01tl4tl

Has anyone installed both the Cusco strut tower brace and the lower frame stiffener on a TL Cl or? with our frame

Or either one of the Cusco bars alone ? Any good? Work?

I dont want to go bigger bars, wife still drives car, so I wonder if the combo of tighten the frame and connect the strut towers is good.

My gen 2 TL has a factory bar that goes from the strut towers to the firewall, but the Cusco seems to go across the top of the engine

Saw a similar strut tower bar at dealer in showcase
Feedback please Help appreciated

200 bucks is a good price if it works for my needs

Thanks All

ryebreadisme

iTrader: (1)

I just got my Cusco upper strut from Arnold. After I put it in I'll let you know how it feels.

01tl4tl

Great Thanks!

derrick

Have the OS-type bar for close to 3 years. More for show than anything ... gives a marginal increase in front end rigidity -- that would add to the understeer that FWD cars already have.

Sway bars are definitely worth every penny in handling performance in the 2nd gen TL, bar none (pardon the pun)

01tl4tl

Thanks

What size bars did you go to?

How are your brake rotors working out?

SatinSilverTypS

iTrader: (1)

i had the cusco underbody bar/brace. complete waste of money. spend the money on welded subframe braces or something better.

SSTS

01tl4tl

SS

What do you mean welded brace

Any leads on finding one?

fsttyms1

Custom made. Unless you plan on auto crossing and racing its pointless. There are much better ways of spending money. You will see the biggest differences in better tires, springs and sways.

SatinSilverTypS

iTrader: (1)

agreed.

when i had a taurus SHO the subframes in those cars had a notorious lack of quality as far as rigidity went, so subframe braces were the way to go, but on our cars it really isn't necessary. the cusco bars are a waste though. sorry to say it, but i did try it before i knocked it.

ryebreadisme

iTrader: (1)

AS far as the Cusco bar goes, I have the same OS bar that derrik was referring to. I noticed a decent amount of difference, probably due to the fact that it is the only suspension mod on my car. The car feels like it is leaning less already. Good luck.

ronrecr

You said it does not work...it connect to sides of car so I thought just from a physics standpoint it would have to have some effect. I am interested in your opinion and reasoning if you do not mind

01tl4tl

The Cusco bars are awesome
I had the OE tires and suspension with mine for months, and now with my upgraded goodies- the car responds to commands instantly

MurkyRiversTL

So...... Cusco Bars= Good or Bad?

01tl4tl

numerous votes GOOD
1 vote bad

Personally- I think these should be the foundation to any suspension project
Once you reduce frame flex, the steering and suspension have solid places to do their job

JCharged

iTrader: (5)

I love mine. Although I did not feel much from just the top one. I had to get both.

May not be the best handling mod, but I can change lanes faster!

With just my sways, shocks and springs it handled fine. These things just made it ..that.. much better.

I don't plan on autocrossing, so it's not a bad mod to have.

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

I think you need to have a pretty good feel for the vehicle dynamics to feel these braces. That being said, I felt them right away, and no I am not a vehicle test engineer.

01tl4tl

My WIFE (not an engineer or rocket scientist by anyones standards) noticed the change with the lower bar on the 1st cloverleaf on ramp we hit.
No more opposite direction body roll entering the corner felt by the passenger
I noticed reduced delay from steering input to response
And like mentioned above, lane changes are fun now!

Note- I am the person who started this thread- now I tell everyone to get these as first mod

Nuckz23

iTrader: (2)

^ How hard was the lower bar to install? How do you install it? i just bought one from heeltoe and want to install it this weekend.

AMGala

iTrader: (4)

1) Assemble bar

2) Remove two bolts

3) Line up bar over bolt holes

4) Put back bolts

It's as easy as that. You will see which two bolts you need to use to mount the bar just by holding the bar under the car and finding the two bolts that fit.

