make an oval. i also need to sand down the holes cuz it is still rough from the saw.

 

[musiclikscreams]

they say its 16" up, but how far from the side? and 16" is from the floor not the actual base of the panel right? thanks

 

[amsgator]

they say its 16" up, but how far from the side? and 16" is from the floor not the actual base of the panel right? thanks

i put the strut bar brackets on and tried to put the panels back on to see where it would hit the bracket, the drilled the hole there. i missplaced it by like 1/4 in so i had to redrill and make it an oval.

 

[musiclikscreams]

if i could get the distance from the front of the panel (before it bends out) to the center of the hole, that would be awesome

btw
its so much easier to bend the seat belt bracket. its a lot cleaner too.