CR-15 Upper Strut Tower Brace Realtime Install

[OldSport//]

I recently caught wind of this new part for our cars and thought I would give it a try. It was developed by a forum member and he just recently started selling them. The part is an upper strut tower brace that connects to factory mounting locations between the two front strut towers. The kit included thorough instructions and all the necessary mounting hardware.

I'm hopeful this will be one of my quickest realtime installs to date, we'll see!

Previous installs:
Stoptech Trophy Sport 380mm BBK Realtime Install
EuroCode and 034Motorsport Realtime Install

[OldSport//]

Parts arrived yesterday:

[OldSport//]

I'm really impressed with the millwork and the anodizing.

Hardware included:


Tools required:

[OldSport//]

Remove the plastic screws on each side of the plastic cowl trim cover and pull up in the middle to pop out the center plastic connector.

[OldSport//]

Pull this electrical connector out of its bracket (just gently wiggle and pull up) and use the included zip tie to tie it out of the way.

[OldSport//]

[OldSport//]

Remove the existing nuts from the L bracket using a 13mm socket.

[OldSport//]

Put one washer on the outside passenger side stud for leveling purposes.



And gently pull up on the driver side wiper fluid reservoir for clearance.

[vwaddikt]

Who's making these bars? Would be interested in more info.

Thanks

[OldSport//]

This step takes a little finesse. You need to line up all the screw holes and push the bar down into position. It helped to use your hand and squeeze the L bar and strut bar towards each other.

[OldSport//]

[pooker]

Thanks so much for the write-up ! I am so bad with the internet. Could you post a link where you bought this from?

[OldSport//]

Washers go on the 3 non wiper reservoir studs, then the included self locking nuts go on all 4 studs. Hand tight at first and then 20 ft lbs.

[OldSport//]

Reinstall the cowl and you are done!!! Easiest part I've installed to date.

Heading to the track this weekend and will share my impressions.

[DKo5]

Yes, very easy install!

I put mine on a couple days ago. Being that I had Eurocode sways/endlinks, AK, and 034 mounts in for less than a week before this I'm unsure how much this part helps as I've still been getting to "know" my S4 again. Overall, though, my car is feeling much better than stock!

[Tuned4Rings]

Just got mine in the mail today as well hope to get it on tonight or this weekend. Anything I should look out for when installing? Great write up glad I saw this before I did my install.

[14S4GWM]

Who's making these bars? Would be interested in more info.

Thanks

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ictures-inside

[14S4GWM]

Thanks so much for the write-up ! I am so bad with the internet. Could you post a link where you bought this from?

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ictures-inside

[OldSport//]

^^PM u2nelson, from this thread, great guy to work with.

Who's making these bars? Would be interested in more info.

Thanks

Thanks so much for the write-up ! I am so bad with the internet. Could you post a link where you bought this from?

You're very welcome, thanks for the thanks!

[OldSport//]

Yes, very easy install!

I put mine on a couple days ago. Being that I had Eurocode sways/endlinks, AK, and 034 mounts in for less than a week before this I'm unsure how much this part helps as I've still been getting to "know" my S4 again. Overall, though, my car is feeling much better than stock!

Nice, sounds like we've been on a similar path and I agree that the upgrades all together are apparent! I also installed EuroCode sways and end links last week, and then the 034 rear diff inserts at the same time. It may be hard to appreciate the individual benefits of everything with so many changes but I will still see if I can provide some thoughts after I head to the track.

Just got mine in the mail today as well hope to get it on tonight or this weekend. Anything I should look out for when installing? Great write up glad I saw this before I did my install.

I guess be careful not to drop the washers and locking nuts into your engine bay, they may be hard to recover. Nelson put some suggestions in his instructions that I didn't follow but they would be helpful in this regard. He suggested using painters tape to tape the nuts into your socket when installing them. I've never done that before but it sounds like a reasonable idea. Also, I would do this outdoors in sunlight. I started to do it in my garage and realized I might not have enough light.

[LIFTMOR]

great install guide~!

[cspcrx]

When I have installed them in previous cars I really noticed a difference pulling in and out of driveways where the front tires were not on the same surface as each other, thus adding twist. Thanks for the write up, possibly another item to add to the list.

