Problem With Trd Strut Tower Bar
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Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 402
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From: Colorado
Problem With Trd Strut Tower Bar
I need help. I bought trd stb from lexus parts and it won't fit. My car is 03 gs430 and I bought from lexus-parts on one of their ebay listings. Brand new, and it says that it should fit 430's with engine cover off but problem is on the strut bolts not the top. I took the cover off and tried to fit the holes and its just won't fit. Looks like the holes are not matched correctly. Any info would help.
thanks
stephen
thanks
stephen
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,387
Likes: 1
From: New York
i have the TRD STB with same problem
the thing is this-in order to make it fit the car, you must jack up the whole front end-lay the bar on top, lower the car a bit, the STB should drop down onto the strut mounts-tap it with a rubber hammer and then raise it up, tap it more
keep goin up and down with the jack until it's fully seated down, and then replace strut nuts
btw, the TRD STB doesn't fit the 430 tho
the thing is this-in order to make it fit the car, you must jack up the whole front end-lay the bar on top, lower the car a bit, the STB should drop down onto the strut mounts-tap it with a rubber hammer and then raise it up, tap it more
keep goin up and down with the jack until it's fully seated down, and then replace strut nuts
btw, the TRD STB doesn't fit the 430 tho
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31,944
Likes: 2,737
From: North Carolina
I believe it DOES fit on a GS430 just fine, it just doesn't clear the factory plastic engine cover.
Edit - yep, here's a member who cut their engine cover where it hit to get it on.
Installing sometimes depends on the angle / weight distribution of the car. Some have had to jack up one side a bit to get it to go on.
Jacking car up
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=jack+stb
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=jack+stb
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=jack+stb
GS430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=29339
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...cut+engine+stb
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...hreadid=38494&
Edit - yep, here's a member who cut their engine cover where it hit to get it on.
Installing sometimes depends on the angle / weight distribution of the car. Some have had to jack up one side a bit to get it to go on.
Jacking car up
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=jack+stb
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=jack+stb
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...light=jack+stb
GS430
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=29339
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...cut+engine+stb
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...hreadid=38494&
Last edited by DaveGS4; Feb 28, 2005 at 11:45 AM.
I filed mine (with a round rat-tail file) just a little bit around a few of the holes to get it on, wasn't a big deal. Once I filed, I put a bit of rust protectant on the edges that were filed. Cant see any of it anyway cause it's under the nuts.
When you first look at the fitting of the bar, it seems like it is way off and the only thing you can do is cause the strut towers to move by jacking up the car, but I found that just a little bit of filing, say 1/16" to 1/8" on a few of the holes in strategic places allows me to install and remove the bar with no problems. Now this may or may not work for your situation. I didn't like the option of not being able to get the bar, and thus the engine cover, off if I got stuck on the highway and needed access to the engine.
When you first look at the fitting of the bar, it seems like it is way off and the only thing you can do is cause the strut towers to move by jacking up the car, but I found that just a little bit of filing, say 1/16" to 1/8" on a few of the holes in strategic places allows me to install and remove the bar with no problems. Now this may or may not work for your situation. I didn't like the option of not being able to get the bar, and thus the engine cover, off if I got stuck on the highway and needed access to the engine.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,859
Likes: 12
From: Waipahu, Waikele, HI
Originally Posted by DaveGS4
I believe it DOES fit on a GS430 just fine, it just doesn't clear the factory plastic engine cover.
Edit - yep, here's a member who cut their engine cover where it hit to get it on.
Edit - yep, here's a member who cut their engine cover where it hit to get it on.
I would have taken the entire cover off....instead of cutting it.
Trending Topics
Originally Posted by PHML
This pic brings tears to my eyes. I would have taken the entire cover off....instead of cutting it.
I would have taken the entire cover off....instead of cutting it.ClubLexus Stories
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