V6 Owners With Strut Brace, PLEASE READ...

[andyman]

I noticed today that the strut brace is rubbing again the A/C hose the runs from the compressor to the fire wall.

Now im not sure if it would rub through the hose and make it leak as im sure its a steel braided hose, anyway its an expensive looking part so im sure no one here wants to replace it so on the off chance this is a little DIY i created to correct the problems.

Requied Parts

- 1inch diameter black plastic conduit
- Metal strip
- Black Electrical Tape

Here is the problem:






Solution to the problem

1. Grab a thin piece of steel and bend it to the shape of the pipe, I used one of the clips that hold brake and speed sensor wires to the strut, just chopped the ends off and linished the corners smooth,




2. Position the piece of metal to the right spot and tape it onto the A/C hose where it has been rubbing



3. Stick the piece of conduit over the pipe and tape up the end to make it look nice and flash.





I made this up out of part lying around my toolbox at home, you can substitute your own bits and pieces you have lying around instead

So there it, if this helps you out, you know what to do, I like getting my rep points!

Cheers
Andrew

[Calaber]

Hi Andrew

Good work - a lot of members might have installed the bar and not noticed the wear on the hose. I had a hose let go in my HZ years ago - the pressure in the hose on a really hot day is very high and a weak spot in the hose cause by wear would be the obvious spot to let go.

Off post a bit - have you noticed any difference in the car's handling with the bar installed?

[PaulSV6]

Just went & checked mine & it is starting to rub, not as bad a ur's Andrew
Will attack mine 2moz, 2 drunk atm

Thanx for the Heads up

[andyman]

Hi Andrew


Off post a bit - have you noticed any difference in the car's handling with the bar installed?

not terribly much around town, but tight twisites in a mountain seems to roll a wee bit less

[kinga]

Thanks mate, just installed the strut bar today and hadnt noticed that. I just went and checked and it is definatly rubbing! Will sort something out though with the help of your observation

[greenacc]

Seems like you saved a few burst hoses here Andyman. Just wondering if you could just grind a few mm off the corner of the Strut bar instead to stop it rubbing ? doubt it would weaken the bar at all.

[Troy711]

I'll check mine tomorrow... hopefully it is alright, the strut brace has been on there for about 3 years

[SSbeast]

Good post, identified a common problem. Is there anyway that the pipe can be angled down? If you went to an A/C shop could you get them to angle the pipe down or is it permanent in that position?

[Calaber]

I had a look at this area of my VY Ecotech. The problem probably won't arise with VY's because the hose design is completely different. The receiver/dryer is located just to the left of the strut tower and the hose is lower than the VZ.

About the only thing I can see that might cause an issue is the accelerator cable assemebly.

[ashbox]

i will def be checking this.

[Phreddy]

Great job Andy - I'm getting a brace for mine soon, so now I can be sure the problem won't crop up!

All the best for the NY to you Mate....

[impulsesv6]

another option is to grind the corner off...

ive removed my strut bar when the charger went on and cant say i notice and difference with it gone...

[andyman]

Seems like you saved a few burst hoses here Andyman. Just wondering if you could just grind a few mm off the corner of the Strut bar instead to stop it rubbing ? doubt it would weaken the bar at all.

Good post, identified a common problem. Is there anyway that the pipe can be angled down? If you went to an A/C shop could you get them to angle the pipe down or is it permanent in that position?

yes and yes to both,


although by accident when i was playing around it, the aluminium pipe where the hose meets the compressor bends real easy i found, this also made it clear it by about 3mm - not much though and runs the risk of fracturing a pipe,


grinding the end of the strut bar off sounds like the perfect fix, might do that and get rid of the conduit and give it that factory look again

[baracuda]

After reading the Thread from Andyman (good onya for spotting that one!!!) i had a look into it and added the following so that the rubbing woudnt occur and ensuring the aircon hose can still be replaced if needs be and no need to add anything to that hose.
all i used was a the folowing;
a hose clamp- to go around the strut brace
a U-shaped bracket can be L shaped to but this was available
and a clipsal pvc pipe bracket where the hose is cradled in

took me like 1/2hr to do and that including hitting it with a coat of black.
the pics are self explaining.
the MkII bracket will ensure a more rigid fitting cradle for the aircon hose to lay in. incase of any vibration the hose will just move in the bracket and no sharp edges.to wear against.

sorry for any blurred fotos but took it inside workshop

[andyman]

lol good one, love the 'mk11'

cheers

[Lumps of cheese]

Great write up andy.

[BullittSV6]

Had a look at mine, there's about 1mm clearance between the pipe and strut brace, and there is no evidence of rubbing between the brace and pipe. Having said that its something I'll be keeping an eye on

[EQUIPED]

quick question regarding the 2 hole mod - what happens to the open MAF end of the pipe after the mod?

Cheers

[baracuda]

you replied in the wrong thread dude.

quick question regarding the 2 hole mod - what happens to the open MAF end of the pipe after the mod?

Cheers

[jet-6]

Checked my car today, factory fitted brace, and the air con piping is quite different, its way down on the rail and miles away from anything

[andyman]

Checked my car today, factory fitted brace, and the air con piping is quite different, its way down on the rail and miles away from anything

adventra, while looking like a commodore wagon has a very much different body, and alot of systems or way its built is very different

[ucrvme]

Thanks for the advice! i didnt have any spare little pieces of metal but i had some braided hose sleave left over and reinforced it working great thanks.

[AussieHolden]

Has anyone thought of just bending the pipe down a little so there is no contact with the bar I did there's no need for all this. It's all the Holden dealerships do as well.