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Wednesday, February 15, 2006 12:41:35 PM - Views


VintageWatercooleds.com Technotes :: ATS Technote - Upper Stress Bars - Front and Rear Install

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[Front Upper Bar] [Rear Upper Bar]

Front Upper stress bar

This shows how to install the bar on an 8v with the A/C Idle valves in the way

The very first problem and only problem I have with my stress bar is that these vacuum coils are going to be somewhat in the way... lets move them...
I unscrewed the single bolt holding the assembly and pushed the coils out of the way to see how the bar will fit unto the car... and figure out where I will place the coils back.
Using aluminum Angled metal plating, create a short piece of support bracket.
Remove the 2 bolts atop the coil assembly, and drop the lower bracket assembly from the coil assembly, flip the assembly upside-down, and use your newly created bracket to assemble it back unto the original bolt on the strut.
Just in case I have confused you completely, here is a picture of the completed assembly. don't forget top reconnect your plugs...
Install the stress bar.... your done.

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Rear Upper Stress Bar

Eurosport makes this rear stress bar, which is a two point (versus the three point models out there), and are supposed to reinforce the rear end by joining the two strut towers together this making the body a little less able to "twist". The installation was not complicated, nor extremely hard, I found the bar required some "joshing" around to get it to fit in place (removed the bolt and pushed the bar into itself further than bolt location for it to fit. (no my car is not twisted, this occurs to almost every car I know that has done this upgrade). Like most Eurosport Products (sub race frame being another good example) the product is a very well conceived item, but in most cases it is not just a "bolt on" mod, but require some tweaking to get it bolted on.

Perceptions on road handling; well not a huge difference, but I have to admit that I find my rear end a little tighter in long curves or turns, seems the tires stick a little more in the rear, is it true or imagination, hard to tell as the human brain likes to imagine positive things about a recent purchase on one's car...

Here you have it, Eurosport Bar, Thanks to Parts4VWs.com
remove your rear cargo tray in your trunk, this is where all the work will be at
Remove the cap on your rear struts, get your 10mm socket and ratchet, remove the u-clamp from the assembly, split the bar in two parts by removing the bolt that goes through the 1/3 of the bar.
Slip the u-clamp unto the strut tower as shown.
Bolt the short side bar unto the u-clamp, do not tighten all the way making this part capable of swivel, now attach the long end of the other bar to the other strut meet the bars in an angle and gently push them into each other, you will see that the bolt hole will not match, re-drill new hole re-insert bolt.
You are done! Enjoy!
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