Relentless Autosports Strut Bar - (NOT VRT!)
#691
03-25-2009, 12:42 PM
500 bucks for that thing? 
99% of the strut tower braces on the market for the G use two mounting points, and for good reason. It is a simple and proven brace design that is on dozens of other cars as well. Having to put a car on jackstands to install a strut brace that doesn't even fit right is ridiculous. I don't think GTspec manufactures this for Scott. Their bar is shown here. http://shop.edoperformance.com/gtspe...n-p-12280.html
But who knows. One thing is for certain, A strut tower brace install should never be a lengthy and complicated thing. If you are willing to drop that much on this bar that has fitment issues, it would be much better off to go w/ an NRG bar for less than half the price, or throw in some more cash for an ARC.
Sephiroth,
I hope that everything works out for you. You should probably contact them/(him) about returning the bar and getting your money back.
99% of the strut tower braces on the market for the G use two mounting points, and for good reason. It is a simple and proven brace design that is on dozens of other cars as well. Having to put a car on jackstands to install a strut brace that doesn't even fit right is ridiculous. I don't think GTspec manufactures this for Scott. Their bar is shown here. http://shop.edoperformance.com/gtspe...n-p-12280.html But who knows. One thing is for certain, A strut tower brace install should never be a lengthy and complicated thing. If you are willing to drop that much on this bar that has fitment issues, it would be much better off to go w/ an NRG bar for less than half the price, or throw in some more cash for an ARC.
Sephiroth,
I hope that everything works out for you. You should probably contact them/(him) about returning the bar and getting your money back.
#692
03-25-2009, 12:56 PM
You should arrange to return the bar to him. Telling you to bend brackets and such AFTER selling you the item w/ no mention of it beforehand is ridiculous. Noone has said anything about their fitment problems because they probably don't want to admit that they shelled out 500 for a strut brace that doesn't even fit, but thats the first step to rectifying the situation! Hope everyone here gets their money back.
^yes, i have spoke with him on the phone several times and he only told me its probably my car and that i should try and bend the bracket down. Brought it to 2 shops, both said they wouldn't try to bend that bracket and a new one should be made. I just finished up writing him an email with these pictures giving more detail of the problem and the corrections that need to be made to the passenger side bracket. He said on the phone he will be able to send me new bracket once he sees the problem im having.
I spoke with another member on the forums who bought this bar years ago from Scott and said he had the same exact problem with the passenger side bracket and had to get a new one made for him. I'm just wondering why the hell did I not read anything about all of these problems before i forked over $500????
I spoke with another member on the forums who bought this bar years ago from Scott and said he had the same exact problem with the passenger side bracket and had to get a new one made for him. I'm just wondering why the hell did I not read anything about all of these problems before i forked over $500????
#694
03-25-2009, 01:42 PM
Guys, I want to be perfectly clear:
The primary stink I'm making is the fact that I won't be able to enjoy this bar now -- I have to wait until late late May to install this. It's really not Scott's fault, it's just the way that my schedule works out, since I don't have my car all the time with me.
I'll say it again -- all the reviews about the performance with this bar have been positive; I have yet to find a negative one. The only "con" it has is installation -- each car is different. The fact that it doesn't fit on every car is most likely a testament to why it's better than your average NRG or GT-Spec strut tower bar [IMO, at least]. Those bars are built to lower tolerances so they can fit all cars easily [even then, people have hood rubbing issues, which is no different than the problem I had].
I just got off the phone with Scott -- he'll make me a new bracket that'll be about ~1/2" lower. He was very polite and very accommodating.
I've seen all the threads bashing Scott, and I do not want my post(s) to be used as part of the bashing. If I see this, I'll be sure to have the basher take it down immediately.
So there it is. I'm just a little impatient, that's all. I just have to wait.
Edit:
My apologies for bringing this slightly OT, but, djamps, I see you in here; RETURN MY PM'S ABOUT THE STILLEN ENGINE DAMPER; I have sent you payment, send me the damper!
