Hey all, my O3 Matrix XRS is about to hit 50,000 miles, it's been great since I had it (6 months) but my fan belt/serpentine is making a hell of a squeal on cold mornings and fades after a couple miles. In some of your opinons how difficult would it be to do myself, I have done all my previous cars, my last being a 96 Isuzu Rodeo. I'm pretty capable of doing my own work short of an engine swap or rebuilduilding a transmission. And I'm thinking of throwing on an alternator pulley while I'm in there. I do'nt really want to pa my dealership almost $200 bucks for the belt swap. Any suggestions.
And has anyone installed a DC strut bar?
How does it compare to the TRD?
The DC looks hella stiff, and thinking of powder coating it red.
I have a DC strut bar, works good, not huge difference, just make sure when u are installing the bar that you jack the front of the car up to take the weight off the front strut towers then install the bar, this way you will "pre load" the strut bar.
I have a DC strut bar, works good, not huge difference, just make sure when u are installing the bar that you jack the front of the car up to take the weight off the front strut towers then install the bar, this way you will "pre load" the strut bar.
I didn't jack the front up when I put my DC strut brace on. What is "preload" anyway. I just followed the instructions that came with it. Easy as pie....and coupled with the Progress RSB, I notice a good difference in handling on my 06 XRS.
__________________ 2006 Matrix XRS
Progress Rear Sway Bar
DC Strut Tower Brace
Eibach Prokits
I just followed the instructions that came with it. Easy as pie....and coupled with the Progress RSB, I notice a good difference in handling on my 06 XRS.
Memphis, was it easy to install the rear sway bar? i have a dc strut bar as well, i'm looking into sway bars, but i was looking at the hotchkis ones (don't have model # on me)
when i buy them i was thinking about installing myself or taking it to my friends dad who is a mechanic who does almost everything out of his garage.
Memphis, was it easy to install the rear sway bar? i have a dc strut bar as well, i'm looking into sway bars, but i was looking at the hotchkis ones (don't have model # on me)
when i buy them i was thinking about installing myself or taking it to my friends dad who is a mechanic who does almost everything out of his garage.
Yeah, it was way easy...just a bolt and nut on each side. The only problem that I encountered was breaking the nut loose. I was putting a regular wrench on the nut, which is on top and trying to break the bolt loose, which is underneath. I eventually just took the breaker bar (1/2" drive and 19mm socket?) and broke loose the nut on top. After that, it was very simple. Keep in mind that the OEM bar is pretty stout itself. Not sure how much different the new bar makes. They are both solid metal, but the Progress bar is a couple mm thicker. All that said, with both mods, I notice a difference in cornering.
__________________ 2006 Matrix XRS
Progress Rear Sway Bar
DC Strut Tower Brace
Eibach Prokits
I didn't jack the front up when I put my DC strut brace on. What is "preload" anyway. I just followed the instructions that came with it. Easy as pie....and coupled with the Progress RSB, I notice a good difference in handling on my 06 XRS.
Works a little better when the bar is adjustable, but basicaly by taking the weight off the front of the car, the frame will flex a little and the strut towers will move slightly apart then when you bolt the strut bar on and lower the vehicle it will apply more pressure on the bar and therefore less flex in the frame. Not a must do, but it's easy and it does make a difference.
Works a little better when the bar is adjustable, but basicaly by taking the weight off the front of the car, the frame will flex a little and the strut towers will move slightly apart then when you bolt the strut bar on and lower the vehicle it will apply more pressure on the bar and therefore less flex in the frame. Not a must do, but it's easy and it does make a difference.
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