Review: CP Racing Triangulated Front Strut Tower Brace

[www.03msp.com]

I too bought direct. Chris from CP, when he did leave a message he was very nice. But this isn't his first product.

This is what he states on ebay to sell the bar.

I quote:

BE CAREFULL! DO NOT WASTE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY!

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, DO NOT SETTLE FOR NON-FUNCTIONING PRODUCTS!

Triangulated strut tower brace for the MazdaSpeed/Protege 5/MP3/3rd Gen 1999-2003.5. Designed to replace the factory brace and strut attachment brackets. Constructed of lightweight high strength steel tube and is of solid construction, no joints to flex or pivot. Bar bolts to firewall for maximum rigidity and strength. Easily installed without major disassembly or down time with basic hand tools. DOES NOT require alteration of any engine or under hood components. Comes with detailed installation guide and all necessary hardware.

It mounts to firewall using nothing other than firewall sheet metal and your choice of washers. (As none were included) Something of which you do have to alter and does so with the removal and alterations of brackets. Which The last sentence clearly is incorrect. I altered my passebger side emission bracket and it came out rather nice-elly. But I can see where the majority of people will destroy the bracket due to the metal is weak and only a couple of bends will break the bracket.

And to be honest here only today did I actually find CP's website.
CPRACING.ca and that was by using his email address. Only then did I find the Acrobat installation file. That was a little more useful than not.

I like the bar. And presently its the coolest of the strut bar options. But the workmanship and packaging needs addressing. Any of you guys waiting for your bar Fear not!! You will be happy.

I will try maybe to make a quick install guide and show you how I modded the bracket for future installs. As it does intale a few step thaat are very neccessary and without guidance.

One thing I clearly stated in my original post is that the bar should be wrapped up in bubble wrap or foam. Again, regarding fitment, I had no issues and I've done a lot of this stuff. Regarding modifying of brackets, the only bracket I would say needed modifying was to bend the emissions bracket a bit. Honestly, it would be nice if they gave a replacement bracket for that. Also, I ended up tossing the firewall bracket (that too would have been nice to have one for that). Simple "L" braces is all that is needed. I am happy with the way things turned out that I'm not going to even worry about making brackets - but CP should consider. Also, yes, a few more steps would be helpful for the "newbie".

- Brian

 

[carbonfibermp3]

I would think that in any frontal collision severe enough to have this happen you wouldn't stand much of a chance anyways.

We were more worried about a side collision ripping the bar mounts off the firewall and leaving a hole in the middle. Also, we weren't sure how the stress of chassis flex would twist the mount and tear the bar from the wall. These are extreme cases but we weren't sure, and if it works, I guess I'm wrong. Live and learn.

 

[jrodhotrod]

thanks for the detailed review. I just ordered mine

 

[www.03msp.com]

thanks for the detailed review. I just ordered mine

no problem, I like to give credit where credit is due.

 

[Natey]

Anyone ever figure out the cc bracket? It seems like they made mine backwards.(uhm)

 

[Natey]

I've emaild CP racing twice now with no response. This stb has turned into the biggest nightmare of a mod that I've done to my car...ever. Both CP Racing and Essential Speed won't lift a finger to support their customers.(pow)

From their website:
... Easily installed without major disassembly or down time with basic hand tools. Comes with detailed installation guide....

My response:
This is completely false. I got NO instructions and this bar WILL NOT fit my 2002 Protege5. Every picture I've seen of your bar installed has been on a car with no cruise control. How do I install this bar in a car with cruise control(like every P5 has)??
Please update your website so people aren't suckered into buying something that doesn't fit on their cars.
FYI: I am a prominent member and moderator of several major Mazda chat group/websites, and I would appreciate some kind of customer support. Many people know about my purchase and they are waiting to hear a review...so far, that review is not too great.

Thank you,
-Nate Penniman

 

[Black Majik MSP]

This is exactly the kind of strut bar I've been looking for, but I'm trying to decide if I should forget about it based on the replies.

