[Ben Stef]

Originally Posted by Skorov

I got these door stabilisers in the mail earlier this week. Before I go on, I would to strongly suggest that:
No one try to install these themselves unless you have the proper tools and experience.
This is definitely not a DIY job as I quickly found out.

First off, I was this close to fucking up so bad to warrant a $500 repair job. I used an electronic impact driver as suggested to loosen the very tight screws. This did not work. What happened instead, was the bracket that's welded on behind the panel bent backwards! =S

I noticed this and thought, "Ok enough, I'm going to the shop." Tried to screw the bottom screw back in but it wouldn't catch on to the bent bracket. Tried to close the door and the door wouldn't close. I was sweating buckets by this point. I managed to bend the bracket back in to place enough so I could just barely get the screw in. The door closed (just...) and I drove to my local panel beater.

After leaving the car there for a few hours, he calls me back and tells me just how close I was to not being able to drive it all weekend. =( They managed to repair the bracket and install my new TRD stabilisers. He didn't even charge me! I bought him a 6-pack on the way back there.

If anyone's looking for a Smash Repairer around the North Shore area, I recommend AutoTech Artarmon. Good bloke there.

With regards to the actual effects of these things, the door does feel more solid. The door closes very firmly without shaking as it hits the body. How much has the handling improved? Very slightly if anything. But this could just be my wishful thinking.

Bottom line: My suggestion would be to avoid this whole mess. For the same price, go and buy yourself a strut brace.

A six pack? gee i thought i was going alright when i bought them a slab haha