KTec front strut brace fitting

[Taipan]

Before I make a silly mistake. Just sourced a KTec front strut brace to be fitted with their top mounts, which are already on the car.

Can anyone tell me whether you’re meant to take off the top portion of each top mount to fit (be replaced by) the strut brace?

KTec product description for the strut brace says fitment uses existing top mount bolts - but existing bolts are about 15mm too short if the whole top mount is left in place.

Am I being thick? Rang KTec and they didn’t know (!) and I can’t make it out from the product pictures they have on the website.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Before I make a silly mistake. Just sourced a KTec front strut brace to be fitted with their top mounts, which are already on the car.

Can anyone tell me whether you’re meant to take off the top portion of each top mount to fit (be replaced by) the strut brace?

KTec product description for the strut brace says fitment uses existing top mount bolts - but existing bolts are about 15mm too short if the whole top mount is left in place.

Am I being thick? Rang KTec and they didn’t know (!) and I can’t make it out from the product pictures they have on the website.

It looks to me like you'd remove to top portion of the top mount. The pictures on their website show the brace sitting flat on the strut tops.

Lots of their instructions are poorly written and short on detail.

 

[Taipan]

It looks to me like you'd remove to top portion of the top mount. The pictures on their website show the brace sitting flat on the strut tops.

Lots of their instructions are poorly written and short on detail.

Agree re. leaving a lot to be interpreted!

Removing the top part of the top mount makes sense to me and it doesn’t! Can’t see any other way to make it fit though, without buying longer bolts.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Agree re. leaving a lot to be interpreted!

Removing the top part of the top mount makes sense to me and it doesn’t! Can’t see any other way to make it fit though, without buying longer bolts.

Yeah. The top part is effectively a large spacer, so your brace will do the same job. I think that's the only way you can fit it.

I don't know what's happened to that company, but it's properly gone down hill over the last few years. Maybe lost some good staff during covid. They have some really good products as well.

 

[Taipan]

Will give it a whirl. I think it makes sense but you’d have thought something so obvious would at least be alluded to in their write up!

Would have opted for the PMS brace if the car didn’t already have the KTec top mounts. PMS know how to write a fitting guide!

 

[Mr Underhill]

Will give it a whirl. I think it makes sense but you’d have thought something so obvious would at least be alluded to in their write up!

Would have opted for the PMS brace if the car didn’t already have the KTec top mounts.

Maybe now you've mentioned it, they might update their website.

PMS know how to write a fitting guide!

I recently bought a custom radiator that was supposed to fit a Mk2, though the instructions were for a Mk1. I had trouble fitting it in my 182 due to the alternator and had to modify the radiator supports. Despite the challenges, I got it installed and sent them an updated instruction guide. Hopefully, they’ll post it on their website soon.

On a related note, AST doesn't provide any instructions with their top mounts. You have to email others who have installed them, which is frustrating when you're spending a lot of money. Not everyone can afford to hire specialists.

Post some feedback when you've fitted and tested it so others can learn from the experience.

 

[Taipan]

Will do. Always annoying when you find an aged thread with no conclusion!

Good work on the fitment and for updating them. Helps someone else out in the future. I’ll do the same,

 

[Taipan]

Conclusion as promised.

You do have to remove the top portion of the KTec top mount. This is because if you don’t:
i) KTec top mount bolts aren’t long enough to fit through the strut brace AND the compete top mount. KTec don’t supply longer bolts with the front brace (inference being that they don’t deem them a requirement).
ii) front brace won’t seat flush on the locator ring of the bottom section of the top mount.
iii) brace will foul on the bonnet.

Things to be aware of with the front brace fitted as above:
i) the front brace fouls on the top of ECU plug, requiring new holes to be drilled into the ECU bracket to lower the ECU attachment point. Note: running a GEN90 ECU, so this may not be a problem for the OEM ECU.
ii) the car doesn’t have underbonnet sound deadening material. Even without, front brace still touches bonnet in one area. Bonnet locates and closes no problem, but with sound deadening in place this may not be the case.

Hopefully above helps. Despite the teething issues, brace itself looks to be a really good bit of kit.

Main reason for me going for KTec over (my preference) PMS was the potential risk that further holes would need to be drilled in the strut tower if the top mount locator holes differed between KTec/PMS. Something to consider. Had that not been a concern I would have opted for PMS.