Strut brace fitment, strut removal required???

[len_beach]

My OMP strut brace arrived this morning which I plan to fit this week when I get some stainless nuts and bolts. What size is best for fitment?
Will I also need to remove the strut to get access to the nut or will it be ok without?
Does the bolt not foul the lower strut cap when fitted?
All daft questions I know but I like to know what I am up against.

 

[Ali]

Shouldn't foul on any of them...Use the wee adjuster thing to get it square. 4mm nuts and bolts will suffice.

Ali

 

[hillclimber]

Yeh they didnt get in the way when I fitted my omp brace, the only problem I had was that I had to remove the top bolt (you can just see it in the pic below the strut brace on the right) holding the ECU and file down one side of the washer behind it to get better clearance and then it slotted on no probs

Think I spotted you Len yesterday on the skyliner roundabout between crossgates and colton, sliver 172 with 17" turinis? looks smart!I was waiting to pull out in a racing blue 182 cup

Simon

 

[len_beach]

That will have been me Simon. They're only 16's though.
I didn't notice you as I was concentrating on the police Corsa which was behind me. They ended up flying past me on the Mad Mile.
Where are you from mate?

 

[lee_cup]

oooh clean engine bay, how did you clean your engine, mines filthy

 

[len_beach]

That block almost looks painted as the bolt heads are the same colour.
Will I need to remove the struts then to tighten the bolts through the strut tops or is it just the wheels?

 

[hillclimber]

I'm from Otley Len but the girlfriend lives in kippax so i'm over that way a lot!

I cheated with that pic the car was only a week old, the engine looks a little grubbier now!!

As for the bolts, I used the self tappers that come with the brace i didnt go down the nuts and bolts route, might do at a later stage, but it still makes a noticable difference fitting it with the self tappers. Some say the only way to get real rigidity is to weld the brace in but I could never bring myself to weld on a new motor!!

I just marked it, punched it, drilled pilot holes and carefully tapped in the new bolts making sure they were covered in plenty of copper slip to try protect the holes from corroding. The struts and wheels stayed attached to the car and as I said the only complication was with the ecu mounting bolt that was easily modified.

You shouldn't have a problem, just take your time and drill carefully!!!!!

Simon