All Si owners with Neuspeed front strut tower bar: POST - Honda Prelude Forum

4thGenReady2Go · 10-20-2004, 11:14 PM

Have a buddy trying to install his neuspeed front strut tower bar on his 92 Si, and is having problems with the right side, namely abs reservoir is in the way of the rear mounting arm on the stut bar. Now I'm aware of a 30+ post thread on this, but both my friend and I left it a little misty on the subject. The idea behind that thread was if you have an Si, you need the VTEC bar, but many Si owners posted saying they bought the Si bar and it installed with no problem, so I'm asking for this:

Your year Si
which bar you installed (meant for VTEC or meant for Si)
the corresponding part number

his bar had a weird number on it, not the one on neuspeeds site. His instructions have "92-96 VTEC" on it, (he bought i off ebay, instructions came with it in the neuspeed box), so he and I are assuming it's a VTEC bar.

Thanks in advance.

G_Loc · 10-20-2004, 11:28 PM

look at the shape of the bar

The VTEC bar has more clearance between the valve cover and the bar

Here is my non-VTEC bar on my 93 Si:

I don't have a part number, I bought it used.

Is your friend installing the bar on the ABS side last? Tell him to try to put those nuts in first and then to try to line up the driver's side nuts last

luder94si · 10-21-2004, 12:59 AM

On my 94Si, I had no problems with the ABS reservoir at all. Way back when I ordered the bar, I had ordered it for the Si. (I don't have the part number or other info. anymore) Is it possible that the bar could be for a S model (without ABS)?

4thGenReady2Go · 10-21-2004, 01:31 AM

^^ no because if you check Neuspeed, the S and Si bar are the same. Besides, the chance that the install manual for a VTEC bar found it's way into a Neuspeed box for an S/Si bar is pretty slim.

I mean when you say no problem, you mean there was absolutely no problem whatsoever with the abs reservoir, or it being in the way?

ps. g loc, got your pm, still have em, will get that pic for ya.

yield · 10-21-2004, 12:06 PM

1993 SI

I bought mine used too but the previous owner was sure it was for an SI. It was a very tight fit but it eventually went on.

red92si · 10-21-2004, 01:38 PM

I have the Si bar and it fits fine on my Si... it did take some encouragement to fit exactly into position, clearing the ABS was an issue but it did fit. Having two people makes it go faster.

LUDE'Z · 10-21-2004, 03:57 PM

Did you notice any improvements as far as handling after installing the strut bar?

4thGenReady2Go · 10-21-2004, 04:09 PM

^^ it's only a strut tower bar. Tyler, as far as the abs res being an issue, was it just tight or in the way, necessitating the temporary removal of it or at least some major finagling on the bar's behalf?

red92si · 10-21-2004, 07:25 PM

I didn't have to remove or reposition anything to install the bar, it just takes alot of finagling

LUDE'Z: Yes, a ver noticeable increase in front end stiffness. The steering is much more crisp, and the front end seems to grips harder into corners.

dublued · 10-21-2004, 07:56 PM

i bought a neuspeed bar for my SI once. everybody said you had to struggle to put it on. so i struggled. and i struggled. but it just wouldn't go on. so i sold it to somebody on PO. turns it that it wouldn't go on because my frame was messed up due to an un-reported accident from the previous owner.

autoluder · 10-22-2004, 01:49 PM

I think I lined up the driver side first then on the passenger side with me and my dad working on this, he used a big screw driver and pryed it into position then I put the nut on the bolt, thats the only way it was going to go on. But once it was on, i noticed a big gain. The neuspeed has to be one of the best front strut tower bars!

But other wise that Si bar doesnt fit nicely, not all the bolt holes lined up for me, maybe my car was in a accident too. I actually know it was but all that seemed to get damaged was the hood and bumper, cause the bondo on the hood has always been cracked. Maybe that was enough for the car to get out of being perfectly straight.

MidNiteMysT · 10-22-2004, 03:47 PM

i have a si bar aswell. took all but 5 minutes to install my bar with a friend. struggled maybe a little bit but nothing was in the way except for a little siren thing for my alarm. but i just unmounted it, installed the bar, then mounted it back up again. and i noticed turns felt stiffer and crisper :
) def a worth while mod.

luder94si · 10-22-2004, 11:18 PM

Yes, the neuspeed bar does take a bit of effort to put on. (Probably because it's a nice one piece design) I reccomend using two people and have a crow bar available. I would start by putting on the pasenger side by the ABS & you should have no problem what so ever. The 4th bolt will always be a pain. You will most likely need to put something (like another pry bar) under the upper control arm to make sure that the bolts (from the arm) do not slip down in the hole as you are trying to put the bar on. At the same time, you will have to use another pry bar to slightly bend the STB arm towards the right position for the last bolt. It will look like it doesn't go on, but it will

Just wait until you have to take it off & put it back on again when you want to remove the valve cover or work on your head

red92si · 10-23-2004, 01:20 PM

I would like to add that I had to use a pry bar to keep the upper control arm bolts from slipping. That was a b**ch and a half.