VAP

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/711/bezelinstall1.jpg"></center><p>
Rev 3 strut bezels are designed and being produced. The first 2 revisions had some issues that caused me concern that they could (and on 2 occasions did) either contact the cupped washers or work themselves loose. Rev 3 has proven bullet-proof in that it cannot contact the cupped washers and I'm satisfied this adhesive method easily KILLS all the other adhesives I've tried. Doesnt hurt that its also the easiest adhesive method to work with.

Adhesive is 3M 5356 Double Sided Automotive Foam Adhesive Tape. It is available in 1/2", 3/4" and 1" wide rolls at most popular auto parts stores. I keep this stuff around anyway and no car nut should be without it. Cost per-roll is between $6/$24 depending on length purchased. My roll is 1" wide and the job used approx 20" total (both sides). However, if you purchased 1/2" if would take approx twice that length to do the job.

Step 1:

Clean strut tower top of all grease/dirt with a good household cleaner, ie Windex, 409, Fantastik, Simple green etc. Sand any metal surface imperfections so strut tower tops are perfectly flat. You chould check with a known-good straight edge as strut tower bore-surrounds can be hammered upwards from suspension bottoming out or driving on collapsed strut mounts.

Once you're sure strut mounts are flat and cleaned wipe the flat area surrounding the strut tower bore with with acetone or laquer thinner being careful to not touch any other area of car or plastics as it can remove paint or melt plastic.

Once done, cut as many lengths of 3M foam tape as it will take to cover your strut tower tops. Simply start laying the tape across your strut tower tops in any direction. From there lay subsequent strips of tape parallel to and touching the sides of the first strip until "flat" on top of strut tower is completely covered.

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<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/711/bezelinstall2.jpg"></center><p>After tape is laid across strut tower press down on the tape all around the "flat" area underneath. Once flay take an #11 X-acto blade or a single-edge razor blade and cut around the inside bore using the bore walls as your guide. Using this method makes for a perfect round hole if using a new blade. Discard all tape that was cut from the center of the bore.

Once done you can remove the red release-liner from all the tape.

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<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/711/bezelinstall3.jpg"></center><p>After wiping down the under-side of the strut bezel with acetone or laquer thinner it can now be placed on the exposed tape. Its easy to get centered by simply laying the aluminum bezel bore directly centered over the strut tower bore.

Once done press firmly all around the outside edge several times.

Once that step is done take the X-acto of razor blade and cut all the extra tape sticking out from under the bezel. Again the job is made easy as the bezel will no be uyour guide in cutting to excess tape. Once tape is cut simply pull it off and discard it.

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<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/711/bezelinstall4.jpg"></center><p>This is what you should now have.

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<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/711/alloycupwshr18.jpg"></center><p>Really updates and gives a cool, more high-tech look to the front strut towers.

10Mghzs

I'm not trying to be a d!K. I'm really curious.

VAP

Been covered repeatedly the past 2 weeks. STFA instead of me saying it again for the umpteenth time

CvTech

but did you get something out in the mail for me? I really want to solve some issues before I drive this car into Lake Michigan.

VAP

on the envelope when the mailman picked it up so I quickly wrote "Chris" on it above the street address before handing it to the mailman. I dunno if that has anything to do with it but it made me curious. I went back and checked and in our email when I had asked for your shipping address you had only included the street address with no name and my label printing software will only print what it sees and I didnt catch it at time of printing. If it doesnt get there I have plenty around but not having one of those shouldnt stop you from doing your projects as you still have the old slotted nuts as well as the original nylock nuts and new uni-torque nuts that can all be used as a substitute since they're not being used anywhere else when you need a jam nut to hold the strut together while you work on things.

Since I only send 1 jam nut for each pair of Pro-Mounts you should be able to use one of the 6 other matching nuts you still have around. Even if you threw your old slotted nuts and nylock nuts away you still have the new uni-torques that will also work.

But if you dont have the jam nut by the end of the week I'll get another out to you. But sheesh, dont hold up doing any project because of that nut especially since you have "at least" 2 that will do the job just as well in-stock and sitting just inside your cupped washers.

CvTech

I don't wanna use the uni-torque nut because it seems to torque too well if that makes sense.