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Hi Bill,
I have the Eibach bar. It's been over two years since I helped install
it, so I'll do my best to help. Mine came with minimal instructions,
and if I find them, I'll fax them. In the meantime, here's what I
remember. I had a mechanic do this, but I helped.
The bar was installed with the bracket closer to the front. This indeed
will not clear the expansion tank, so we removed the tank from its
mount, leaving the hoses intact. The tab on the tank that mounts it to
the car was then shaved so it would sit lower and clear the bar. I
believe we disconnected the crossbar from the collars to mount them on
the shock towers, and then before drilling reinstalled the crossbar
loosely. You'll then need to remove those wiring harnesses that come
out from under the rain tray into the engine compartment because one of
the holes on each side will be right under them. Once the collars are
where you want them to be, use a punch to start the holes.
Here's the tricky part. The mechanic decided not to use the bolts that
Eibach provides. I think in order to use the nuts and bolts provided,
you would need to remove the strut assemblies to install them upside
down (bolts facing up)! Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here.
Instead he got some hi quality allen head bolts (I can't remember what
size, 8 mm maybe), drilled the proper size hole into the shock tower and
thru the spring cap, and then screwed the bolts in. I was highly
suspicious of this install, but after two years of spirited driving
(which includes some track time), the thing is still held fast.
A week or two after install, remember to check the bolts for tightness.
And then enjoy its beauty. I didn't notice a huge performance gain,
just a little better turn-in response. I mostly got it to maintain
chassis integrity.
I hope I haven't left anything out. It's raining now so later, I'll go
out and check to see if there's anything to add. If you have any more
questions, just let me know.
Randy
95 GTI VR6
The Flying Grape
Bill Schleusner wrote:
>
> Got my strut bar delivered yesterday and proceeded to go out last night to
> test fit it to my 97GLX. Since it came with no instructions Eibach must
> think that a trained monkey could do the install. Since I'm not a trained
> monkey, I would like to hear from other Eibach owners about my concerns.
>
> Before I start drilling holes in my strut/shock towers I need some help. I
> placed both collars over the strut bearings the way I think they should go
> but the strut bar doesn't clear the coolant expansion tank. I then flipped
> the collars L>R, R>L and the strut bar goes behind the tank, (I think this
> is the correct way). BUT now the braces on the collars rub BIG TIME on a
> wiring loom running along the edge of the drip pan in the engine
> compartment. I don't feel comfortable having the relatively sharp edges of
> the brace rubbing on wiring over time.
>
> If somebody who has an Eibach strut bar would reply and state whether I am
> missing something I would GREATLY appreciate it. I can't believe that
> Eibach would place the braces on the collar such that they don't clear the
> wiring located in the engine compartment. Why didn't they just make the bar
> (or brace) a little higher so it would clear the expansion tank.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> BTW, I have no intention of starting the "What strut bar is the best?"
> thread.
>
> PSS - If anyone has the instructions to the Eibach bar I would really
> appreciate faxing them to me. 972-917-4519
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Bill Schleusner
> b-schleusner ti
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Fri Sep 18 18:47 CDT 1998