cool.

Here are some pics of the spacers

I'm really interested in this kit! But what happen to the strut tower bar?

You can still use it but you may need to clear out the metal around the strut towers to allow the brace to drop the extra 1.5" and/or use longer bolts and raise the brace up to make sure it clears the top of the motor. It is not that hard to make it work. My spacers do not cover up the mounting holes on the strut mount. They will still be accessable. thanks for the interest.

I'll take pics of how it all goes together when I get the spacers. It'll be some time next week before I can do it. I have to fix my sisters car first.

Thanks, that is what sucks about the 99+ sets. I do not have an exrperimental rig to play with.

I am also interested in this kit and it looks well made.  A couple of comments however. 

If i understand correctly, the strut spacers are 1.5" high which will lower the strut by that amount.  You simply can't lower the strut tower bar that much before it collides with the inboard edge of the throttle body which is about 1.25" below the bar in the stock location.  The inner fender is also about 1.25" below the lower edge of the strut tower bar.  The strut bar will also not fit in the hole in the inner fender.

Here are some pics:




I have a couple more pics if that is required.

It seems to me that some form of metal spacer will be required to retain the strut tower bar pretty much in the stock location.  I am not sure that longer bolts with perhaps a 3/8" thick wall tube 1 1/2" thick as a spacer for each bolt would work and provide the rigidity needed unless the 3 tubes were tied together with say a 1/4" plate.  If 1" spacers (3/8" tube) were used and welded to the bottom/underside surface of the strut tower brace that may be sufficient. 

The tube may need to be larger in diameter as the bolts are 10mm - just checked. 

The other interesting thing is that the 2 inboard bolt holes are just notched into the strut bar so you could only weld about 2/3 of the the way around if you went the tube spacer only route.

We're almost there - just a bit more tweeking.

My thoughts for now.  Comments?

I also thought of the sleeve and longer bolts idea. You say there is 1.25" available. You would only need to use say .75 metal spacers, stack of washers? That would still leave some clearance on top and allow it to fit right.

I think 3/4" would work.

I'll try and get to the hardware store this weekend and see what is available for pipe.  We also have a good auto parts store here and I will check to see what they have.  I could not fit the strut tower bolt through a 3/8" inside id tube that I had here. 

Washers would provide the spacing but some kind of proper spacers would just look a lot better and with the spacers being welded to the strut tower brace there would be more rigidity IMO. 

Not everyone has access to a welder so I understand from a marketing perspective you need to make your kit as simple as possible.

Also not all the vehicles have the strut brace. I looked at several different strut mounts to make my spacers from, some had the brace others did not. It all depended on the engine size.

Also not all the vehicles have the strut brace. I looked at several different strut mounts to make my spacers from, some had the brace others did not. It all depended on the engine size.

Huh?

In the Suzuki Parts Catalog, the strut brace is listed for the 2.0 4 cyl and 2.5 6 cyl engine models, but not the 1.6 4 cyl.

In the Suzuki Parts Catalog, the strut brace is listed for the 2.0 4 cyl and 2.5 6 cyl engine models, but not the 1.6 4 cyl.

Thanks. I know when I looked at the auto parts store for strut mounts some had the flange for the brace and others did not. The diam. and bolt patterns were the same though.

I found the same thing from pics at the wreckers as well as online catalogs.  1.6 does not appear to have the strut tower bar.

IanL, how does one get access to the Suzuki parts catalog that you mention from time to time?

I also looked at the McMaster-Carr online catalog and they have various standoff spacers, but they are quite expensive.  The do have some right at .385" ID which is right at the OD of the strut tower bar bolts.

It would be interesting to know why the bar is used - heavier weight of the engine, more torque. 

IanL, how does one get access to the Suzuki parts catalog that you mention from time to time?

EBay! 

e.g http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-WORLDWIDE-EPC-PARTS-CATALOG-2008-2CD_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ122105QQihZ017QQitemZ270340438637QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVWQQsalenotsupported

For more, just EBay search on "Suzuki EPC".