Nuckz23

iTrader: (2)

Thanks AMGala, I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

01tl4tl

You cant go wrong it, only fits one place and the 2 bolts require a long breaker bar for leverage to remove. Get them super tight afterwards!! and then experience flat lane changes and immediate responce to steering input

jayunsplanet

iTrader: (1)

I installed my lower brace 1/2 way in the road and on my sloped driveway w/ out the car jacked up. And I'm lowered 2 inches. Beat that. LoL, my knuckles hated me though. Very scratched. I've got the upper and lower. Great purchases. Felt the difference w/ just the lower. Much more solid when hitting bumps at an angle. Felt an even bigger difference when I added the top. Turning is more precise. More faith that the car will go where I point it w/ out excessive roll. Stiffer and lower profile tires on my CL-S wheels helped a lot too. The front is great.

NOW LETS GET SOME BRACES FOR THE REAR!!!

Nuckz23

iTrader: (2)

Installed my lower brace today. Those bolts were a bitch to remove. I could definately feel a difference. Thanks for the help

tlveteran

Just ordered the lower frame brace, I can't wait to put it in..........

DC3328

iTrader: (22)

any installed pics? i know they're in other threads but we might as well throw a couple in here

im afraid i'll rip it off, ive seen the "ripped off my cusco brace" threads

01tl4tl

learn to not drive over raised manhole covers, and to approach steep grade changes in parking lot to street and you will be fine

If the car is lowered the bar protects the cat from same damage!

phee

iTrader: (5)

what cat?

01tl4tl

here in Ca we have a LOT of smog equipment and every 2 year testing on a dyno.

Cops are even trained to look under the car and under the hood when making a racing arrest, (missing smog or altered engine is grounds to impound the car)
they will go so far as to measure ground to headlight distance!!

phee: Ohhh THAT CAT?! not the one I have to check for under the tires before backing out in the morning? lol

FirePR2002

i've got both braces - they work very well in tandem and has pulled the front together nice and firm-like. lane changes, cloverleafs, and every other turn/curve are so much better now.....feel like i can push it much harder into the corners.

phee was talking about a different cat altogether - all that strange that hangs out in his driveway on a constant basis. i live about 2 miles away and have to take alternate routes home on Friday afternoons. the bitches are lined up down the street blocking traffic and shit...

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

i love my cusco brace. felt the diff on on ramps.
i got. 3rd gen tl progress rear swaywar, cusco brace, oem strut bar with neuspeed bar behind it and back then i had tein basics. car was planted on the highway. loved making quick lane changes. just loved that set up. only thing thats gonna change is going with ksports

FirePR2002

^what exactly did the progress bar do for the rear? was it "tighter"?

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

its thicker and adjustable. so it can be tight or soft. rear end swing out more if u really push the car, did it once when i was auto xing. but helps keep the body roll down. and it helps alot

ronrecr_RENAMED

I know it works car is tighter in the front end.. Why would you say it is a waste of money.

01tl4tl

some people like to compare other cars and what they can do to them over the TL
So we dont have welded xyz points!
Bolting them togther with the frame crossbar at the point the frame rails go from straight into a cradle for the eng and trans,,a nice bar across there is like having a real crossmember and helps keep the lower suspension in its set place

cuts way down on frame flex, which improves `quick lane change response` and turn in to corners.
reduces the opposite roll you feel on corner entry
Passengers really appreciate it- makes their ride easier,,less leaning while you play race driver with the on ramps

01tl4tl

note: I started this thread in 2007 to see if these bars were the shiite or just shiiite
Have loved my cusco bars ever since~
lower does get scraped on some driveway to street crossing- not torn off,
but I know how to watch for stuff when driving a lowered car such as my 01TL on teins and 18s
get them - lower first if on a budget
upper bar helps the stock setup which you leave in place, lower puts structure where there was none!

fsttyms1

i want to put a large X brace to connect the 4 corners. I need to make a brace, but need to make it without reducing ground clearance. I need every but i have

01tl4tl

what you need is 80 series tires not 40s!- big balloons to raise the car up~

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

u will lose ground clearance when making or installing any brace. i already looked at diff ways to get around it. oil pan and j pipe gets in teh way.

JDTL-S2002

any links to a good price on the cusco braces? is it better to just by both or does one make more difference than the other?

01tl4tl

mrheeltoe an azinr vendor carries them- see his threads in sponsored sales for contact info www.heeltoeauto.com

start with the lower if doing this bit by bit
there is an immediate noticable change with it,

the upper already has a stock bar- the extra bar there gives more support, but not as easy to tell