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| Pros: | Easy Installation, Increased Stiffness, Less Squeaks |
| Cons: | Cost, Not very effective for casual driving |
| Cost: | $265.95 |
September 15, 1997
By: Robert Leidy
Pre-Installation Notes
- Start to Finish this shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes.
- After unpacking and admiring your HMS strut brace you will realize that no installation instructions were included. But don't worry, I went ahead and made about the only mistake you could make. Follow these instructions and you'll be strut-braced in no time.
- After admiring your strut brace remove the circle shaped brackets on either end of the brace. I first attempted to install the brace all in one piece, but there is a nut under the brace and you will not be able to install it with the cross brace in place.
Strut Brace Bracket
- Remove the six nuts (three on each side) from the protruding bolts on top of your front struts.
- Put the bracket over the three exposed bolts
- Put the nuts back on top, very loosely tighten two bolts and moderately tighten the third BUT DO NOT FULLY TIGHTEN. This is where I made my mistake, if you over tighten without the cross brace in place, the bracket will bend.
Strut Cross Brace Bracket
- Install the cross brace and re-tighten it's bolts (these you an fully tighten)
- Finish by fully tightening the six bolt (three on each side) on the bracket. The bolt that is hidden under the cross brace will require an open ended wrench, this is why I let you tighten it a little more than the other before.