i am sure it's in my head, but ever since i have put on the strut bar, the front wheels look all crazy. the pass side front wheel looks like its crooked. like from the bottom, it's going in a little. it's not a bent wheel, but seems like the suspension is messed up..

also if i get the alignment done, should i take off the strut bar and re-install afterwards?

btw i have the stock suspension..
thanks for your help

 

Was your car sitting on a flat surface, not jacked up, and level when you torqued down the strut tower bolts?

 

yes. i was sitting on a flat surface.
thanks

 

i guess no one but me has this problem. i have also noticed that the car just wants to go crazy when its going over cracked roads. kinda like torque steer, only it happens at 10 miles even when i lay off the gas...HELP PLEASE

 

If your car is following lines I say you have "toe out". I bet your car was always out of alignment, maybe the bar amplified an already existent problem. Get an alignment done without the bar. Re-install the bar on a flat surface, wheels straight.

Question for you: If you are driving down the road and turn a corner does the wheel straighten itself out or does the car seem to keep turning if you don't correct the wheel yourself?

 

sorry for the late reply. it does straighten itse;f after turns. i am taking it in for an alignment today.
thanks

 

Do the alignment with the strut bar in place.

You don't need to preload the bar, just lay it on in a neutral position and tighten the strut mount bolts to spec. ~35 ft/lbs.

If you preload, you can push the strut towers out slightly and cause your camber to move.

 

That's what I always thought, but you're the first person I've heard say it. I can't imagine how putting that much pressure on the frame would be good for the alignment.

 

of FSTB preloading months ago...beat to death, no conclusions but I too agree with njmax's assesment, this preload thing is hogwash...
If the chassis were that flexible that the wee bit of force one could generate from preloading the bar could actualy alter the camber, our shock towers would be falling off in 10k miles from metal fatigue.