Last week, My friend and I installed three different mods into my TSX. After a week of driving around, here are my impressions...

1. Spoon Front Tower Bar






- Appearance: Dull looking aluminum bar with two black brackets with the "Spoon" logo subtly engraved on it.
- Installation is a PITA thanks to the passenger side; the AC line needs to be moved for the bracket to fit over.
- It's a pain to fit the passenger side bracket under all those cables and stock tower bar.
- Driver's side is no problem
-Total time was 45 minutes spent on installation.
- Looks cheap compared to the looks of Neuspeed and Cusco
- At least it's still a Spoon product
- Final verdict: not worth the ~$220 premium

2. Cusco Lower Frame Brace Type II




- First: BIG THANKS to Marcus at Heeltoe Auto for the great service and getting the parts to me before I even knew it Very friendly.
-The paint job is hot... almost matches my ABP if it wasn't metallic
- Installation takes around 10 minutes total.
- Rattle; the heatshield has paper thin clearance on the frame.
- I got used to the rattle; it only happens in the morning when the car is cold and going over very rough bumps. Car is quiet most of the time.
- I'll still be removing the heatshield some time soon.

3. P2R Throttle Body Spacers w/ TB Gaskets



- A big thanks to Excelerate for the parts!
- With a friend who knows car parts, this install takes no longer than 25 minutes.
- The plug... I only got it halfway into the hole before I can't twist it anymore. Does it affect performance/safety to have that little area only half covered?
- Didn't have time to install IM Gasket
- Well worth the money; great supplement to the CAI.

Driving Impressions

- I'm just an average driver... I didn't even notice a difference with my Progress RSB.
- Both braces didn't make much/any "readily noticeable" difference.
- Steering feel didn't get any "heavier".
- On high speed turns, the car seems to feel a TAD more solid... more "like one".
- Not enough for me to call an improvement but gives me a sense of higher security that my car is capable of turning fast(er).
- I don't know if the tower bar or the lower brace is doing the work since I installed both at the same time hoping to notice a "real difference".
- At the end, these two mods could be "mods just for the sake of modding" for some. I'm leaning toward it but I'm sure the difference will be noticed if I step into a stock TSX.

- TB Spacer made quite a difference... nearly almost "night and day" if I wasn't such a skeptic. The power is there for sure...
- Increase in power is more of a "convenience gain" (for going uphill, taking off) than actual performance.
- Easier to revv from start and takes off faster; reduces that "struggle" feel to move from a stop. The car just goes... I love it!
- Might be my imagination but... VTEC is slightly more pronounced (not exactly "louder").

And those were my thoughts...

 

Thanks for the reviews. I'm thinking more and more about the spacer...

 

Thanks for the plug man!

I have to say it is more difficult for people to feel differences in chassis upgrades than engine upgrades. I can assure you the braces (and the rear sway bar) DID make a difference. But if you are not accustomed to driving hard enough to feel it then you won't! Funny thing about chassis parts though: you can hardly tell a change when they are installed, but you sure do notice it when you take them off!

Marcus

 

The cusco type II made a difference after I installed if when i had my aspec suspension.

Tighter and less roll with aspecs.

Unfortunately my cusco type 2 is not blue anymore.... to low clearance = scratched up cusco bar haha...

 

My car handles phenomenally. I have stiffer steering, a lot quicker turn in, and virtually no body roll. Tein SS+ Comptech RSB+ Cusco Type II + Neuspeed Strut Bar is FTW!!!

 

I love my Cusco Type II too as it makes my car more solid, but I have to took it off since it got bent up and have no more clearance between the bar and chassis, vibration occurs. After 2 yrs, most of the paint chipped off and it's silver now sitting in my garage.

As for the strut bar, you won't feel much of a differences b/w stock and (Cusco / Spoon); Neuspeed does make your steering stiffer and way more solid on high-speed corner, however, it has the dullest looking.

 

how was the install for the tb spacer? how long did it take?

 

Per his comments, 25 mins.