I am totally confused after installing my ebay strut bar. The strut bar has nothing to do with the engine, but I noticed it got louder. The sound when accelerating to 3000rpm in each gear increased. I can hear the sound of my engine now while driving and I never did before. I can "feel" the engine through the gas pedal. I have an I30t which is also supposed to have 150lbs of sound dampening material. It basically doesn't run as smooth as it used to and I just changed my oil with Mobil 1 tri-syn and it is still loud and rougher than usual.

I noticed that the bar is very close to the little black plastic canister sitting above the TB. The canister looks like an EGR valve but smaller. I think it rubs against it because the engine moves when you are accelerating in gear. What do you guys think?

BTW...my car has a little less than 48k miles.

 

Did you Install The Strut Bar Correctly? I got an Ebay FSTB to and I noticed no diffrence with sound. And very little diffrecnce with handeling, but it does help a bit. Let me know how you installed it!

 

I think you can only install it one way. The hole for the bolt don't line up if you install it backwards or upside down. This is very strange to me.

 

That sound wierd. It can't be the strut bar. I have one on my I30t and have no problems.

 

Is it bolted in tightly?? Perhaps there's a vibration....?? If not, then are u sure u didn't change anything on accident while installing. Good luck

 

Sorry but there's no way it's the strut bar that's causing the sound, but the title makes me ROTFL!

As for the sound, check your intake system. You might have knocked something loose, and letting more air into your engine will increase sound somewhat like what you described.
-Cyrus

 

The Ebay strut bars, have a way of actually Like Makeing the strut stretch out further. You have to have it exual on both sides of the bolts for makeing it further so it pusshes the struts out.

 

maybe a sticker will add 5 hp =)

 

As usual there are a bunch of idiotic responses... I noticed the same thing after i installed my FSTB also... Yes, it is very close to touching some parts underneath the hood and in my case it does... When i first installed it, it caused a vibration because i foolishly did not tighten one of the bolts enough, holding the bar to the braces attached to the car, so when in reverse, the part touching the FSTB caused it to vibrate and make the car sound weird... After tightening it, the sound went away...

 

I noticed an increased sound as well. Of course the engine is not louder but accelerating and at certain rpms my car has this hum to it. I am pretty sure I tightened the bar properly but I will check it again. I bought mine off ebay as well

Alec