[u2nelson]

Wow this is a Great install guide; I'm sure this will become the new go to thread for info on this brace. Thanks everyone for the comments.
PM me for more info if your looking to get one on your car. The S5 section also has a thread going here. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...s-inside/page3

[GeoJoe]

Oldsport continues to deliver the value to Audizine....

[OldSport//]

Oldsport continues to deliver the value to Audizine....

Thanks Joe!

[flixman_420]

i installed mine today and i feel a difference on corners, suspension felt tighter. it was an easy install about 10 minutes.

[jl87]

Lots of good feedback thus far so I pulled the trigger also. Hate the feel of the suspension/steering in the B8.5 vs my old B8.

[ajay711]

Received mine this week. Looking forward to popping it in this weekend!

[MrFunk]

Good timing! Mine was waiting for me yesterday in the entrance - will pop it on today... thanks for the write up!

[Hatchman]

Very nicely done, thank you for the great write up! Looks easy.

[MrFunk]

Well... doesnt fit my 12'. I have another electric plug not mentioned in your write up or the install manual that is attached to the L Bar. Not sure what to do with it...

[MrFunk]

[MrFunk]

I ended up removing it and zip tying it... looks like it will fit now.

[drob23]

I ended up removing it and zip tying it... looks like it will fit now.

Isn't that from the AMS kit? Make sure it isn't something that needs to be grounded.

[nomis88]

Isn't that from the AMS kit? Make sure it isn't something that needs to be grounded.

It is from the AMS kit but it does not need to be grounded. That is simply just a connector and AMS mounted it there to help avoid NVH. Properly zip tying it was the correct thing to do

[MrFunk]

It is from the AMS kit but it does not need to be grounded. That is simply just a connector and AMS mounted it there to help avoid NVH. Properly zip tying it was the correct thing to do

Yeah - I'm good. Was wondering what the heck it was...

[u2nelson]

I ended up removing it and zip tying it... looks like it will fit now.

Wow, thanks MrFunk for highlighting this issue. Yours is the first I have seen with this electrical connection bolted to the L bar, (but probably not the last). So the consensus is its fine to just unbolt this plug and zip tie it up. Is this related to the Alpha Boost cooler? If so most cars will not have this issue, and if they do, it looks like its easily solved. Good work though. Have you gotten the car out for a good drive yet?

[14S4GWM]

Wow, thanks MrFunk for highlighting this issue. Yours is the first I have seen with this electrical connection bolted to the L bar, (but probably not the last). So the consensus is its fine to just unbolt this plug and zip tie it up. BTW what is the AMS kit? Bottom line, once cleared and out the way, everything else went OK. I might add the possibility of this electrical plug that is bolted to the L bar to the instructions, in case anyone else has it. Again thanks for solving it.

Mine had a plastic connector on it that was pushed into a drilled hole on the top factory bar. I simple drilled hole and I would have been able to put mine back on the aft side of the new bar. After I was finished the install I could have drilled it myself but didn't think about it till I was done and didn't feel like taking it back out so I just zip tied it up. I'll get a pic of the connector piece for you Nelson.



The long piece was attached to the electrical connector and the round piece was a push/pop into the L bracket.

[u2nelson]

Thanks for sharing. I think this is the attachment tab for the electrical connector that the instructions have you remove with a gentle pull and rocking motion while pushing up under the L bar. I just leave this little guy attached to the electrical connector, which gets tied up with the zip ties. Your right though, drilling another hole in the CR-15 would allow this to just push back in, might be a slicker install that way rather than using the zip ties.

[Qiish]

Here is the European car mentioned in the instructions.
I needed to modify the brace with some extra holes for something I think is the auxiliary heater. This should also apply to US spec cars with that extra option.

The bolts are measured 26.5cm and 30.5cm from the middle of the second bolt from passenger side, with 1.8cm from the side facing the firewall.



I expected the brace would sit flush with the firewall, and measured the drill holes 3mm too far outwards. That's why I needed to drill 12,5mm instead of approx 6mm.
Measure twice and drill once..



The bolts didn't need extra space, they fit below the brace because the L-bar is lowered at that point.





Short drive through a twisty section, and the front seems more connected - complements the Alu Kreuz and 034 mounts.