Front strut brace fitting guide/help wanted

[Simon_172]

hey all

i just bought myself a OMP front strut brace, and befor i attack my car with a drill i thought i would ask what bits to use etc.

thanks
si

i found this but need to know what drill bits to use.

1. 
   [*]park the car on a flat surface. Switch off the ignition. Open the bonnet and disconnect the battery.
   [*]place the brace roughly where it should fit, if it looks hideously wrong, turn it round, a common mistake
   [*]carefully remove any engine components that are needed to be taken off to fit the brace.
   [*]check that the holes in the brace match up to the bolts on the car on the strut turrets, if not, adjust the width of the brace by slackening off the two nuts either side of the adjuster "bolt" then turn the adjuster bolt to make the brace wider or narrower. Try to keep both ends flat when turning the centre adjuster nut - this pushes the ends out evenly.
   [*]If your brace is supplied with screws to fit to the car, then adjust the width, and drill/screw where the fitment seems best, being careful not to drill near to cables/wires or any engine components.
   [*]undo the nuts on the top of the turrets, fit the brace over the bolts which are standing vertically, then tighten them to hold everything together, back over the brace.
   [*]use the adjuster nut in the centre, to take up any slack, this should push outwards. Do not overtighten the brace as this can lead to upward flexing in the middle part of the brace.
   [*]tighten off the nuts at the top of the turrets (do not overtighten, as they are liable to breaking), then tighten off the two locking nuts either side of the adjuster.
   [*]place your hands on the brace and pull it firmly in all directions to ensure there is no slack anywhere, and that it is not catching any components.
   [*]refit any engine components removed at the beginning. Check engine bay for tools (who has not left a spanner there before!) and reconnect the battery.
   [*]close the bonnet slowly - checking to make sure there is clearance at the top.
   [*]take the car for a quick road test to check for any knocks or vibrations.

 

[AlexG]

haha didnt think about that you could fit it then slam your bonnet down and oops it was too high!!!

 

[MT AUDIO]

use hss titanium plated drill bits,nice and easy then

 

[CHRIS-172]

does anybody have pics of theirs fitted?

"check that the holes in the brace match up to the bolts on the car on the strut turrets" not sure on this bit, what bolts on the strut turrets? we havent started drilling yet!

 

[Coby.]

I just placed it where it seemed to naturally fit then drilled Holes down through the Eyes of the Strut Brace Plates

 

[Simon_172]

nice one mate cheers


nice bay

 

[CHRISK172+]

I did same as above, but i used a centre punch to mark holes then removed brace before drilling. Then remove all swarf and de-burr hole before placing brace for fastening.

 

[Simon_172]

any more tips befor i attack my car later lol

 

[CHRISK172+]

Don't be too heavy handed when tightening the fasteners, as they can easily be snapped. Clean the swarf away thoroughly as i goes rusty very quick.

 

[Simon_172]

cool i got big self tappers with it are they ok?

and with them being self tappers do i frill a hole a little smaller than the screw right?

 

[CHRISK172+]

cool i got big self tappers with it are they ok?

and with them being self tappers do i frill a hole a little smaller than the screw right?

Screws should be 10mm socket head, drill 4mm i believe. No so bad if using 1/4" socket set or spanner, just be careful if using 1/2" socket set as you can easily get too much torque for that size of screw and they will shear off the head

 

[Simon_172]

cool i got big self tappers with it are they ok?

and with them being self tappers do i frill a hole a little smaller than the screw right?

Screws should be 10mm socket head, drill 4mm i believe. No so bad if using 1/4" socket set or spanner, just be careful if using 1/2" socket set as you can easily get too much torque for that size of screw and they will shear off the head

yeah thats right mate thats what size they are .

i put it on yesterday to see if it was all lined up and noticed this was in the way a little.

the top of the ecu and the screw to the right of it can i hammer them slightly?