430keeper

When installing the cusco front strut bar,
should you leave the oem top strut plate in place,
and mount the strut bar bracket on top of it....
or take it out ? Here is a pic of the plate
on the top of the strut:
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bb430

iTrader: (1)

I just bolted on top of it. I didn't know that plate could be taken off.

DarthSid

I kept the plate installed, its purpose is to add support and strenght to the body where the struts mount.

430keeper

Thanks guys...
In the previous pic, there is a plastic box between the strut and the battery.
Did anyone have to loosen the 2 bolts holding this plastic "box"
in place to have some wiggle room to get the passenger's side
strut bar bracket to sit down over the strut tower bolts ?

430keeper

Is 50 ft lbs right for the torque on
the strut bolt nuts ?

430keeper

41 ft-lbs is the right torque for the strut tower nuts.
Thanks everyone for the help.
Mine installed easily and fit like Lexus made it.
Highly recommend...easy to remove engine cover
if needed due to bolts that hold the strut bar to the
strut brackets.
Here's the model I bought.
Contact Mathieu Devert at suruga-performance dot com

gripau1

Nope fits like a glove.

The trick was to loosen the bolts that connects the blue brace shock towers to the chrome aluminum cross bar. That way you don't need to lower the suspension to fit the bracing.

mandyfig

Post a pic after your install...

lbintab

iTrader: (1)

Strut bars and strut bolts should just be tight enough. You'll strip the studs from the top hats if you over tighten.

NAmVet68

I kept the stock strut plate in place as well, and torqued the strut nuts down to 50 FtLbs. As others have said - if you loosen the two bolts that hold the cross-brace to the brackets, you don't have to remove/move anything else....the brace will wiggle into place just like its OEM. Since I couldn't get my torque wrench on the cross-brace bolts without interference, I just tightened them down nice and snug..they are pretty high-grade bolts, you don't have to worry about stripping them as long as you don't go nuts....you just have to try to take any flex out of the brace in order for it to do its job.

Absolutely the best bang-for-the-buck for the SC...it's like driving a different car. No more wiggles & wandering at speed, and it corners like its on rails (still leans a bit, but feels "planted"). Just make sure you get the right part number....It's a long wait to get one from Japan (about two months), and the first vendor I ordered from sent the incorrect part number, and I had to send it back and wait ANOTHER two months for the correct one (from another vendor).

Make sure the part number is : Cuzco 188 540 A (some reference 187 540 A as for the SC, but its for the GS - make sure they order the right one).

Have fun....

pynky01

This mod should have been OEM...I noticed difference before i got out of driveway...

tennman117

I have seen both part numbers listed for the SC.
Will either one work with any year or do the newer year cars have a different part number.

NAmVet68

All years take the same part number. Some members have gotten the 187 540 A to work on the SC, but it rubs against the engine cover in two places. You might as well get the one built for the SC (UZZ40 Soarer in Japan) in the first place...

JMHO.

tennman117

Thanks namvet68.
Just ordered one from FRSport.
$179.99 shipped.

NAmVet68

That's where I got mine from (the correct one) .... good people.