Rear Strut Brace Options?

[Randomg]

Tried to install a Mason engineering rear strut bar the last few days. First removed the struts since there's not enough room to get it in place otherwise. Next, noticed it wasn't going to fit with what I believe are the stock evap lines in their original place, so cut the brace to make room.

After playing with the height of the studs of each strut during install, installing each one first, and jacking the car up on just one side by either the jack point or the trailing arm, I still couldn't get the holes to line up, with the brace's holes being too close together. Also felt to me like there's some negative camber in the strut mounts that isn't accounted for in the straight across bar and actually getting it fully installed would have the ends bending upward to have it lay flat against the strut mounts. Maybe my car has flexed on both sides over the years.

Lastly, I didn't think through the carpet situation, it doesn't fit with carpet in place.

Anyone have one installed with carpet? If so, from which company.

[a2058]

I don’t have experience with the rear strut brace but for the front, I had to lift the whole front end off the ground and unload the suspension completely for the holes in the bar and the tower mount to align. Have you tried lifting the whole rear end off the ground?

[stuartinmn]

It's no longer available new but there was a factory strut brace, part number 71601126613. It was part of the trailer hitch package. You may be able to find a used one. It's #6 in this diagram: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... 1601126613

[DavidE9]

https://a.d-cd.net/_YZ2KTnUndqSkAIAUwAVd5NAwUg-1920.jpg

[Randomg]

Yeah, had entire rear end off the ground, both struts removed, tried getting one shock started and playing around with jacking it up on one side to get the chassis to flex, still no luck.

Stock part looks to correctly account for the shock camber, but still would require some cutting of the carpet. Thanks for the info and pic.

[Chicagotrader92]

E28goodies has a set of front and rear strut braces for pretty cheap, I was thinking about trying it out. I think no matter what you'll have to cut the rear carpeting a bit.

https://e28goodies.com/product/set-stru ... ront-rear/