SEAT Leon Strut brace

[v-g]

Yes, on its own, it does make a difference!

I had me car in for a regular service, and asked them to install the S3 lower brace at the same time.
The brace was already ordered, and now just sitting on me shelf in the parts dep. at my SEAT-dealer.
(Oh yeah, I have me own shelf, I order THAT many VAG-parts)

When I picked up the car in the afternoon, the place was crowded,
and I just got me keys and signed the papers (Yes, I have credit, pay one or two times a month)
The brace was not in me head at all, when I left. Forgotten all about it.

On me way home, I've some nice roundabouts and some sharp turns which I usually have to think of,
so I don't come in too fast and just slides over in the other lane.
This time I didn't slide, I thought I was going to, but the car just went the way I wanted.

Just a little story from this remote part o' the world.

 

[Kam]

an hour later...I finished reading this thread

I am real sorry to ask this, especially if it has already been answered. My eyes were glazing over from reading...

The S3 upper strut brace. You guys with the Rs have had a hitch fitting the thing due to the position of the bonnet lifter. Does this also pose the same problem with a normal Cupra?

The nice alloy bolts to fit the brace to the car, where is a good place to pick these up?

Thanks!!

 

[t10akE]

The S3 upper strut brace. You guys with the Rs have had a hitch fitting the thing due to the position of the bonnet lifter. Does this also pose the same problem with a normal Cupra?

Yes indeedy. I used a dremmel to cut mine away on my cupra.

The nice alloy bolts to fit the brace to the car, where is a good place to pick these up?

I got mine mail order from Acorn Fastners. Used M10x30mm Allen Head Stainless bolts with Nylon washers (2 per bolt) and Nylock nuts. You need 6 of each.

 

[Kam]

Thanks t10akE, especially on how to source the bolts!

 

[Theodore]

Ηi.
I have a question to ask.
We all know, that there is a problem common to some Leons. The windshield, which is vulnerable to crash.
The question is: If we put a strut brace, will this enforce the system ( chassis?), so as to become immune to these crashes?
Regards.
Theodore.

 

[CupraR-Rog]

I think the windscreen cracking / shattering syndrome was more down to incorrect fitment than flexing of the chassis... But I suppose anything would help!!

 

[Turbowayne]

Ok finally fitted my S3 strut brace today. Hoorah !!!

What a bitch it was as well.

The grinding down for the bonnet lifter was ok no prob.
The nuts inside the arch were a bitch to hold to tighten. Yes i used the S/Steel bolts, washers & nuts etc to the same spec as Rog etc. They do look the biz but holding them inside the arch. How the hell???

No socket could get on them because of the close proximity of the inside arch flange etc and yes we did finally just drop the struts a bit. A hellish 4-5 hours really, but all sweet and nice now.

The handling, well dunno really yet just drove it back from my friends garage etc.

 

[tom.everett]

Just a quick picture where yuo can see my S3 brace. Real pain to fit!!...

Easy spent over 5 hrs doing it!..

 

[Binary]

I've pretty much decided to get these bits fitted but I really don't feel up to it myself (Especially given the most advanced tool I own is a Leatherman...)

Can anyone recomend a gargae in either the North-East (Newcastle/Durham) or London areas to do this? (Or does a friendly forumite want to do it for a decent hourly rate?)

TIA

 

[LEO LION R]

Just a quick picture where yuo can see my S3 brace. Real pain to fit!!...

Easy spent over 5 hrs doing it!..

All that bling in there and you never opted for the alu AAT strut brace instead ?

Why choose the S3 one? money maybe ?

Just curious, my AAT adjustable one is on the way - soon.

 

[ANDY BLUNT]

Just a quick picture where yuo can see my S3 brace. Real pain to fit!!...

Easy spent over 5 hrs doing it!..

Fitted mine in an hour and a half,easy,was the second time i have fitted one mind. Andy

 

[italian job]

Just finished fitting the S3 strut brace,what a pain in the arse It sits incredibly close to my plastic engine cover LC, not LCR, used M10x30 bolts with nylock nuts all in stainless,i found if i jacked the car up each side it gave me enough room to get my hand around the strut to feed the bolt through,looked like i hd done a shift down the pit when i had finished,hope i can feel a difference after that effort

 

[V5tastic]

Shameless plug: Strut Brace on Ebay for 1p!

Apologies for the plug, but I'm sure this is of interest to anyone reading this thread. Not sure if it's against the rules though (?)

I bought the S3 upper strut brace. I've decided I don't trust myself with a drill, so I've put it on Ebay for 1p, no reserve. Go grab a bargain...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7936578430

 

[hedge]

I was looking under the bonnet the other day and noticed that the brake fluid is hard to reach as normal whats it like with the brace in place? (wo! it rhymes!)

 

[Zamot]

I am about to order the S3 upper and lower strut brace.
Are they made of steel or alloy?

I'm still not shure about one thing, does the upper one ALWAYS need a small modification to fit, or is this just sometimes? (due to the position of the bonnet lifter)

 

[Icecavern]

Upper is steel... never fitted mine lol

Yes it will need modding.

 

[Turbowayne]

I found in my LCR, that the modification was definately required for the strut brace to fit properly in respect of the bonnet lifter.

A simple file or grinder can be used and a selective spray of black satin will complete the job professionally without showing any modification had actually been undertaken.

Allow a few hours though the nuts inside the arch can be a fiddle etc.

Good luck !!!

 

[nfot]

The lower one doesn't need any mods but it needs a special tool !!!
It's also steel.

 

[V5tastic]

We managed to fit the lower one using a socket torque wrench. The only problem is that the captive nuts need a bit of friction to stop them spinning when you first start tightening them. We used a small car jack (the one that comes with the car will work). Press the jack against the strut brace near to the bolt. This will give the nut enough friction when you start turning, until it starts to widen out and bite into the metalwork. The jack is only needed for the first few turns.

These captive nuts are basically like wallplugs - you screw into them and they compress and get fatter. Very clever, but I spent ages thinking that they had to be somehow fed around the back of the holes (duh). Just pop them in - very easy in the end.

I fitted the lower one only, and it made a HUGE difference to cornering - even at low speed. It was completely different from the first corner I took. It's what my Toledo V5 was waiting for. It just feels right now.

It does reduce the ground clearance though - I grated the brace when I drove down a dirt track. On the other hand, I'd rather grate a bit of foam and steel worth a few quid than the engine sump. I reckon it's probably impossible to ground the sump now - the strut brace is probably tough enough to carry the whole weight of the car. A free bonus feature.

I was a bit puzzled about the foam on one side of the brace - this points downwards when fitted. It made sense when I looked at John's Cupra R - these have a plastic cover over the whole underside. The foam is for this plastic cover to rest against the strut brace. The V5 doesn't have this cover - possibly because the engine's bigger or hotter (or perhaps to reduce costs).

The foam's now looking a bit lumpy after grating it, but it doesn't matter - it'll probably wear away in time. If I was clever then I'd have rubbed it off before fitting.

I decided against fitting the top one, as I got a bit scared of putting holes through the wings.

For the lower one - you'd be mad not to have one. Costs next to nothing, handles better and acts as a sump guard.

 

[Zamot]

I am about to install the upper S3 strut brace. To make it a bit eayser, I order the same screw/nuts that the lower S3 brace is attached with. In this way I don't have to jack up the car and take the wheel off to get to the screw holes from below. I can just drill holes, put the Nuts in, and screw..

Only one question - is there anything under there that I should be careful not to drill by accident (and room for the screws)???