cfive

Hi fellas, im shopping around for a strut bar, and im leaning towards the Cusco's? Would that be a good choice?

@sport

Hi there cfive,

You only have two options now that Comptech closed their doors.

You have two models from Cusco and one from Neuspeed.

You can see the offerings from Cusco here.....

http://heeltoeauto.com/Acura-TL-1999-03-UA5-c-1859.html

Neuspeed.....

http://neuspeed.com/products/product...type=ns_import

The Comptech titanium strut bar was absolutely gorgeous and from what I've heard, it was extremely light and strong as you can guess. I wish I had ordered one.

I ordered the Cusco OS bar from board sponsor Excelerate a couple of days ago. That bar is on back order with both him and HeelToe. It seems they're waiting for a shipment from Japan.

As you may know, while the Comptech bar replaced the stock strut bar, the Cusco and Neuspeed supplement it. I have some great pictures of the OS bar installed. If you want, I can email them you. PM me your email address if you wish.

@sport

For the benefit of my fellow Acurazine members, I will post these pics.

I came across these pics while researching. Some I found on [mod edit]. Forgive me for not remembering the names of the members who own these cars. I really am sorry since credit is due to them. You guys know who you are.....thanks!

This is the Cusco OS strut bar.

@sport

This car belonged to fellow Acuraziner FredRoRN.

@sport

Compare the above to the Comptech bar.....

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157739

Dang. I wish I had one.

cfive

awesome reply ... thanks!

MurkyRiversTL

@sport that was probably the best reply ever.

BAPE head

Hmmm...in the pic above, the End parts that bolt down to the car are in a 'semi-circle' (3-bolt down points)

in the pics listed on Heeltoes' site, they are square and long (2-bolt down points)

Is the one on the site just for display purposes?

Thanks,

MurkyRiversTL

I noticed that same thing, and figured it was just for display purposes.

AMGala

iTrader: (4)

Here's my Neuspeed strut bar:


As you can see, the Neuspeed bar uses two nuts to hold it on while the Cusco uses three. Also, the Neuspeed sits behind the OEM bar while the Cusco is in front of it. I doubt that it makes much of difference though.

L3wD

isnt there an Eibach one? i saw an eibach one on ebay for a 98-02 accord

@sport

cfive, MurkyRiversTL, thank you for the comments gents.

BAPE head, like MurkyRiversTL said.....the one on the site must be for display purposes only.

AMGala, thanks for the pic!

Here is another pic of the Neuspeed bar. This is copland007's TL-S.





L3wD, Eibach does not make a strut bar for the 2nd gen TL. They offer sway bars though as well as springs.

L3wD

thats what i thought because i couldnt find anything on the site..

Hockeyman

I have a 99-02 accord Eibach strut bar, looks good and fit perfect.

gaping46and2

iTrader: (2)

Does it fit in conjunction with the stock bar like the Cusco?

@sport

Cool!

I didn't know they made one for the Accord. Any pics?

Thanks!

Hockeyman

stock bar is removed to make it fit, let me try and find a pic.

LIPPSTUH

iTrader: (2)

i like the looks of the comptech, but is it better than the stock + another strut bar?


also the 6th gen accord should have a good amount of parts that are compatible with CL/TL. such as headers, exhaust (v6 models + a couple of small customization for fit), springs, struts, sway bars, strut bars, some CAI, etc.

nguyen

neuspeed ftw

sbuswell

do you guys think the strut bar makes much difference in handling at all? If so how much. I need some sways and would get those first of course, buit a strut bar looms nice and if it add a noticeable amount of rigidity I would be interested.

LIPPSTUH

iTrader: (2)

sways + strut = the shit... put it that way.

AMGala

iTrader: (4)

It does not make much difference in handling. The car definitely has more "on-center" feel. The strut bar forces the suspension to do its job even more, but without upgraded suspension items it's not going to do much.

01tl4tl

The first thing you need to do is tighten-make more rigid, the chassis suspension points.
Roll cages in race cars are designed with this in mind.
For the TL, you do that by using a lower frame cross bar and upper tower bar- preferably one that goes direct from strut tower top to tower top.
These help maintain the geometry at play with the suspension and steering.
Frame flex allows those points to move under corner loading, braces reduce that.
I would put the braces on first, then sway bars and reset the alignment with less toe for improved high speed handling

sbuswell

nice, thanks. 01tl4tl I appreciate your advice and knowledge, much appreciated!

death

Guys you might actually be able to find the Comptech Titanium strut bar on-line. I did a google search and found 2 companies that appear to have them for sale. It could be they just haven't removed the item from their site... but it couldn't hurt to inquire if they actually have any in stock.

Comptech Titanium Google Search

@sport

death,

I contacted those companies a while back and got no reply response.

01tl4tl

I just spoke with MrHeelToe in L.A.