 

[Natey]

It'll fit your car fine, it's the cc that's in the way.

 

[Dr.Sound]

damn natey, sux to hear that.

i thought i saw a P5 at protegefest with CP brace.....

 

[jrodhotrod]

Natey,

Here are the instructions I got via email after I ordered mine from CP Racing, unfortunately I don't think they are going to be all that helpful

Installation instructions:
-remove wipers and the winsheild plastic tray
-remove factory strut brace and air conditioning bracket(center of the firewall) from firewall.
-Cut the plastic tabs and free the line from the bracket.
-remove the strut brace support system from either side of strut top...
-remove cruise control control unit,remove lower brace(face of strut tower)**saving all the 10mm nut
-remove other solenoids from their bolting place.
-Lay new strut braqce into place,make the 2 new holes to be drilled...3/8"hole.
-attach the cruise control bracket to the unit,place the bracket onto the existing bolt from face of strut tower.
Install the new brace in place,feed new 3/8" bolts through hole in firewall..tighten.
-Tighten strut nuts.
- place the cruise control unit ,tip it out of the way of the brace slightly and tighten.
-install the other solenoid to the existing bolt on the top of the strut tower.


Thankyou, have a great day!

Kevin and Karen Liphard

www.essentialspeed.com
"when speed is essential!"

 

[Black Majik MSP]

It'll fit your car fine, it's the cc that's in the way.

cruise control?

 

[jrodhotrod]

Nate, there is this too, but it's not much help at all

http://www.cpracing.ca/manuals/msptribar.pdf

Cruise Control sits by the passenger side strut tower in the P5. One of the brackets you have to remove to install this STB holds the cruise control, since the MSP doesn't have Cruise Control it's not a problem for us.

 

[Natey]

Thanks, Jared.
Sorry for the egginess, you guys. I'll figure it out. I just have to make some sort of bracket.

 

[STAR 80]

Oh and an update Gents! If you do in fact manage to bend your tabs alteast half ass straight to line up with the firewall or if you are one of the lucky ones and yours actually line up decent enough guess what? The left tab where you have to drill your 3/8 hole for the left mounting bolt may go right ontop of the hole/bolt that is afixed to the back of the fire wall for the evaporator A/C line.

You do in fact have to remove the bracket that holds the line in place right at the firewall. But if you drill into the firewall and go behind it to put you 1/2 or 3/8 washer it will most likely be sitting on top of the stationary bolt that is there for the A/C line. So in short you will have one set of washers and the nut riding ontop of this nut that is near to impossible to remove. Guess what a little more R&D and exactly moving the tab (which could be freekin anywhere along the back side of the Strut Bar) maybe 1/2 inch it would fit fine. Mine is cranked down hard ontop of the bolt but this is plain ole GHETTO! As far as looks, one could not see a difference but it is completely incorrect way to produce a product.

I am developing a Strut bar made out of stainless just to get this piece of s**** out of my car and offer an alternative to my fellow Protege brotheren.

Sorry guys but this product is crap, crap, crap.

 

[jrodhotrod]

Okay, so I just took mine out of the box, and surprise surprise, the tabs on the back for mounting to the firewall aren't all the way straight. hmmmm We'll see how it lines up, the performance increase for this thing better be decent.

 

[Dr.Sound]

wow that sux,
i was actually considering buying this thing really hard.
oh well......the stocker will do for now.

 

[Natey]

I finally got mine installed mine this afternoon. I took some pics, so I'll post a half assed how-to tomorrow.
My tabs matched up fine. It was pretty damn close to the nut that STAR 80 mentioned, but it cleared. I guess I finally got a break.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

from reading this thread, i'll stick to the JIC.

 

[mspdfreak]

Damn, from what I've seen and read here, this thing seems to be a P.O.S.!

 

[jrodhotrod]

For the record here is Natey's well written how-to with pictures: http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60389