The primary stink I'm making is the fact that I won't be able to enjoy this bar now -- I have to wait until late late May to install this. It's really not Scott's fault, it's just the way that my schedule works out, since I don't have my car all the time with me.
I'll say it again -- all the reviews about the performance with this bar have been positive; I have yet to find a negative one. The only "con" it has is installation -- each car is different. The fact that it doesn't fit on every car is most likely a testament to why it's better than your average NRG or GT-Spec strut tower bar [IMO, at least]. Those bars are built to lower tolerances so they can fit all cars easily [even then, people have hood rubbing issues, which is no different than the problem I had].
I just got off the phone with Scott -- he'll make me a new bracket that'll be about ~1/2" lower. He was very polite and very accommodating.
I've seen all the threads bashing Scott, and I do not want my post(s) to be used as part of the bashing. If I see this, I'll be sure to have the basher take it down immediately.
So there it is. I'm just a little impatient, that's all. I just have to wait.
Edit:
My apologies for bringing this slightly OT, but, djamps, I see you in here; RETURN MY PM'S ABOUT THE STILLEN ENGINE DAMPER; I have sent you payment, send me the damper!
Last edited by xx7sephiroth7xx; 03-25-2009 at 01:49 PM.
#696
03-25-2009, 02:06 PM
Former G35driver Vendor
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From my experience, for the absolute best fitment, putting a car on jacks is recommended but as far as MANDATORY just for it to work, that's debateable.
#697
03-25-2009, 02:10 PM
The fact that it doesn't fit every car is a testament to the fact that its tolerances are off. RA's bar is the only bar in the history of strut brace manfuacturing which requires testing on the car post-sale and then new parts to be fabricated for it! (Even 3 out of 15 is 20% which is a pretty big percentage for parts not to bolt right on) If you believe that this is a good thing, and you are happy w/ getting a bar like that, then I totally respect your opinion and more power to you. However, I think that others should be well aware that this might happen BEFORE they purchase, not after. : )
#699
03-25-2009, 02:15 PM
I have a week of vacation coming up that I'm going to have to either take or loose. I really didn't have anything planned but looks like I could spend the entire week trying to install the RA strut bar on my G35,... I like to solve puzzles.
I want to be prepared so from reading this thread I've made the following list of tools I will need:
1. RA strut bar ($500)
2. Car jack with four stands ($125)
3. Arc welder (to modify RA brackets) - rented at Lowes for $175/day
4. Laser sight level (to level out bar mounting points) - $50
Total = $850 parts and tools, not counting labor
If I missed any needed tools, let me know.
I want to be prepared so from reading this thread I've made the following list of tools I will need:
1. RA strut bar ($500)
2. Car jack with four stands ($125)
3. Arc welder (to modify RA brackets) - rented at Lowes for $175/day
4. Laser sight level (to level out bar mounting points) - $50
Total = $850 parts and tools, not counting labor
If I missed any needed tools, let me know.
#700
03-25-2009, 02:18 PM
The fact that it doesn't fit every car is a testament to the fact that its tolerances are off. RA's bar is the only bar in the history of strut brace manfuacturing which requires testing on the car post-sale and then new parts to be fabricated for it! (Even 3 out of 15 is 20% which is a pretty big percentage for parts not to bolt right on) If you believe that this is a good thing, and you are happy w/ getting a bar like that, then I totally respect your opinion and more power to you. However, I think that others should be well aware that this might happen BEFORE they purchase, not after. : )
I don’t know how that could be determined prior to using the thing
#701
03-25-2009, 02:41 PM
^Because this bar was made before. Other people have this bar prior to this group buy!!! Known as the VRT strut bar, but Scott isnt with that company anymore so now it relentless!
But still $500 for a bar with this many problems is ridiculous i'm glad i just stuck with the richie bar!!!
