How To Strut Bar install:

before you start just to let you know. Some strut bars will not allow to be fitted onto the car without the removal of the stock airbox and install of the air intake because of clearance issues.

1. Open Hood
2. Take off the two bolts on each side of the strut tower
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../strutbolt.jpg

3. I like to take off both ends of the strut bar endlinks that mount to the car because it makes the install easier because cheaper strut bars the holes dont line up 100 percent without bending and twisting the actual strut bar hence damaging the actual bolt.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...rutbarbolt.jpg

4. after removing the two endlinks and having them installed onto the body first install the bolt for the strut bar back into the endlinks and then adjust the strut bar so both sides are evenly threaded to give maximum stability.

after your done it should look like this
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...1/strutbar.jpg

Hey Rukus

In step-2, you said 'take off the two bolts on either side of the strut tower'

What are these two bolts for? Are they holding any suspension components or are do they come bolted to the body from Honda? I always thought that you have to drill holes on pre-markeed positions to install strut bars in EKs (excluding SIs)

these bolts are holding ur upper control arms, while your cars is on the ground with weight on it, it is okay to remove them

wrong.
those bolts hold suspension top hat (strut and spring assembly) up.

the upper control arm is held up on the sides of the shock tower:nods:

i wish you have some bigger and closer pics...

this is some good info for my future front strut bar install

i heard the same thing as well
cuz if i try to put an OEM SIR strut bar on my ek, ill have to drill into the shock tower. i can see the spots where the holes hsould be, but on my si, they arent drilled. ive seen the writeup on ht and have it bookmarked somewhere. apparently its easier to drill up through the wheel well for ths, because APPARENTLY theres a plate or something underneath that has holes in it alerady and u just drill up through those holes...APPARENTLY. ill try and fine the writeup

id also like to see some larger pics from rukus :D

hey four2

thanks for the info on the possibility of a plate underneath the strut tower. I guess...it depends upon the type of bar also. some bars have links that can be secured with the two screws side by the side to the shock (the way rukus described it) and some bars have end links that need to be screwed down further away from the the shock.

For the later type....you will have to drill holes at premarked positions.....check this pic....the bar is screwed away from the strut and not right onto it

http://www.streetracing.org/japan/streets/Mvc-022s.jpg

Sorry about the grainy and dark pic...but here is a close up of the two premarked spots for drilling. This is a 99 sedan but im sure all civics will have them.

http://x10.putfile.com/3/8312220214.jpg

I know it is a simple install but when u do it the first time...its all fun and game. Hey...let me know if you can find that bookmark of yours.

hey man no prob
ya the bars that dont go directly onto the shock are the ones im talking about. the premarked hole route. cuz i have those.

here is the link from HT i was talking about


http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1451355

look at what the guy says in the second post. this is all i know and apparently it works according to the guy who responded
:thumbup:

so he is suggesting to drill the holes from inside of the fender wall....hhmmm...dont know if that is right. sounds complicated...i still havent found any DIY on this one though

to install ctr or sir strut bars you will have to drill the shock tower.
i wouldnt drill from inside the wheel well i would rather drill from top to bottom then from bottom up because the finish of the hole will be cleaner.

i completely agree with you, but what do you say about what that thread from HT says? im just asking, i havent actually looked myself. i mean about the predrilled panels on the underside.
:)

if you have an EG the holes are already drilled, and are just capped with rubber plugs that you pop out.

96+ civics you have to drill

youre right about the plugs, i dont have those on my ek
BUT
read that thread that i linked above, and it talks about holes UNDERNEATH the fender on all civics that are like guide holes to drill up through the premarked(but not predrilled) holes on the EK

he says the fender is two panels and the bottom panel already has holes, and u drill up through those through the top piece into the engine bay

some 6th gens have the pre-drilled holed plugged with the plastic plugs...the 96 I was working on did...as far as the undercar holes I havent a clue