[SOLVED] My AEM Strut Tower Bar is STUCK ON!

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Tenament05

I should add that I've tried that as well.. same result.

Maybe it's flexing too far the other way when it's off the ground. Did you try jacking it up, then having a friend let it down very, very slowly while you try to work the bar off the bolts? (Assuming you have a good jack that you can bleed down like that.) Maybe you can find the magic spot where it's flexed just the right amount to release it.

Or maybe you could try putting it up on jack stands, then jacking one wheel to compress the suspension on one side enough to get the thing off.

If that doesn't work, maybe you can get a windshield wiper puller on the bolts and just crank each side up a little at a time to work it off.

[menikmati]

AEM stuck tower bar?

All joking aside, hope you can get the bar off and get your money back.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by menikmati

AEM stuck tower bar?

All joking aside, hope you can get the bar off and get your money back.

Stuck strut tower bar.
Now say that fast 10 times

[westendRIOT]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The bolt holes in the pics look way to pristine to have been used/damaged in an accident so my guess is just crappy workmanship from the start.

Agreed; I have the same bar and the centermost firewall bolt hole on the passenger side was misaligned just like OP's pics. Driver's side was ok. I wound up widening the hole with a drill and file and everything fit ok.

Welds looked better on mine. They're not perfect but definitely less lumpy bumpy than OP.

All in all, the triangle bar is a beast and I'm still pretty happy with it. Feels like you could hang the car off it if the strut tower bolts didn't give out.

[Tenament05]

Originally Posted by mav1178

I'm assuming you've contacted AEM to start, right?

Used or not, they should be made aware of these things. A braced and triangulated 1-piece strut bar like this should not have that much deflection or be that far off.

-alex

Thanks Alex, I fired off an email to their CS department. We'll see what they have to say

Originally Posted by extrashaky

Maybe it's flexing too far the other way when it's off the ground. Did you try jacking it up, then having a friend let it down very, very slowly while you try to work the bar off the bolts? (Assuming you have a good jack that you can bleed down like that.) Maybe you can find the magic spot where it's flexed just the right amount to release it.

Or maybe you could try putting it up on jack stands, then jacking one wheel to compress the suspension on one side enough to get the thing off.

If that doesn't work, maybe you can get a windshield wiper puller on the bolts and just crank each side up a little at a time to work it off.

Definitely going to be doing all sorts of trickery tonight shaky and crew. Will let ya'll know what the results are

[Burrcold]

If all else fails, just grind that b!tch off!

[verdecarib]

I had the same issue with the AEM Strut Tower Bar, only the fitment was worse. Never got far enough on the install for it to get stuck 'cuz it wouldn't go on at all. Put it back in the box and sent it back for a refund. Got the Grimmspeed version instead. Exact fitment and quality product. Hence, I won't buy anything AEM makes in the future...

[Tenament05]

rather uneventfully, I got the bar unstuck after a warm engine bay on the 1 1/1 hr commute home softened things up.

Still rather displeased and am going to get a refund. IDK what I was thinking buying a strut tower bar anyway... I'm just looking for anything to update apparently.

OP is updated. Thanks for all the help guys

[Demandred7]

Originally Posted by verdecarib

I had the same issue with the AEM Strut Tower Bar, only the fitment was worse. Never got far enough on the install for it to get stuck 'cuz it wouldn't go on at all. Put it back in the box and sent it back for a refund. Got the Grimmspeed version instead. Exact fitment and quality product. Hence, I won't buy anything AEM makes in the future...

Love my GrimmSpeed STB - effortlessly installed. Instantly noticeable improvement in feel and handling.