need a measurement for strut bar Options

[playr158]

can anyone give me the LENGTH of the REAR gt4 strut bar
the actual BAR not the mounting plates

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

can anyone give me the LENGTH of the REAR gt4 strut bar
the actual BAR not the mounting plates

37 and 3/8 inches.

This post has been edited by Bigmeanbulldog55: Jan 25, 2006 - 11:29 PM

[playr158]

thanks

[purplegt4]

hope this goes well

[WALKER]

Sorry to bring this old topic to life, but I am having trouble installing my GT4 rear strut bar. It appears that it is too long and I can't get it over the bolts.

What is the measurement from bolt holes to bolt holes on the bar? Am curious if mine is too long, or if there is something wrong with my car.

It looks as though my bolt holes on the bar are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch too long.

[DeW_H0e_GT]

Sorry to bring this old topic to life, but I am having trouble installing my GT4 rear strut bar. It appears that it is too long and I can't get it over the bolts.

What is the measurement from bolt holes to bolt holes on the bar? Am curious if mine is too long, or if there is something wrong with my car.

It looks as though my bolt holes on the bar are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch too long.

try flipping it around....

[Culpable04]

Sorry to bring this old topic to life, but I am having trouble installing my GT4 rear strut bar. It appears that it is too long and I can't get it over the bolts.

What is the measurement from bolt holes to bolt holes on the bar? Am curious if mine is too long, or if there is something wrong with my car.

It looks as though my bolt holes on the bar are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch too long.

try flipping it around....

I did that, I tried to install it the wrong way, got pissed went for something to eat and when I came back my mind was working better and ha ha ! I got it !!

[massbrandon]

i did the same thing. I felt like an idiot afterwards. lol

[WALKER]

try flipping it around....

Thats not my problem. I have it the right way, I have already tried both ways. My bar is still too long. If you guys could measure from the distance between the holes on your bars that would be great.

[Batman722]

I will post up pics in a little bit with everything you need. I'm sorry I didn't get to this sooner but I have been hellabusy lately.

[playr158]

jack up your back end so that the wheels are hanging that might help to fit it because the frame expands slightly as you do it

[Batman722]

I agree with Dan, jack up the back end and it will straiten out the strut bolts and make it easier to put the bar on.

pics










from the bolt I took the measurement from I would say it's 41.5 inches.
what else do you need Walker ? any other measurements ?

[WALKER]

Thanks guys for your help. Dustin thanks for the pictures, I can understand you being busy as I have been busy myself lately.

That is all I should need. I will try and get it on tomorrow. I did try jacking the back end of the car up and it does seem to help a little bit. I am sure I can probably force it on if I want, but I just wanted to get an idea what the size was before I did anything, just to make sure!

Thanks again for all the help!

[Batman722]

also, when you jack the back, don't get the wheels off the ground, just jack it up from the middle underneath about 6 inches or so.

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

also, when you jack the back, don't get the wheels off the ground, just jack it up from the middle underneath about 6 inches or so.

Why not? I picked the intire back end up off the ground to install mine awhile back. I see no negative effects from it.

[playr158]

we say not to take the wheels off the ground because if you drop the suspension all the way out..the 3 studs that extend into the car that you slide the bar over will fall down into the wheel well then you have nothing to but the bar on....so you take out about 6" or so so that there is still some studd left inside the car slide it over and drop it back down
unless you want to drop the suspension travel all the way down then have someone push your stuff back up into the holes

[Batman722]

we say not to take the wheels off the ground because if you drop the suspension all the way out..the 3 studs that extend into the car that you slide the bar over will fall down into the wheel well then you have nothing to but the bar on....so you take out about 6" or so so that there is still some studd left inside the car slide it over and drop it back down
unless you want to drop the suspension travel all the way down then have someone push your stuff back up into the holes

nice answer Dan

[WALKER]

Well guys, I took mine all the way up and loosened off the bolts and they didn't even budge. I even tried hammering on them with a rubber mallet and they didn't budge?

Here is a picture of how close it is for me with my car jacked up and the bar attached on the other side.


Are you saying that with the car jacked right up those bolts should just fall out? Are mine just wedged in there from years of road grime? Should I just hammer them straight down to fall out and then push them up from the bottom? If I do that I should be able to get the bar on...I think. It seems that my only problem is the slight inward angle of the bolts at the top.

[Batman722]

try differnt angles to get it on. Try getting just the front bolts on then the rear. Worse comes to worse, get one side on then use the mallet to get the other side.

[LewFX]

you could get a round file and file it down

[Bigmeanbulldog55]

we say not to take the wheels off the ground because if you drop the suspension all the way out..the 3 studs that extend into the car that you slide the bar over will fall down into the wheel well then you have nothing to but the bar on....so you take out about 6" or so so that there is still some studd left inside the car slide it over and drop it back down
unless you want to drop the suspension travel all the way down then have someone push your stuff back up into the holes

There are three bolts that hold the strut in, you only take off 2 to put the bar in. The 3rd will hold the struts in place.

EDIT: Walker, did you really jack up the back end of the car from that center point right in front of the spare tire holder? I can't believe the body didn't flex enough to put the bar on like that. If you jack it up from that center point and maybe have a friend(s) tug on each end of the hatch, you'll get just enough flex to put the bar on. I know that sounds a little silly, but you only need about 3-5mm of flex to put that bar on. If it won't budge, you don't need the bar, because your car is stiff enough as is.

This post has been edited by Bigmeanbulldog55: Oct 11, 2006 - 7:06 AM

[WALKER]

There are three bolts that hold the strut in, you only take off 2 to put the bar in. The 3rd will hold the struts in place.

EDIT: Walker, did you really jack up the back end of the car from that center point right in front of the spare tire holder? I can't believe the body didn't flex enough to put the bar on like that. If you jack it up from that center point and maybe have a friend(s) tug on each end of the hatch, you'll get just enough flex to put the bar on. I know that sounds a little silly, but you only need about 3-5mm of flex to put that bar on. If it won't budge, you don't need the bar, because your car is stiff enough as is.

I will try removing the two bolts and then sliding them up through the bar.

Yes I did jack up the entire back end, the body did flex a bit, but nothing significant.

[AudioFreak]

I will try removing the two bolts and then sliding them up through the bar.

Those 2 bolts will not come out by themselves. They are studs attached to the top strut plate. If you truly can't get enough flex to get the bar in increasing the length of the slots on each end is an option. Figure out how much needs to be removed and take half from each side.

Or go for broke and get a few pieces of wood and a jack and pry the strut towers apart by force. Personally I would be grabing a file at this point.