DIY: Rear Strut Bar Removal/Replacement

Carbon Fiber Element · 09-11-2011, 03:10 PM

Tools needed...14mm, 12mm, 10mm socket or wrench. Flathead screwdriver. Interior panel removal tools are not needed but make it easier to pop out all the interior panels.
The removal of the bar is not too difficult, just a pain because half the trunk need to come apart to get to all the bolts holding it in.
So here we go...
Remove all carpets and floor pieces front trunk area. Spare tire can stay.
Remove the rubber seal that goes around the trunk. Just take it all the way out is easiest.
Remove the 4 clips in rear of trunk, 2 in the back panel and 2 in the hump shaped pieces using flathead screwdriver.
On this piece they are in bottom corners. Remove this piece by popping it straight up. Not out towards the front of the car, it lifts straight up, kind of slide it up. Once out disconnect the light.

You can see them on the hump pieces too...These 2 hump pieces come out next. Use you panel tool or even a screwdriver and pop these parts out. They have metal clips and just wedge in. Pop out carefully.

Next, pop out the big piece over the bar that also has the grill for the speaker. That is secured with those cheapo little plastic clips so be careful when prying out. Youll see that the bottom of that runs into the door sills, so carefully pop loose the back end of the door sills to remove this piece. Its not necessary to totally remove the door sill but you can if you want.

Next up is the piece that surrounds the rear glass and seat belt. Pop off the little cover where the seat belt is bolted in to expose the bolt. Remove that bolt with 14mm socket. Once bolt is out you can pop the plastic piece out surrounding the window.

Next, the 2 little caps that sit on either side of the silver bar come out. They are easy to remove and may have slid out already when popping out the other parts. But the 2 caps do not pop out, they slide out towards the center of the car. It took me a second to figure that out when reinstalling so pay attention to that.

Now you can move to the front of the car. Slide your seats out of the way. The 2 little carpeted pieces need to be popped out of the cubby area. Just use your panel tool and pop them straight out.

Once those are out youll find 4 plastic pop-in clips under them. Use your screwdriver and pop out those clips. 8 in total.
Now the front plastic cover of the bar can be popped loose. Dont need to totally remove just loosen. This is the piece, it has a little cubby in it and covers the whole front. It just pops loose like everything else.

Now, back to the rear of the car. Remove the big black chunk of foam and youll see the back plastic cover of the bar has some pop-in clips again. Pop those 6 out across the bottom and then the back cover can be popped loose just like the front was.

That is pretty much it for plastic panels. If you got this far you can see the bolts that need to be removed to free up the rear bar. There are four 10mm bolts on either end and also two 12mm bolts on either side.
Remove the four 10mm bolts first that secure the top of bar to the sidewall of the car.

After those 4 bolts are out you can remove the two 12mm bolts on either side that hold the bar in place.

Your bar can now come out. If replacing with a new bar you will see that there is one way it goes in...The bar cannot be spun around and put in backwards. If you have it backwards the flat portion of the bar will be facing up, instead of towards the rear/front like it is supposed to be.
The install took me about 1.5 hours taking my time and bs'ing while doing it. It was not all too difficult just time consuming. When putting in the new bar just hand tighten all your bolt again until they are all in then tighten with wrench staring with the four on the sidewall, and lastly the two 12mm. Then reinstall all of your panels in reverse than you did removing them. Hopefully, you are reading this DIY because you bought one of our Carbon Fiber bars to replace your stocker. If not, all good.
Good Luck!!

Carbon Fiber Element · 09-11-2011, 03:13 PM

Almost forgot...Here it is assembled with one of our cf bars...

FastPaced · 09-11-2011, 06:24 PM

Great DIY Tony

Guys, this CF strut bar looks amazing in person. Like always, Tony does amazing work.

CSA0890 · 11-16-2011, 10:11 PM

do you make this in red or blue cf?

Carbon Fiber Element · 11-17-2011, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSA0890

do you make this in red or blue cf?

No sir...but I do have these 2 still available. pM me if interested.

Pelican170 · 04-05-2013, 12:14 PM

I really wish these pics were here still.

Anyone know of another set of instructions for this?

