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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: eightyeightmph on 21 April 2008, 15:08

Title: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: eightyeightmph on 21 April 2008, 15:08
(http://www.goingfast.info/04_05/ebay_sales/images/golf3_strutbar1.jpg)

^^^ These things ^^^

Looks cool, adds something else to have to polish under the hood & might even improve handling?! :wink:

Take it the ones for the back are pretty well generic but the front often seem to exclude the 16V models?!

Where can I get ones for my valver & what are your opinions?

:afro:
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: Len on 21 April 2008, 16:01
I doubt you will notice any improvement in handling in normal road use.
developed for track use really but yes they do look good!
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: DaveGTiMK on 21 April 2008, 16:13
my bro has one on his Astra GTE and said he did notice that it was more ridged once this was on, although its a Vaxhaul so it was probably twsting all over the place anyway.

I have seen 16v specific ones come up on ebay from time to time, not sure if anyone has fitted the units you have seen to a valver though, was wondering this myself but chose not to waste the money on one that may not fit.

How do you fit this by the way as it looks like you have to drill holes in the top of the suspension mounts to bolt this too?
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: Paul86S2 on 21 April 2008, 16:15
Got one fitted to my 16v, but it is used mainly on the track.

Noticeable difference in cornering on the track.

Easy enough to install, you need to drill the top of the towers to bolt them on. Only slight problem was I needed to move the coolant expansion tank forward by about 15mm to stop it rubbing on the strut brace, a couple of straight brackets from B&Q solved this.

The design is slightly compromised strength wise, ideally it should be straight and have triangulated fixings to help stop forwards and backwards movement, but then we are talking motorsport use.

Item no 200215917178 on ebay lists 16v fitment, but then some people will say anything to get a sale.

Rear ones seem to be generic for Mk2 and Mk3's but they dont look meaty enough to make a real difference in my opinion.

Cheers

Paul
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: Len on 21 April 2008, 16:17
So if you have to drill the towers do you not have to undo the top mounts and drop the struts? Surely if you didnt do this you would be drilling into the rubber top mount?
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: Paul86S2 on 21 April 2008, 16:25
So if you have to drill the towers do you not have to undo the top mounts and drop the struts? Surely if you didnt do this you would be drilling into the rubber top mount?
No it just misses them if you get it centralised.

Paul
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: DaveGTiMK on 21 April 2008, 16:29
found this on flee bay looks the dogs dodars.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Golf-MK3-Eibach-Front-Strut-Brace_W0QQitemZ290224146004QQihZ019QQcategoryZ9889QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Golf-MK3-Eibach-Front-Strut-Brace_W0QQitemZ290224146004QQihZ019QQcategoryZ9889QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
(http://i4.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/ea/fb/b88f_1.JPG)
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: DaveGTiMK on 21 April 2008, 16:40
Sparco do one...
 
item code 036RG76 is 16ver specific.

or this one from e-tech....

http://www.edworthys.co.uk/e-tech/performancestrutbraces/1-brushed-silver-alloy-upper-frontstrutbracewith2endadjustersforvolkswagengolf.htm (http://www.edworthys.co.uk/e-tech/performancestrutbraces/1-brushed-silver-alloy-upper-frontstrutbracewith2endadjustersforvolkswagengolf.htm)
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: Paul86S2 on 21 April 2008, 16:49
Sparco do one...
 
item code 036RG76 is 16ver specific.

or this one from e-tech....

http://www.edworthys.co.uk/e-tech/performancestrutbraces/1-brushed-silver-alloy-upper-frontstrutbracewith2endadjustersforvolkswagengolf.htm (http://www.edworthys.co.uk/e-tech/performancestrutbraces/1-brushed-silver-alloy-upper-frontstrutbracewith2endadjustersforvolkswagengolf.htm)
Careful if you buy anything from Edworthys. They supplied me with the wrong brake pads, kept promising to get the right ones to me and collect the wrong ones and nothing ever arrived. Eventually I canceled the order and sent the wrongly supplied ones back. They refused the delivery and said I was over the 14 day money back period.
I could get nowhere with them and eventually the credit card company refunded my money, but I had to jump through hoops to prove it all to the credit card company.
Did some research on them and they are apparently well known for this, as well as their sister company.
Beware.

Paul
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V
Post by: eightyeightmph on 21 April 2008, 22:55
Hmm, all interesting, if I got them it would be cosmetics mainly but nice to know what people think & other options to those on fleabay!

Cheers all! :smiley:
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V
Post by: Mikester on 21 April 2008, 23:07
i want them upper and lower all around, i think if you crashed, they would defo help the cars rigity, dont really want my engine taking my legs off lol!
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V
Post by: ollie6n on 22 April 2008, 00:06
I think the only real difference you notice on the road with these strut bars is if you have lowered the car a bit, puts a bit more tension through the body  so if you strap it down it makes a difference, It makes a REAL difference if you put lower bars on too and uprate the anti-roll bars. . . what a nice feeling!
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V?
Post by: golfmk31993 on 22 April 2008, 19:46
ive got a sparco strut brace that i bought brand new from ebay for 20quid, ive checked if it fits my 1.4 and it does,
im gunna wait untill i lower it so i can fit it when the top mounts are outta the way
Title: Re: Has any one got strut bars fitted, opinions & where can I get then for a 16V
Post by: ollie6n on 23 April 2008, 17:54
Good idea mate, as above, you won't see any real benefits at least until its lowered anyway.