Front Strut Bar How-To

[ClaymoreWW]

I installed a Freedom Design Front Strut Bar today and thought to write up a how-to for others. This would also work for the OMP bar. I apologize for the poor pics...I think my camera mal-adjusts the settings on flash. This is a very easy mod to do. If you follow these directions, you should have no problems. It took me an hour - and that was including time to lay out the photos. I had never installed one of these bars before, but it is very straight-forward. This is so easy that if I had the tools assembled and all ready to go, this should take no longer than 20 minutes to install.

Step 1. Gather your tools. I used an electric drill with two bits: a small bit for the pilot holes and a 3/8" bit for the holes. You will need a tool to install the nut-serts (blind nuts) - this tool and several adapters and various sizes of nut-serts cost me $10 at the local home store. Make sure your kit contains 1/4-20 nut-serts. Also, you will need six 1/4-20 x 3/4 bolts, six flat washers and six lock washers.



Step 2. Place the bar in location. Use the turnbuckle adjustments to locate the mounting pads around the strut end. Whne the bar is located properly, use a sharpie marker or the like to mark where you will need to drill the holes.




Step 3: Carefully drill the pilot holes and then drill the larger holes.



Step 4: Following the directions on the Nut-sert tool kit, install the six nut-serts in the drilled holes. These work somewhat like pop rivets.



Step 5: After all nut-serts are installed, place the bar back in position. Place a lock washer on a bolt and then a flat washer and then loosely screw into one location. Keep this loose - this will allow you to locate the other two bolts on the side. Note that the 3/4 inch long bolts are just long enough, but may be tricky to start. This is due to the nature of the nut-sert and the stack of washers and how the base of the bar mount is not exactly flush with the surface of the tower. Take your time and get a few turns on each of the three bolts before you tighten them down. Repeat for the other three bolts on the other side.

Step 6: Tighten all six bolts and then make sure that the turnbuckle nuts are tight on the bar and the bolt/nut combos are tight where the bar attaches to the mount pad. Sit back and enjoy your efforts.



--george

[J-Man]

thank you very much, this will help tons in the near future.

man i really owe you with how much you've helped me

[world-insight]

I'm having trouble with the OMP bar. keeps hitting a little round thing at the rear right of the UIM if you were standing in front of the car. It hits that and doesn't allow me to get the ends all the way down on the strut mounts.

[nadthomas]

Dude, that is awesome, I never thought about using nut-serts for that, I am so doing that this weekend. I have been trying to think of a better way to mount them as both of mine have stripped out the holes using self-tapping screws.

[CincyZetec]

where did u get the nut-sert? i went to 2 hardware stores and they've never heard of it.

[michcougar]

Ya where can you get them?
i just bought my freedom design brace and im missing 1 of the inserts.

[RodneyBur]

Try Here

[CincyZetec]

a store? i would like to go buy it and b able to use it today, i don't want to have to wait a week to get it in the mail.

[sonza68]

Harbor Freight has store fronts too, but there might not be one right near you.

[Honzo]

bumpity
how do these nut-serts work? i wanna do this but i hear self tapping screws strip out and actual nut and bolt methods require removing the strut...