DIY | Radium Strut Brace | Video

[Dezoris]

Radium Strut Brace
Install and Review

VIDEO DIY
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOfcKqJYYMc"]Scion FR-S BRZ Radium Strut Bar Install Review | S02E04 - YouTube[/ame]


Install Instructions:
http://data.radiumauto.com/PublicDocs/19-0071.PDF

_________________________________________________

The truth is I have not installed a strut tower brace since I had my 90s Civic. That bar was a complete joke, pivot points and the fastest color possible. (yellow)

That $60 piece of junk was nothing more than something to fool myself into thinking the car was somehow a Fast and the Furious showcase car.

Fast forward maybe 17 years and here I am with my first strut tower brace since then.







INSTALLATION: (See Video)

Installation instructions included are about as good as you can get. Included are torque values for all fasteners and helpful hints written in plain English. However I did run into a few minor issues I put in the video and also emailed Radium to update. But overall this will be a straight forward 25 minute or less process with very little drama.

TOOLS NEEDED:

• 19MM OPEN END WRENCH
• TQ WRENCH | 10-50lbs
• 4MM ALLEN SOCKET
• 6MM ALLEN SOCKET OR 6MM ALLEN HEAD WRENCH
  
• 12 MM SOCKET, SOCKET WRENCH AND SHORT EXTENSION
• ADJUSTABLE WRENCH OR ALUMINUM WRENCH (OPTIONAL)
  

AREAS OF CAUTION:

• If when tightening large countersink bolt, using caution near battery terminal.
• DO NOT jack up car when installing bar and removing 12mm strut mount bolts.
• Hand tighten 4mm allen screws don't trust consumer torque wrenches at 10lbs as you may strip these bolts easily.
• Bar does not fit cars with Innovate Supercharger, with or without IC.
• Bar does does not fit with cars that have their hood prop rod relocated to fender, prop rod has to be removed. (Vortech Cars.)

ADJUSTING PRE-LOAD:

This is one of the few bars on the market with pre-load adjustment they offer a solid mounting point free of pivot points.
Now at the price point this adds some value for those looking to tune out chassis flex from extreme lowering or very hard core track suspension.


You rotate the bar with the locking nuts loose which moves the rod ends towards the corner of the car which exerts pressure against the shock towers, pre-loading force on them. Which depending on your application could potentially remove the load already placed on the towers from lowering or high spring rates. Alternatively this could help reduce more extreme flexing from track cars.


The reality it's not much use for the common man or woman with more stockish cars.


But Radium radium assumes this will be installed on more performance oriented vehicles.




PRICE POINT AND OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:


Radium does not design products to a price point. With that said it's the most expensive strut bar for the car. GrimmSpeed, FT86SpeedFactory and Perrin all make solid bars with no Pivot Points which are cheaper alternatives. There are plenty if cheap strut bars around the $150 price point however don't be fooled as they have those pivot mounting points which make them glorified appearance pieces.


I think Radium did a good job designing a bar with a few extra features like pre-load adjustment and also a higher height so you can get at your map sensor if needed. So in this regard it may be worth it for more users with modified setups.


This big issue becomes is all this worth the extra cash for most buyers?






PROS

• Excellent built quality
• Made and engineered in USA
• Adjustable Pre-Load
• Extended Height for access to MAP and IM.
• Top notch documentation including TQ values.
• Good Support

CONS

• Price.
• Shape interferes with prop rod relocation on some FI cars.
• Can't access camber plates without removal. (You can but pain in rectum)

[Kostamojen]

This is the first bar of it's type for the FRS/BRZ with pre-load adjustment.

No its not

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

No its not

Thats not very helpful, list what other bars have it and I will update DIY.

[Kostamojen]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

Thats not very helpful, list what other bars have it and I will update DIY.

Tanabe, Rexspeed, Password JDM, MATSU, TRD, even the STI strut bars all have preload adjustment. And thats just what I found with a quick google image search plus what I remember off the top of my head...

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

Tanabe, Rexspeed, Password JDM, MATSU, TRD, even the STI strut bars all have preload adjustment. And thats just what I found with a quick google image search plus what I remember off the top of my head...

Tanabe has pivot points, not a solid bar.
Rexspeed has pivot points, same issue as is Cusco.
Matsu is a solid bar dont see any preload adjustment at least not in your install. TRD is a solid bar no preload same as STI bar.

However the Password JDM is a solid bar with preload adjustment so I need to update it. Thanks.