GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

click for bigger imagehad to relocate m alarm sirenAfter breaking the majority of my tools lol (two socket 12, two socket converters) I managed to install the Megan racing strut tower brace pretty quick. regardless of what people may think about strut braces whether they actually do anything or not, i noticed a big difference. the steering is a lot more responsive and stiff, which i didn't think would be noticeable but it is. the strut tower brace may only be affective or noticeable if you're car is lowered but I'm not sure what the peoples setup is that are claiming they don't help. i also added two washer in between the brace on each strut and the brace on the strut tower brace so there was not gap. ill take pictures explaining this better tomorrow.

Sounds like you need some impact sockets!

lol i do i have a 25gal compressor but the smallest socket i have is a 13 i need a 12 lol

DUDE, is that glow in the dark engine cover!?

lol no but that would be pretty cool lol

yup I agree with you. I have a strut brace and putting one into the vibe definitely does something.

yup definity does work. alot of people dont believe in them but thats fine cause were the ones with a 60$-250$ mod that improves handling

I thought I noticed a difference too with the megan one, but with the TRD one it was much more pronounced as its solid piece.

Is the TRD a tough install?

no you should have a pretty easy time with it. The instructions are very straightforward. its two nuts removed on each side. then install the strut brace. those are 03/08 instructions.

I thought you had to remove some bits first to make room for the tower bar install?

no not for the 03/08. I wrote a how to on how to put on an 09. That one does involve removing some bits to put in. For the 03/08 its a different part and has different instructions to install it. Turns out there's less stuff to do to put on that strut brace.

Quote, originally posted by vibedrivermatt »no you should have a pretty easy time with it. The instructions are very straightforward. its two nuts removed on each side. then install the strut brace and the supplied hardware.those are 03/08 instructions.actually 3 on each tower -- it takes

Quote, originally posted by bull77 »actually 3 on each tower -- it takes 03-08 are so much easier to work on than the 09+

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Is the TRD a tough install?nope, unscrew 6 nuts, take off the stock C metal parts, put on trd and screw down. Although I needed help to put mine on as it requires some work to get it on as its solid and just barely fits. hence why I think it would do more than the megan.

Oh, I would have thought that the C-metal (spring support) parts are supposed to stay on and the strut bar goes over top. It looks like in the directions. you are not supposed to use the square washers that come with the TRD strut brace if there are C-metal parts present.

Well if you leave the C parts on the strut tower bar cannot sit flush with the car frame. I think its just there so the bolts dont scratch the paint on the tower. I removed mine.

Nope that's not the purpose of those. Those are meant to stay on and provide more support to the sheet metal above the struts. If the strut brace couldn't fit over top because there wasn't enough threads for the nuts to screw down, then the C-metal parts would have to be removed. If thats not the case, they should be left on.

i left the c panel on and put the megan racing strut tower on top of the stock c brace. i added stainless steel washers in between so there is absolutely no gap in between the strut tower c brace and the stock stand alone c brace. the stock c brace is alot thicker and i would definitely keep it on especially if you want performance and if you drive crazy around turns. i having no problems leaving the stock one on, and have a huge increase in handling