But still $500 for a bar with this many problems is ridiculous i'm glad i just stuck with the richie bar!!!
#702
03-25-2009, 02:49 PM
^^^ I don’t think all 15 have been installed... I'm afraid we're gonna see more than 3 not fitting (based on what's been posted so far) - I hope to be wrong; these guys have waited a long time for this bar… I will say though – a few members in this thread were talking abut how great this bar is before it was even made I don’t know how that could be determined prior to using the thing
I don’t know how that could be determined prior to using the thing the first one also had fitment problems according to some of the reviews
#703
03-25-2009, 03:15 PM
I’m fully aware that there were a few made previously – however, there were people posting recently as if they have used this bar before – I’m not going to stir up drama by quoting, but there are specific posts stating things like “bump for a great bar” and “this is an amazing bar”, etc… from people that I know never used the thing.
I never recommend or encourage a mod that I haven’t tried first hand - but it doesn’t surprise me... this forum is riddled with people posting info that they never had first hand experience in.
I never recommend or encourage a mod that I haven’t tried first hand - but it doesn’t surprise me... this forum is riddled with people posting info that they never had first hand experience in.
#704
03-25-2009, 03:23 PM
I’m fully aware that there were a few made previously – however, there were people posting recently as if they have used this bar before – I’m not going to stir up drama by quoting, but there are specific posts stating things like “bump for a great bar” and “this is an amazing bar”, etc… from people that I know never used the thing.
I never recommend or encourage a mod that I haven’t tried first hand - but it doesn’t surprise me... this forum is riddled with people posting info that they never had first hand experience in.
I never recommend or encourage a mod that I haven’t tried first hand - but it doesn’t surprise me... this forum is riddled with people posting info that they never had first hand experience in.
but yes this forum is full of that, but i think most forums are full of that too though
#705
03-25-2009, 04:00 PM
I have a week of vacation coming up that I'm going to have to either take or loose. I really didn't have anything planned but looks like I could spend the entire week trying to install the RA strut bar on my G35,... I like to solve puzzles.
I want to be prepared so from reading this thread I've made the following list of tools I will need:
1. RA strut bar ($500)
2. Car jack with four stands ($125)
3. Arc welder (to modify RA brackets) - rented at Lowes for $175/day
4. Laser sight level (to level out bar mounting points) - $50
Total = $850 parts and tools, not counting labor
If I missed any needed tools, let me know.
I want to be prepared so from reading this thread I've made the following list of tools I will need:
1. RA strut bar ($500)
2. Car jack with four stands ($125)
3. Arc welder (to modify RA brackets) - rented at Lowes for $175/day
4. Laser sight level (to level out bar mounting points) - $50
Total = $850 parts and tools, not counting labor
If I missed any needed tools, let me know.
LMFAO
I think you forgot Jackhammer
I’m fully aware that there were a few made previously – however, there were people posting recently as if they have used this bar before – I’m not going to stir up drama by quoting, but there are specific posts stating things like “bump for a great bar” and “this is an amazing bar”, etc… from people that I know never used the thing.
I never recommend or encourage a mod that I haven’t tried first hand - but it doesn’t surprise me... this forum is riddled with people posting info that they never had first hand experience in.
I never recommend or encourage a mod that I haven’t tried first hand - but it doesn’t surprise me... this forum is riddled with people posting info that they never had first hand experience in.
The fact that it doesn't fit every car is a testament to the fact that its tolerances are off. RA's bar is the only bar in the history of strut brace manfuacturing which requires testing on the car post-sale and then new parts to be fabricated for it! (Even 3 out of 15 is 20% which is a pretty big percentage for parts not to bolt right on) If you believe that this is a good thing, and you are happy w/ getting a bar like that, then I totally respect your opinion and more power to you. However, I think that others should be well aware that this might happen BEFORE they purchase, not after. : )
I agree !!!
Last edited by XKR; 03-25-2009 at 04:07 PM.