Jawo

...if I'm going to put in an aftermarket front strut bar for a 97 2.2??? I know the 97 2.2 strut bar topic has been discussed before but I don't remember getting any clear answer whether or not you need to shave off anything to make the strut bar fit. Again, is this a perfect fit or is there something that I need to shave off???

Thanks, guys.

dcsquirm88

The front bar is a perfect fit and you will not have to remove the stock bar or anything else for that matter. The rear upper fits after slight modification and the rear lower fits perfect.

RidinLow

Why on earth would you want to replace the stock brace (which ties the two strut towers and the firewall) with a less rigid aftermarket one (which doesn't connect to the firewall)? And I didn't have to modify anything to get the rear brace to fit (except for cutting the trunk carpeting a bit.

Jawo

I'm not sure but I think the stock brace does not tie the two strut bars...

dcsquirm88

Ridinlow you can have both an aftermarket and the stock bar on at the same time. The looks of an aftermarket strut and the rigidity of the stock one make a good combo IMO. Twice the rigidness and an aftermarket strut bar actually connects to the shocks unlike the stock bar.

PHASTCL

The Stock bar SUCKS.....I felt a big difference with an after market one. Here is a pic hope it helps. And ohh yeah i did take off the stock bar. Hope this helps.

RidinLow

I fail to see how the one piece stock bar that bolts to the strut towers and the firewall is noticeably worse than a flimsy 3 piece aftermarket bar that is essentially held together by pins (bolts, which allow twisting) and doesn't attach to the firewall. But hey, if you like it!

dcsquirm88

An aftermarket bar is better than the oem bar because it actually attaches to the struts (shocks).