Cusco USA is back-ordered on upper strut bars
approx 4-5 weeks till arrival in country

He does have both type 1 lower bar for CL/TL and the lower type 2 for TSX
in stock and ready to ship

@sport

I had a chance to speak to Kenric at Bozz Performance (www.bozzperformance.com). As you may know Bozz Performance is one of two authorized Cusco retailers in the United States.

http://www.cusco.co.jp/english/agency_b.html

He said that Cusco USA expects to get the strut bars for our cars in on or before May 29, 2007.

cfive

optionsauto.com has the Cuscos ...

01tl4tl

Like I said 4 to 5 weeks to arrival!!

Hockeyman

99-02 accord eibach strut bar

cfive

Just ordered mine ... got the tracking number and everything ...

jayunsplanet

iTrader: (1)

That's interesting.
I ordered one from him on April 16th (along w/ a Cusco lower brace). My payment was instantly transferred, fortunate for Mr. Heeltoe. I received my lower brace a few days later. But heard nothing about my Cusco OS. I emailed him about that and received a response on April 24th. He said it was backordered in Japan and it should arrive in 2-3 weeks. I emailed him last Friday (5/4) for an update status. He said that the "container is on it's way and is due in 2-3 wks. And I guarantee it won't be long"

4-5 weeks is LONG. *sigh*

I wish I would have known it was back ordered. Like a message on the online store noting such. Or at checkout, before they took my money, they would say it's on backorder and will arrive at X date. Even after I paid for it, I wish they would have contacted me saying that we haven't forgot about you...

01tl4tl

I can understand your disappointment on waiting for the upper bar.
Many members are in the same boat- everyone sold out at the same time- what are you gonna do!

You also need to understand- its always best to CALL our vendors or any vendor before committing to purchase. They may have sold the last one this morning, and they dont sit on the website all day updating every item. Its just overwhelming.
Most shopping cart sites accept payment for order- thats how they work
Something backorders- yes- you should be contacted immeditaly- but humans are involved!
Many of our vendors are single person or few employees and that keeps the prices down.

Also the FASTEST way to reach marcus at heeltoe is direct phone or email to his main account marcus@heeltoeauto.com
He was saying he gets about 30 PMs just on acurazine each day- plus other car forums he is on, plus 50 emails, and running the parts biz and shipping things and ordering and tracking stuff from Japan and...seeing what cool new things he can get for us

Install the lower bar and the days will quickly pass

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

Yeah sorry about that. We are only reporting the best time estimates we have gotten from Cusco. Honestly, this never really happens, the parts are typically in stock. In the month of April we sold an unusual amount of braces and we were more backordered than we thought.

I have not forgotten about you...nor the other 20 or so people I have in similar situations. Unfortunately, if I took the time to let everyone know all the details like this I would have little time left to actually get the orders filled. I need to work on that a little, but we are here for you.


FYI for everyone, EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS GET ANSWERED A LOT FASTER THAN PMS.

Marcus

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

He misspoke, there are 2 authorized USA DISTRIBUTORS. Heeltoe is an authorized dealer since we buy from Nukabe. Bozz has been a distributor for many years, but failed to utilize their buying power until Nukabe came in and took a bunch of market share. Bozz has historically not been the ideal source for Cusco. We experience great service from Nukabe.

Incidentally, we are getting a shipment around the same time, so all with backorders will be filled by use very shortly!

Marcus

01tl4tl

Thanks for the clarification Marcus

Good to see that many people are learning about the importance
of lower frame and strut tower bracing! Sold you out of normal stock- wow!

Any news yet on those special bars for the rear strut towers and floor pan?

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

Those are parts by Carbing....for TSX application only

jayunsplanet

iTrader: (1)

Just an update...
After almost 2 months, I received my Cusco OS (I assume that's actually the model. Everything is written in Japanese...) I installed it in like 30 seconds. I appreciated the fact that they included 6 new bolts and didn't make me reuse the OEM's!!! Very cool. The bar is quality! It mounts to all 3 studs on the top mount of the strut. I am using it in combination w/ the OEM 4 point strut-to-firewall brace.

I took it for a drive around the block and I actually felt a difference in rigidity. The FRONT of the car is DEFIANTELY stiffer in turns and going over bumps. (The rear still feels like poo and wiggles all over. Someone needs to fab a rear lower brace -- like they have for Civics. Please!?)

Next mod's are SS-p's and front/rear sways. The rear sway should help control the back a bit especially in combination w/ much stiffer coils. The TL can only be so fast, so I want to make this boat be able to handle decently.
(1024x768 pics. Sowwy... They look fine on a 22" screenn )






And then here is the lower Cusco brace that I put on a few weeks ago...

JCharged

iTrader: (5)

Very Nice. Time to put an order out for mine. Wish they made them in red to match my engine bay.