so how dose this bar affect you handling...dose it produce too much understeer?... i have one sitting here but im wondering if i should install it b4 the autoX meet this weekend

 

Can u paint them???? I want one but want to paint it laser blue to match the other things i have painted under the hood. Plus whats the difficulty rating on the install?

 

i gotta print this out when i get mine lol

 

nice write-up man, thanks for taking the time to do it... and just out of curiousity, where did you pick yours up at?

 

bought it off of a dude who switched from a ss/sc to a damn si. only $80 though

 

I installed mine almost a year and a 1/2 ago. It makes a great improvement but one suggestion. Do not torque to what the instructions say. Go 3-4 lbs less pressure because the strut bolts are super weak. I snapped one of mine getting it to spec.

 

I just installed mine! What i thought would be a 10 minute install, turned into 30 mins. I have an 07 SS/SC, and the passenger side would only get lined up when i jacked up the passenger side. And some rubber hammering. Put some WD 40 on those bolts, and it made it much easier to take off!
Thanks for the how to, those ones they sent u cant even see the pics!!

 

Going to be installing mine tommarow WOOT!

 

I don't know if I'm convinced that the cost of the bar is worth the handling difference. I doubt if its a noticeable improvement for everyday driving, but rather for extreme situations like autocross?


-Lane

 

Lane, I thought the same thing untill it was installed. Back where my parents live there is a really neat road. Its like a snake and its in the country. If you were to make a mistake you will just end up in a field (not that I want to end up there )

So, conclusion...I was able to handle much better and I could feel the differance. I have to say I modded al types of differant cars before and the Cobalt responds very well to suspension upgrades. The entire front end feel much stiffer and it has less roll when you inter a turn. I personally love it, I have alot of mods now and it was one of my best ones for the cash I paid.

 

i agree R&C. i bought for track duty and it is a big time difference

 

Sweet. I appreciate the input! Sounds like an easy worthwhile mod. Thumbs up for the write up, Ill be gettin one soon.

 

DEF approved. I helped Jason Smith create a strut bar for my car - it was a pain in the ass engineering how to get it to pit in one piece....It took us like 6 hours the first time to build it!!

 

Since we are to tighten the struct screws to like 3-5 ft lb under gm spec.... what is gm spec for tightening it? I can't seem to find it.

 

bump for my question.....??? ^^^^

 

i dunno. i just did it till it was tight. lol

 

oh boy... that won't help me. After reading the thread Im afraid I will ruin a stud... :S

 

dont be scared. i have had it off since i instlled it to take my struts off for springs. still no snappage. that was from extreme overtightening

 

Nice write up, very nice how to.

+rep

 

hmmmm... alright if ya say so. The reason I ask what the specs are is because of every bump I go over I hear a knocking noise and I think its because the nuts are not tight enough of the stud but yeah like stating before I am afraid of breaking one of the studs.

 

Hey, does anybody know if you have to get an alignment after installing the strut bar. I know I have to get an alignment after I put on my sportline springs, but i'm not sure about the strut bar. If so, then i'll just wait to put my spring on with the strut bar when they both come in.

 

no u dont

 

thanks, Apparently DC sports strut bars are on a nationwide back order while they relocate, so i'll just put them on whenever they come in. But the good news is that now i get to install my springs!!

 

I installed mine a couple of years ago and mis-placed the install guide from DC. What is the TQ specs. I am told that now and again one needs to check on it and make sure it is still tight.

 

Bought mine this morning, bump for nice how-to. I also was wondering what torque specs to use. And hopefully the install goes well and i dont have to jack up the car and go crazy, i hope!! thanks