Another strut bar question
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Thailand
Another strut bar question
Ok, after doing a lot of searching, I'm under the impression that washers defeat the point of a strut brace, but I'm wondering what a strut brace actually does, and for those of you who have one, how much of a difference it makes. If it really makes a big difference, does somebody still make those plates and where can ya get em?
Thanks!
Thanks!
If you're planning on just adding a strut bar, you should feel some minimal difference in terms of tighter handling, but to get the full effect you'd have to combine it with coilovers or at least lowering springs.
For the custom made plates you'd have to ask Lexkost...he's the man to go to.
For the custom made plates you'd have to ask Lexkost...he's the man to go to.
Last edited by BR1AN; May 10, 2004 at 10:06 PM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 1
From: California
i got the plates that lexkost put on mine.. And I feel a difference over bumps... the steering wheel is firm and doesnt bounce around from pot holes etc.... i mean the bar is only 20 bucks, and get the washers from lexkost..
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Thailand
Persian, you do have your car dropped and have KYB's and your car dropped. . . my suspension is completely stock. According to BR1AN, I'm probably not going to see a huge difference. $20 is nothin, I'm just wondering if it's even worth the effort with my stock setup.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 1
From: California
well, yes i do have my car dropped.. but you could try it.. the effort is not a lot.. hehe, maybe you could experiment and if it doesnt work out, let everyone know about who has a stock setup
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Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Thailand
I can't contact Lexkost either, but I did find another adaptor plate which will work fine. The SC300's have clearance issues as well, and use the same strut brace. Some of them have opted for this piece:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=81300
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=81300
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,019
Likes: 11
From: Simi Valley ,CA
Originally posted by dj.ctwatt
I can't contact Lexkost either, but I did find another adaptor plate which will work fine. The SC300's have clearance issues as well, and use the same strut brace. Some of them have opted for this piece:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=81300
I can't contact Lexkost either, but I did find another adaptor plate which will work fine. The SC300's have clearance issues as well, and use the same strut brace. Some of them have opted for this piece:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=81300
Also is the bar that you bought does it have a slight bend at the ends about 3-4"s in.............Because thats the type you need for clearance?
I finally got some time to mess with this and installed mine today. I'd cut the spacers and installed the mounts a spell back but because I bought the straight bar, I needed to bend it. This bar didn't bend as easily as I first thought so I had to improvise a bit.
Would up wedging the bar between a step and the hot water heater safety pole in the garage to hold it stationary. USing a scissor jack I was able to apply the necessary force to set a bend. I started with a floor jack but it didn't like being positioned on it's side and the fluid did not flow through the valve properly. With the scissors jack, it bent it but I was not very accurate in how many turns I applied...one side got a bit more bend than the other. Maybe 1/4" or so.
Here it is:
Would up wedging the bar between a step and the hot water heater safety pole in the garage to hold it stationary. USing a scissor jack I was able to apply the necessary force to set a bend. I started with a floor jack but it didn't like being positioned on it's side and the fluid did not flow through the valve properly. With the scissors jack, it bent it but I was not very accurate in how many turns I applied...one side got a bit more bend than the other. Maybe 1/4" or so.
Here it is:
Last edited by RA40; Jul 7, 2004 at 07:07 PM.
In my prior attempts to bend it, I ruined the high polished finish. After cleaning up the dings I rubbed the bar with 3M Scotch Brite coarse (gray pad) to give it a satin finish. Here is a shot of how much clearance I have between the cover and STB:
Last edited by RA40; Jul 7, 2004 at 07:14 PM.