Another option for anyone following this thread is to order the Cusco STB from Suruga Performace Co in Japan. Mathias is the contact at info@suruga-performance.com and http://www.suruga-performance.com/ for ¥17,975 JPY ($180.11). I went super cheap with shipping and got it about 3 months after my order was placed.

 

What performance differences did those of you who replaced the struts (& other components) see, both from a performance standpoint and from a comfort standpoint?

 

You can order it from FLSPORT for the same price and have in within a week.

 

the best strut tower brace is the Carbing strut tower brace it will not give. its a connection strut to strut but you pay for that. the cusco strut tower brace will give. Tom's brace are only if you want to drive aggressively. Cusco works but nut thing like the Tom's.
The Tom's Strut Tower Brace you can not buy it in the States must come from overseas. they go about 314.00 shipped.

 

Ordered last Friday from FRSport (west coast) and it showed up today (east coast). $179.99 with free shipping.

I recently replaced the front struts with KYB and changed the front/rear sway bar and steering rack bushings to poly. Huge improvement with those changes but anticipating an improvement with the top down driving. Since it is currently 19 degrees, I guess I won't be checking that anytime soon....

 

http://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.club...ca30da7b1b.jpg

http://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.club...ee89d76009.jpg


Toms racing tower bar install you have to remove the plastic caps and the metal plates. Very heavy duty unit and clears hood

 

Can someone tell me the size of the nuts holding the struts in place? Am referring to the nuts that will also hold down the attachment ring for the Cusco bar...don't have deep drive socket set so will buy just one socket for this job. Looks to be about 9/16 but prob metric. Don't get under the hood too often. My Cusco bar arrived today after 2 months.

 

I believe it is 14 mm. 12 is too small and I know it is not 17.

 

Thanks, mandyfig.

 

That is quite a strut bar! Looks very strong! Can you notice a handling improvement?

 

Cuzco, Tom's and Carbing!! decision, decision, decision!

 

Installed this morning...14mm is it. Didn't remove the original plate but might later. Took it over to a vacant parking lot to test it out. I "think" I feel a bit more stability and I want to feel more stability...it may be there but it's subtle. Thanks all for the help.

 

You will feel the biggest difference when you have your top down going through a rough road.
And the windshield doesn't shake as bad anymore with top down.

 

Still lovin the Cusco .. looks good and makes me feel like AJ Foyt... i kept the plate on and torqued to 48# ... now if i can get rid of the injen...

 

I'm running a cusco bar and it is a big dissapointment. Feel no difference in handling. Wish I had bought the Carbing bar. I painted it red and it looks really nice in engine bay though.