ktown

how effective are strut bars for wussy drivers who like to take hard corners in their 2003 dx auto civics.

I just got rid of my prelude, and still drive 2003 auto civic dx. cux i just bot a house. i'm beginning to get used to the puny engine, but still corner hard. are there strut bars for the 2003 civic? will it help? thanks.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

Nope, there is no helping an auto DX

Look into an RSX 19 mm rear sway bar first, then some better tires. Those should be the first areas you target.

imported_toyman29

all i can say is strutbars make a nice difference

diesel

dude, i have strut bar and 2 lower tie bar on mine, you won't regret it. trust me

Nova_Dust

Does the name brand make a much difference when comes to strut bars? Like say something that's made in Taiwan for 90 bucks vs. a Spoon one?

imported_JookSingKid

a strut bar is a strut bar is a strut bar

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

If you just want a bling look under the hood, this is true.

Let us all remind ourselves that the seventh generation has improved structural rigidity over the previous generations. He *MAY* not notice a big difference. The diff is supposed to be turn in and response, which with your stock tires and susp... may get lost by the time it gets to the road.

SilverCRXSi

so if what JookSingKid is right, does that mean a Ractive strut bar will do the same thing as a Neuspeed one?
I know theres a big price difference b/w the 2...

imported_toyman29

yeah i was about to say the same..
its a piece of metal..

diesel

mine is 7th generation, and i think you can still feel a difference. seriously, you can.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

Sure, if you think a strut bar is supposed to sit under the hood and be useless, a Ractive and Neuspeed will do that equally well. But if you expect any bracing from these strut bars, you'll need to do better than Ractive. On the chassis there are two forces acting (specifically in the area of the strut towers). Depending on the cornering load the towers will attempt to be pushed together or twisted or both. The spring, pushing back on the strut towers will produce this force. That is, of course, assuming you have grippy tires and a well sorted susp. The bars with pivot points MAY... again I stress MAY prevent the towers from being pushed together, but will fail to prevent the twist. A solid bar as is found on OEM strut bars and good aftermarket ones will act against both forces. Just look at a Cusco or a Comptech unit. Until someone places a video camera under the hood and goes for a rip, I fail to be convinced that cheap bars will do anything. I believe reviewing footage of such an act will reveal to all, once and forever, that cheap bars will twist up like a rubber band. Besides that, on earlier model Civics, I believe lower tie bars to be of much more worth than upper ones. Lower points of the susp are more prone to give, hence massive wheelhop we experience. 7th gens have McPhearson susps, which I have no interest in, so I can't comment with any certainty.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

what bar do you have, and did you put the lower ones at the same time as the upper?

diesel

upper one is only a taiwan brand, i forgot what it was.
the lower two are spoon bars.

i installed the front header bar first, didn't feel much difference, honestly, but installing the two lower ones about a month or two later, felt a big difference when making sharper turns

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

Ya, read my post above the previous one... I think you'll find your answer there. Guess the MacPhearson can benefit from lower tie bars too.

diesel

ya, it's awesome. cuz everything else in my car is pretty stock right now. no money for anything.. er...

imported_JookSingKid

I use the OEM GSR bar, you can pick them up from $40-$60 used

Best Bar in my opinion

Nova_Dust

From whre?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

I have a OEM SiR

imported_JookSingKid

keep your eyes on the classifieds if not any importer should have them.

imported_JookSingKid

APPROVED!

FYI to others: OEM SiR and GSR are identical