(sorry on dup post, forum crashed for a minute right as I tried to submit, please delete error thread)

And the car handles waaaaaay better. Glad i found a link when i first logged in to this site called "top 5 upgrades for your max". FSTB and RSB were always in the top 3.

Ebay Bar $25 shipped
Progress Bar $109 shipped.

In some respect, you get what you pay for. Ebay bar needed washers on the strut tower to keep from Knocking against the engine in reverse.
Progress bar is not as install friendly as the Addco due to the bulky side brackets (way more difficult to deal with the ebrake brackets and to adjust to extra stiff).

BUT........I certainly can't complain about how the car rides now. They do what they are intended to do, and I don't feel the slightest bit guilty!! Glad i stumbled onto this forum.

Next to install....PT1011, just gotta get off my butt to the muff shop.

 

Nice! Man my FSTB rubs too, but its here and there. If I go in reverse straight back it rubs less than if I am crankin the wheel in either direction. Some days it won't rub at all. Washers go on Sunday. So did you put the FSTB on first to see how much difference it made and then later add the Progress RSB? If you did, how much improvement over just having the FSTB did the RSB make? My FSTB helps some but not much. I want the Progress but just keep stalling. Let me know man!

 

Way to make an informed choice. My 1st mods on my car were a Courtesy FSTB and Addco RSB within a month of owner ship

 

Congrats. But I'd go with Otto.

 

Ben, to keep the bar from hitting the engine (or intake, whatev), I ened up using two washers. Kloogy mentioned tighening the bolt between the bracket and bar, but it didn't help me out at all. With TWO washers for each strut tower bolt, AND rotating the bar towards the front of the car (instead of trying to make it perfectly level on top), I have no issues anymore. With one washer, I could still bump the bar. It never "rubbed", it just tapped the bar and I'd hear a knock. I actually shifted back and forth into reverse with hood open, foot on brake, and sorta watched the thing hit so I knew how to adjust the angle.

I did the FSTB then a week later the RSB.

FSTB helped at high speed on uneven roads, like a freeway to freeway onramp (not the round loop type, but one where you can still go 70mph). I noticed thr front end not as much moving like a boat in the water. Moved more in unison as expected from mor rigidity. That was the only effect I noticed.

The RSB made far more difference. Made the car feel a bit more solid in normal driving, and makes the car actually drive faster in corners. No wait, it's ME who makes it go faster in corners now because the car is much flatter in them! It's a great combo, and as I said, it's what people recommend for these cars.

If you find the addco for similar price to progress, get that one. It's just a bit easier to adjust it, but will be about same in performance.

 

Thanks sweeper. I guess I will grab the Addco. Was your install, other than the bracket problem, pretty easy? How long did it take?

 

As far as a FSTB rubbing, all you have to do is file down the top point where the intake bolts onto the intake manifold. Mine was rubbing at first... filed it down and it hasn't mad a sound since. The manifold is aluminum and is easy to file and you don't even notice. My .02

 

Good deal. The FSTB and RSB were my first two mods as well. I now have a Berk intake, waiting to install it until I've had my last warrantied servicing in a couple of hundred miles.

I've had slight "vibrating" with the car in reverse backing up my sloped driveway. I think I may try the file technique once I'm out of warranty.

Next mod? I'm thinking HotShot headers if the dynos turn out as well as expected...

 

Why would you file when you can just add a couple of washers??? You can't unfile things, Jerry.

 

Ben, took me about an hour to instal the RSB and I took my time. It's very easy. The included instructions were crap, but I had read the numerous other posts on how to install with pics, so I was all set.

I thought about filing to stop the rubbing, but, that was gonna be my last resort. The washers have worked just fine so far, so I'll stick with it unless something goes wrong later.


I am still loving these mods. best $135 I've spent lately.

 

Cool. I'm sold! Thanks

 

Congrats!! You do realize that you are now infected right? With the MOD bug, the only cure for this is death or lack of funds! Good luck Bro keep on modding!

 

Hey sweeper, I got my washers on and you were right.... all fixed. No grind, scrub or anything. So to everyone trying to remedy this problem, just spend $0.92 on a few washers and you will be rid of it. But DO NOT FILE DOWN YOUR INTAKE MANIFOLD! NO REASON TO DO THIS.

 

Cool Ben, now time to get yourself that RSB!

 

How about filing the section of the brace instead? That shouldn't make it weaker as long as you don't go overboard.

 

You don't need to file anything. Just throw on some washers. It's faster and most of all its not permanent. Honestly, why file ANYTHING on your car if you don't have to?

 

Because I think the washers would make a gap between the brackets and the strut tower and look ackward. If you filed the underside of the brace where it goes over the intake, you probably wouldn't be able to see it anyway. It's all a matter of taste I reckon.

 

Mine came off Ebay, however I don't know it's brand-name. It's hardened stainless steel though, you couldn't touch it unless you had a grinder. You sure you can just file yours down?

 

I don't think it looks bad with the washers on. But then again, I don't really care about what it looks like underneath my hood either. My FSTB could have unicorns and bible verses on it. Doesn't matter to me. But do what you like.

 

I don't have one yet. Since I have an automatic, I'm waiting a while to find one that has less possibilty of contacting the engine. Some bars are round and some are flat.

 

The Stillen is pretty flat compared with mine which is definately rounded. But, the Stillen costs 3 times more than the one I got and does the job just as well. If you are concerned with its looks, then get the Stillen. If not, grab a cheapie off of eBay, add the washers, and take the other $40 and get yourself a K&N panel filter.