09-11-2011, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Carbon Fiber Element Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: nj Posts: 937 Drives: 04 nissan 350z db m6 Rep Power: 199	DIY: Rear Strut Bar Removal/Replacement Tools needed...14mm, 12mm, 10mm socket or wrench. Flathead screwdriver. Interior panel removal tools are not needed but make it easier to pop out all the interior panels. The removal of the bar is not too difficult, just a pain because half the trunk need to come apart to get to all the bolts holding it in. So here we go... Remove all carpets and floor pieces front trunk area. Spare tire can stay. Remove the rubber seal that goes around the trunk. Just take it all the way out is easiest. Remove the 4 clips in rear of trunk, 2 in the back panel and 2 in the hump shaped pieces using flathead screwdriver. On this piece they are in bottom corners. Remove this piece by popping it straight up. Not out towards the front of the car, it lifts straight up, kind of slide it up. Once out disconnect the light. You can see them on the hump pieces too...These 2 hump pieces come out next. Use you panel tool or even a screwdriver and pop these parts out. They have metal clips and just wedge in. Pop out carefully. Next, pop out the big piece over the bar that also has the grill for the speaker. That is secured with those cheapo little plastic clips so be careful when prying out. Youll see that the bottom of that runs into the door sills, so carefully pop loose the back end of the door sills to remove this piece. Its not necessary to totally remove the door sill but you can if you want. Next up is the piece that surrounds the rear glass and seat belt. Pop off the little cover where the seat belt is bolted in to expose the bolt. Remove that bolt with 14mm socket. Once bolt is out you can pop the plastic piece out surrounding the window. Next, the 2 little caps that sit on either side of the silver bar come out. They are easy to remove and may have slid out already when popping out the other parts. But the 2 caps do not pop out, they slide out towards the center of the car. It took me a second to figure that out when reinstalling so pay attention to that. Now you can move to the front of the car. Slide your seats out of the way. The 2 little carpeted pieces need to be popped out of the cubby area. Just use your panel tool and pop them straight out. Once those are out youll find 4 plastic pop-in clips under them. Use your screwdriver and pop out those clips. 8 in total. Now the front plastic cover of the bar can be popped loose. Dont need to totally remove just loosen. This is the piece, it has a little cubby in it and covers the whole front. It just pops loose like everything else. Now, back to the rear of the car. Remove the big black chunk of foam and youll see the back plastic cover of the bar has some pop-in clips again. Pop those 6 out across the bottom and then the back cover can be popped loose just like the front was. That is pretty much it for plastic panels. If you got this far you can see the bolts that need to be removed to free up the rear bar. There are four 10mm bolts on either end and also two 12mm bolts on either side. Remove the four 10mm bolts first that secure the top of bar to the sidewall of the car. After those 4 bolts are out you can remove the two 12mm bolts on either side that hold the bar in place. Your bar can now come out. If replacing with a new bar you will see that there is one way it goes in...The bar cannot be spun around and put in backwards. If you have it backwards the flat portion of the bar will be facing up, instead of towards the rear/front like it is supposed to be. The install took me about 1.5 hours taking my time and bs'ing while doing it. It was not all too difficult just time consuming. When putting in the new bar just hand tighten all your bolt again until they are all in then tighten with wrench staring with the four on the sidewall, and lastly the two 12mm. Then reinstall all of your panels in reverse than you did removing them. Hopefully, you are reading this DIY because you bought one of our Carbon Fiber bars to replace your stocker. If not, all good. Good Luck!! __________________ http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l...2623_HDR-1.jpg Text or call 732.754.0423 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Follow us on Instagram @Carbonfiberelement

09-11-2011, 03:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Carbon Fiber Element Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: nj Posts: 937 Drives: 04 nissan 350z db m6 Rep Power: 199	Almost forgot...Here it is assembled with one of our cf bars... __________________ http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l...2623_HDR-1.jpg Text or call 732.754.0423 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Follow us on Instagram @Carbonfiberelement

04-05-2013, 12:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Pelican170 Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sandy Hook, CT Posts: 972 Drives: Nissan 370z Nismo Rep Power: 16	I really wish these pics were here still. Anyone know of another set of instructions for this? __________________ Fast Intentions CF Exhaust - Fast Intentions HFC's - HPS Tubes w/ AFE Dry Flow Filter's

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09-11-2011, 06:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
FastPaced Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bronx, NY Posts: 372 Drives: '08 SFP IS-F Rep Power: 14	Great DIY Tony Guys, this CF strut bar looks amazing in person. Like always, Tony does amazing work.

11-16-2011, 10:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
CSA0890 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 174 Drives: 2011 Tour/Spt 7AT Rep Power: 14	do you make this in red or blue cf?