Simple F D strut tower bar instal

[Lancer]

After waiting since Oct., Freedom Design finally came out with a strut tower bar for the Vibe/Matrix. Instalation was very simple, I guess that's why it came without any instructions. All I did was remove the stock bolts at the top of the tower's... Then remove thestock 'horse shoe' looking thingy's (Remeber I am NOT a mechanic so I don't always know the names of most parts) and clean out the now bare strut tower before you mount the bar in place. I left on the plastic cover over the chromed part of the bar until I was completly done. Now this is the part that shows that it was made for the Matrix more so than the Vibe. When you have the bar mounted on the towers, it is not able to tighten. You have to turn the whole chromed part of the bar for it to tighten. But once it's in place, there isn's enough room for it to turn. It hits the firewall. So I opened it as much as I could before it would refuse to fit on the tower bolts. I didn't actually get it for performance but more to dress up the engine, so I'm alright with it not being quite as tight as I would like it to be.The rest of the install is just replacing the stock nuts back on the tower bolts and tightening everything down. I only had one beer before I was finished. I'm very happy with how it look's with the Injen CAI and oil cap! I was thinking of painting the plastic engine cover red? What do ya'll think?

[NSimkins]

Looks good. Thanks for posting your installation with pictures!Painting the engine cover is up to your own preference. I have seen others paint their engine cover and it looked decent. It's all up to you.

[NSimkins]

quote:are they available in any other color besides red ?No, most of Freedom Design's products only use the same color combinations (red).Check out an example listing page on their site:http://www.freedomdesign.com/Merchant2/ ... rutbraces4

[robdog]

I painted mine (GT version) red last week and it turned out real nice. I got a tip from another person and put vaseline on the letters and then just sprayed it with engine paint spray in a can made for plastic and after you get the right coverage(at least 3 coats) let it dry thoroughly and then just scrape it off with a fingernail, it comes out great. If you need pics I will be happy to email them to you.

[robdog]

Did you notice a difference in steering stability and or handling at all or was it basically a waste of money besides the nice looks underneath? I just wanted to tighten up my handling a little. Let me know please. Thanks, it looks good too!!

[Rico Rose]

If you can post the pictures of the painted engine cover, I've been thinking of painting mine. Sounds like good advice, about the Vasiline on the letters. Is the engine cover easier to wipe clean?

[Lancer]

I only noticed a small change in handling since the install, a little stiffer in corner's. I wasn't expecting anything real noticable from a simple device like a tower bar, I mostly got it for the looks. The Injen CAI was getting lonely.

[NSimkins]

quote:a strut tower is a good idea, could i get any difference with just an K&N filter instead of a whole CIA? let me knowPlease try to stay on topic. If you want to know more about a filter vs. a CAI, do a Search or browse the Engine and Transmission forum. You should find some answers there. If not, start a new topic in that area.

[robdog]

K&N filters are always a good addition but the CAI will far outperform just a filter upgrade, it just has much more air flow and the air is alot colder coming in!!

[Shadow Realm]

The strut tower looks SWEEEEEEET. I want one now that I have seen your pics. By the way your pics on the installation were great. If more people see your pics they will do their own work and go ahead and buy one. Thanks for the detailed pictures!!