Joined
·
1,444 Posts
I installed the Progress RSB yesterday along with the discovery of my metal to metal rubbing (which is discussed in the Eibach thread).
However, I also had the pleasure (if you could call it that) of installing the Progress RSB and 08 SAP Shocks and struts. And, I will say that without Abbot's help, I would have completely been dead in the water.
The Progress RSB is NOT as easy as it sounds. As soon as you get it into position, all is cool. However, I think we had more issues with getting the D*$*#* thing into position than actually putting it on.
The key to the RSB install was not to tighten down the bushing bolts to the subframe prior to making sure the RSB was in the right place as far as the endlinks were concerned. If the bar was too high, the endlinks couldn't make a correct interface with the lower arm. You definitely need some way to compress the lower arm to make sure the endlinks correctly match to the lower arm.
First pic shows the difference in size between the OE RSB and the Progress RSB. The others show the Progress in place (after much cussing, etc.).
The 08 SAP dampers were not that difficult. The hardest part, again, was maneuvering. To get the damper out, there are three bolts in a triangular fashion that must be removed before the damper can be removed...and of course the lower bolt. After that it's pretty much just a matter of removing the top damper bolt, switching the upper housing over to the new damper, and putting it back in place. The bolt on the outside most area was a *$&$#%( to get to. A big piece that connects to the rotor and rear wheel assembly limits the ability of you being able to sneak even a 1/4" drive socket in there. And, it's such a tight space that not even my 25-degree offset wrenches would fit around the bolt. That's the one time I would have really liked to have a set of OFFSET OPEN wrenches.
Here you can see Abbot doing a little hand modeling, holding the shocks with the upper housing attached to the new damper.
I can say that I definitely do notice a handling difference. The car now drives better than the 08 SAP Fusion I drove at the stealership. And, best part - no squeakage!
However, I also had the pleasure (if you could call it that) of installing the Progress RSB and 08 SAP Shocks and struts. And, I will say that without Abbot's help, I would have completely been dead in the water.
The Progress RSB is NOT as easy as it sounds. As soon as you get it into position, all is cool. However, I think we had more issues with getting the D*$*#* thing into position than actually putting it on.
The key to the RSB install was not to tighten down the bushing bolts to the subframe prior to making sure the RSB was in the right place as far as the endlinks were concerned. If the bar was too high, the endlinks couldn't make a correct interface with the lower arm. You definitely need some way to compress the lower arm to make sure the endlinks correctly match to the lower arm.
First pic shows the difference in size between the OE RSB and the Progress RSB. The others show the Progress in place (after much cussing, etc.).




The 08 SAP dampers were not that difficult. The hardest part, again, was maneuvering. To get the damper out, there are three bolts in a triangular fashion that must be removed before the damper can be removed...and of course the lower bolt. After that it's pretty much just a matter of removing the top damper bolt, switching the upper housing over to the new damper, and putting it back in place. The bolt on the outside most area was a *$&$#%( to get to. A big piece that connects to the rotor and rear wheel assembly limits the ability of you being able to sneak even a 1/4" drive socket in there. And, it's such a tight space that not even my 25-degree offset wrenches would fit around the bolt. That's the one time I would have really liked to have a set of OFFSET OPEN wrenches.
Here you can see Abbot doing a little hand modeling, holding the shocks with the upper housing attached to the new damper.

I can say that I definitely do notice a handling difference. The car now drives better than the 08 SAP Fusion I drove at the stealership. And, best part - no squeakage!