Suspension Question before installed front strut brace bar
#1
Question before installed front strut brace bar
Hi folks,
I am going to install the VIP engineering front strut braces and bar, but I have a question. our 2013 CMJCW has a hood seal around each side of the engine. In order to install the bar, I have to either cut into that border on each side or simply take it off.
I would rather just take it off, and it's held in place by those black "button" type of push-in plugs(there are a LOT of these under the hood holding plastic pieces to the frame).
Does anyone know how these come off? I was going to just pry them off with a screwdriver slipped under the lip of each "button", but don't want to break them in case I ever want to put the border back on.
Thanks!
Jeff
I am going to install the VIP engineering front strut braces and bar, but I have a question. our 2013 CMJCW has a hood seal around each side of the engine. In order to install the bar, I have to either cut into that border on each side or simply take it off.
I would rather just take it off, and it's held in place by those black "button" type of push-in plugs(there are a LOT of these under the hood holding plastic pieces to the frame).
Does anyone know how these come off? I was going to just pry them off with a screwdriver slipped under the lip of each "button", but don't want to break them in case I ever want to put the border back on.
Thanks!
Jeff
Last edited by Z06_Pilot; 08-09-2013 at 05:50 AM.
#3
#4
thanks for the reality check....can't wait to get it on. Going to have the nm engineering 22mm rear anti-sway put on next week, so, short of putting on coil-overs, I think the suspension should be pretty sweet....
Just in time for our Dragon trip in Early September...
#5
Didn't know they made a tool for this...could have saved me LOADS of swear words over the years !!
thanks very much.
Jeff
#6
Hi folks,
I am going to install the VIP engineering front strut braces and bar, but I have a question. our 2013 CMJCW has a hood seal around each side of the engine. In order to install the bar, I have to either cut into that border on each side or simply take it off.
I would rather just take it off, and it's held in place by those black "button" type of push-in plugs(there are a LOT of these under the hood holding plastic pieces to the frame).
Does anyone know how these come off? I was going to just pry them off with a screwdriver slipped under the lip of each "button", but don't want to break them in case I ever want to put the border back on.
Thanks!
Jeff
I am going to install the VIP engineering front strut braces and bar, but I have a question. our 2013 CMJCW has a hood seal around each side of the engine. In order to install the bar, I have to either cut into that border on each side or simply take it off.
I would rather just take it off, and it's held in place by those black "button" type of push-in plugs(there are a LOT of these under the hood holding plastic pieces to the frame).
Does anyone know how these come off? I was going to just pry them off with a screwdriver slipped under the lip of each "button", but don't want to break them in case I ever want to put the border back on.
Thanks!
Jeff
#7
http://www.vipcustomparts.com/JCW%20...an%20parts.htm
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#8
took all of 15 minutes to install...
#9
Maybe my bad with terminology. they call it "strut bar and tower plates"...I always called the whole package a strut brace since it is a bar bracing between plates mounted on the struts, but maybe that is something else???? Anyway, here you go...
http://www.vipcustomparts.com/JCW%20...an%20parts.htm
#10
Really interested to hear some feedback on how the car feels after this and the rear sway bar, but on otherwise factory suspension. I am thinking about something to try to reduce body roll on my JCW without changing springs and struts. The car actually handles phenomenally well but I wouldn't mind a little less roll under initial turn-in.
#11
Really interested to hear some feedback on how the car feels after this and the rear sway bar, but on otherwise factory suspension. I am thinking about something to try to reduce body roll on my JCW without changing springs and struts. The car actually handles phenomenally well but I wouldn't mind a little less roll under initial turn-in.
well you will get your wish with this. I truly didn't think it would make a whole lot of difference, even though people here and elsewhere said it would. After all, it's just a strut bar, not a "direct" suspension upgrade like an anti-sway bar or springs. WOW, what a difference, for street driving anyway. I immediately ran some of the twisty roads I know so well, I actually almost turned in TOO much on several initial corners.
I was accustomed to having to put some real effort into the initial turn-in of the wheel, especially at speed as the front end was trying to wash out. Now, the front just rolls in where I point it immediately, with no barking at all. It really is stunning.
Like others have said, it makes the rear end feel a tad sloppy as result with the OEM ASB.
I will be getting my 22mm rear ASB put on in the next week or so, and am hoping for more improvements.
Without a doubt, the best $200 you can spend on handling improvement and so freakin' easy to install. The VIP parts fit absolutely perfectly.
#12
#13
Ultimately, I'm a gearhead, so if it improves the feeling of the car it's probably worth it whether the handing improvement is quantifiable.
I'm looking forward to an update after you get that rear sway bar installed.
#14
here are a couple of awful camera pix, but it's what I had at hand!
Certainly nothing fancy.
As far as track quantifiable. I assume it must be since a lot of the high end track and supercars have them(Ford GT, Viper, ZR1, etc), but certainly I don't know that it would add much increased stability in track conditions without other upgrades in place as well, you know?
I will certainly post my feelings about the 22mm rear ASB once I get it installed.
Jeff
Certainly nothing fancy.
As far as track quantifiable. I assume it must be since a lot of the high end track and supercars have them(Ford GT, Viper, ZR1, etc), but certainly I don't know that it would add much increased stability in track conditions without other upgrades in place as well, you know?
I will certainly post my feelings about the 22mm rear ASB once I get it installed.
Jeff
#16
Hi Cam,
well you will get your wish with this. I truly didn't think it would make a whole lot of difference, even though people here and elsewhere said it would. After all, it's just a strut bar, not a "direct" suspension upgrade like an anti-sway bar or springs. WOW, what a difference, for street driving anyway. I immediately ran some of the twisty roads I know so well, I actually almost turned in TOO much on several initial corners.
I was accustomed to having to put some real effort into the initial turn-in of the wheel, especially at speed as the front end was trying to wash out. Now, the front just rolls in where I point it immediately, with no barking at all. It really is stunning.
Like others have said, it makes the rear end feel a tad sloppy as result with the OEM ASB.
I will be getting my 22mm rear ASB put on in the next week or so, and am hoping for more improvements.
Without a doubt, the best $200 you can spend on handling improvement and so freakin' easy to install. The VIP parts fit absolutely perfectly.
well you will get your wish with this. I truly didn't think it would make a whole lot of difference, even though people here and elsewhere said it would. After all, it's just a strut bar, not a "direct" suspension upgrade like an anti-sway bar or springs. WOW, what a difference, for street driving anyway. I immediately ran some of the twisty roads I know so well, I actually almost turned in TOO much on several initial corners.
I was accustomed to having to put some real effort into the initial turn-in of the wheel, especially at speed as the front end was trying to wash out. Now, the front just rolls in where I point it immediately, with no barking at all. It really is stunning.
Like others have said, it makes the rear end feel a tad sloppy as result with the OEM ASB.
I will be getting my 22mm rear ASB put on in the next week or so, and am hoping for more improvements.
Without a doubt, the best $200 you can spend on handling improvement and so freakin' easy to install. The VIP parts fit absolutely perfectly.
#17
#18
Well, let me tell you. Assuming someone is going to order a bar as a "dress up item", the VIP is NOT the one you want. It's probably the most unassuming strut bar I have ever seen....every simple round bar....nothing fancy...
#19
I was meaning it in a general way as there are many bars on the market. Having the right one can make the difference.
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