Cars: A3 Golf, Jetta 8V & VR6 1996-up
Time Required: 25-30 minutes.
Tools Needed: Drill, 7/16" & 3/8" bits, 10mm socket & torque wrench, grease, 9/16" wrench
This goes back a few years to when I first got my 96' GTi VR6 and I was a member on the GTi VR6 E-mailing list and the hot parts to have were Neuspeed's. At this time there are many other manufacturers of strut tie bars in a huge variety of shapes, colors and metal alloys. The reason for the strut tie bar is to add extra support for the front strut towers and prevent them for flexing in towards each other under hard cornering and to make the front suspension do all the work instead of the body flexing.
Procedure:
- With the car at rest and all four wheels on the ground, position the Strut Tie Bar on the strut towers and center from side to side. You will need to loop one leg of the strut tie bar under and around the coolant overflow tube. Check for clearance of the hood alarm switch if your car is equipped with one. I had to loosen and rotate mine out of the way to prevent interference with the strut tie bar. If your Golf or Jetta has excess sealing compound around the strut towers you may need to cut this a way so the feet of the strut tower brace rest flat against the top of the strut tower. You may also have to spread the feet slightly to fit around the strut tower cap.
- With the bar in the final position, mark the mounting holes with a marker, center punch, drill a small pilot hole and finish with the 3/8" bit. You can use touch up paint on the bare metal to prevent rust. You may want to use a vacuum cleaner to help suck up the metal shavings while drilling to prevent it from getting all over the engine bay.
- Using the tool supplied with the Neuspeed strut tie bar (I greased each nutsert to get more accurate torque) use the 9/16" open end wrench to hold the tool and using the 10mm socket and torque wrench tighten each nutsert in each mounting hole to 10-12 foot pounds. Hold the 9/16" wrench firm, do not let the tool turn while installing or removing of the nutsert setting bolt or nutsert will be loose and so will the tie bar.
- Reinstall the strut tie bar and install each grade 8 bolt with lock washer loosely into each mounting hole. Hand tighten each bolt and then tighten each bolt using the torque wrench in 1/2 turn intervals to 10-12 foot pounds tightening the strut tie bar evenly. Do not over tighten nutserts, you will strip them. When properly installed, it will take a force of over 800 foot pounds of pressure to rip each nutsert loose from it's mounting hole.
- Carefully double check installation and test drive carefully.
Impressions:
You will notice faster steering and quicker turn in. You may notice a bit more front end bumps as the front tub no longer bends and flexes to absorb road joints, small pot holes and pavement unevenness. Backing out of the driveway it feels stiffer and the front end feels more solid, better planted. You will definitely like this mod and remember, just about every BMW on the road comes with a front strut tie bar stock.
By: Michael Bigus
'97 GTI VR6
