Strut Brace Won't Fit

[2052006 10]

As above, I have bought myself an OMP adjustable upper strut brace, but neither side will go over the strut bolts properly. Do the holes on the brace sometimes need drilling out a bit? Or is it something simple that I've missed?

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

*Trembles at the thought of asking a dumb question*

 

Have you got it the right way round?

[All Praise The GTI 3]

ditto sarty above

try loosening the adjuster nut? and extending or shortening the brace

[2052006 10]

Yes! It's the right way round.

 

I've tried adjusting it, but the problem is with the studs not quite matching up with the holes Some do, but not all of them - just slightly out - but enought to mean it won't fit.

Edited December 11, 2009 by 2052006

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

I bet your top mount studs are all bent outwards, A few do this from Jumping too much

[2052006 10]

Miles, yes, some of them do appear to be bent outwards a little. What do you mean by jumping too much? And what can be done to fix it, can they be bent back or will I have to get some new top mount parts (I've had them apart before, but can't remember exactly how they're made up)?

[welshpug 1,655]

jumping meaning exactly that, or severe bumps like speedhumps at speed etc.

 

jack the car up, loosen the nuts and hit the top of the strut tower (NOT the top of the damper) till its flat again, it will have gone into a dome shape.

[2052006 10]

Cheers, that makes sense, I'll give it a go

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

But best buy some new one's as they will mushroom out again.

[2052006 10]

Can I buy that part of the top mount separately then, or do I have to buy the whole assembly??

[2052006 10]

Sorry, still a bit confused on this one... I've had another look at it all and it's not clear to me what's wrong.

 

Is it the actual Top Plate of the top mount assembly that deforms OR is it the top of the actual strut tower ie. part of the car body?

 

The studs are only slightly out, so it's difficult for me to tell what the problem is actually caused by.

[j_turnell 136 3 Cars]

Undo the nuts close to the top of the thred and gently tap them with a hammer to straighten the studs. As above if the strut tops themselves are domed then get a lump of wood and a hammer and flatten them out. Really shoudn't be that difficult tbh.

[welshpug 1,655]

Is it the actual Top Plate of the top mount assembly that deforms OR is it the top of the actual strut tower ie. part of the car body?

 

both

[2052006 10]

Ok, that makes more sense now. Will give it a go then - I just didn't want to start hitting things with a hammer when I wasn't sure!!!

[allye 530 3 Cars]

You can pick up some 2nd hand struts in good nic and re-build yours with the non-buggered strut mounts, only took me a couple of hours to take them of the car rebuild them and put them back (2 threads has been crossed severly!)

 

Ali

[frobes2 0]

I snapped one of the studs yesterday fitting mine and almost fainted cos its not a hard job fiiting a strut brace and the guys on her adviced me to replace it easily, which I'm doing tomorrow at lunch.. They are very helpful and know their stuff.. thanks again, hope you get it sorted..

[kyepan 291]

mine was tricky to fit the first time too. it did give the impression that it did not fit at first.

 

think in the end we took the weight of the car on a jack but kept it just on it's feet and then wobbled the car sideways grabbing on the wing, whilst another wiggled the brace. eased it on just a bit one side, then adjusted to get it near the other end, then wiggled again, and it gradually located neatly.

 

we may have also slackened the strut tops to give a bit more movement.... but i can't remember.

 

hope this helps.