Parts:
Acura 04-05 TSX (CL9) Front under brace (Type II) Cusco Lower Arm Bar (344-477-A)
4pcs - M8-1.25x30mm bolts 10.9 grade
4pcs - M8 washers
1pc - Blue Loctite

Tools: 12mm, 13mm & 17mm socket, Ratchet (I used a 1/2" drive), Torque Wrench.

Installation time: 30 Min. or less

Lift the front of the car with either jacks, ramps or with a lift.

I started on the drivers side then went to the passenger side. Working back and forth for this installation.

These are the bolts that we will be working with. (drivers side shown)

Using the 17mm socket & ratchet. remove the one large bolt that mounts the front sub frame to the mid sub frame. Then start mounting the CUSCO brace. Only finger tight for now.

Then go to the passenger side and repeat the process.

Now with the front two points of the bracket loosely mounted, remove the four M8-1.25 x 20mm bolts with the 12mm socket & ratchet. I replaces these with new M8-1.25 x 30mm Flange Bolts & Washers.

Place washers on the new M8 bolts and apply a small amount of the blue loctite to the new M8 bolts. Rase the bracket into place and losely install the rear of the brace to the mid sub frame.

ok..here's a dumb question....what exactly does a front under brace help with??and btw what is the price on all of it??

With the brace loosely in place, torque the two large bolts to 78 ft. lbs. with the torque wrench and the 17mm socket. Then tighten the four smaller bolts (the new bolts required a 13mm socket instead of the original 12mm socket that was used to remove the original bolts). I wasn't sure of what the torque value for these four bolts should be so I torqued them to appx. 24 ft. lbs. With the blue loctite on them, that should be more than enough.

Now that the brace is installed, lower the car and clean up. Then take it for a spin! The new brace will stiffen up the front lower part of the frame which will help when cornering. I notices what I would say to be a 10% improvement in handling.

I purchased my brace from : http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/price/Acura/TSX/Cusco/Suspension/Lower_Frame_Braces/part/Version_II

You can also get it here: http://www.racinglab.com/cuscolarm10.html

Now ....... any questions?

ok..here's a dumb question....what exactly does a front under brace help with??and btw what is the price on all of it??

Improves the stiffness of the lower front frame, which improves cornering.

The brace is appx. $170.00 plus shipping and handling. The new hardware and loctite was appx. $10.

Good sermon Pope! Kudos on the fit and install!

Congratulations! You did prevail!

As an overview, in your opinion, is the floorpan the same as a Gen 7 Accord? Or do you think it was a basis for the TSX?

Are you sure that's going to fit? I don't think that going to fit!:banana:

Nice write up. Maybe I'll install this when I do my front TL-S sway bar since I'll have to remove the subframe bolts anyway.

[QUOTE=As an overview, in your opinion, is the floorpan the same as a Gen 7 Accord? Or do you think it was a basis for the TSX?[/QUOTE]

This is a Gen 7 Accord. I've never look at the TSX floorpan either. So I'm a little confused to what you are tring to ask. :dunno: Nothing new though! :nuts: As I do tend to get those "Senior Moments" more often now! :paranoid:

Congrats on the successful install.

In your opinion is the improvement in handling worth the investment?

This is a Gen 7 Accord. I've never look at the TSX floorpan either. So I'm a little confused to what you are tring to ask. :dunno: Nothing new though! :nuts: As I do tend to get those "Senior Moments" more often now! :paranoid:

I'm thinking that FW may be referencing the great debate over the Accord/TL/TSX frame/subframe that was going on in your previous thread.

Congrats on the successful install.

In your opinion is the improvement in handling worth the investment?

I'd do it again, but others might not. The way I see it, anything that improves the handling is also something that may help you to avoid being in an accident. So ...... yes, I'd do it again.:thmsup:

I'm thinking that FW may be referencing the great debate over the Accord/TL/TSX frame/subframe that was going on in your previous thread.

From what little I know, it appears that the Accord is more like the TSX than the TL. The Accord is most likely the love child of the two (TSX & TL). :naughty: :dunno: You know, a little bit of one and a little bit of the other. As every child tends to favor one of it's parents more than the other. :naughty:

From what little I know, it appears that the Accord is more like the TSX than the TL. The Accord is most likely the love child of the two (TSX & TL). :naughty: :dunno: You know, a little bit of one and a little bit of the other. As every child tends to favor one of it's parents more than the other. :naughty:

I would've thought the Accord and the TL's love child was the TSX. Seeing as it's an in between in performance and size.:naughty::nuts::lmao:

This is a Gen 7 Accord. I've never look at the TSX floorpan either. So I'm a little confused to what you are tring to ask. :dunno: Nothing new though! :nuts: As I do tend to get those "Senior Moments" more often now! :paranoid:

Manufacturers have what is called a floor pan. In the past this would have been called the "frame" but since most cars are unibody construction, there isn't really a frame anymore.

The floorpan is a place to hang the front and rear suspension, engine and transmission mounting, sometimes the fuel tank, etc

Essentially this is what enables us to raid, let's say, Acura TL parts for the Accord

pope - thank you for the pictures and comments! i will consider this mod when i'm done w/ my others =P.

i have the neuspeed tower bar, do you think this brace will add anymore stiffness?

I also have the TL rear sway...

very nice install btw, if i had that, i would look underneath my car everyday! hahah!

i have the neuspeed tower bar, do you think this brace will add anymore stiffness?

I also have the TL rear sway...

very nice install btw, if i had that, i would look underneath my car everyday! hahah!

In short ..... yes.

I had the V6 Coupe tower bar already installed before I added the under body brace. I was able to tell an improvement! :banana:

Looks good, great job. I'm always happy to see another acura part transplanted into a 7th gen. Do you think that this would fit on the coupe? I know that the coupe and the TSX have the same wheelbase dimensions, so it seems like it is likely to fit, though I don't want to buy it and have it not.

The only dimension that I'd be conserned with is the one between one of two large bolts and the inner most one of one of the four small bolts. Just the center to center dimension. As far as the side to side dimensions are conserned, they should be fine.

I just went out and measured, it's ruffly 17" center to center from the large bolt on the driver's side to the inner most small bolt on the driver's side. (It's still dark here at the moment, so I can't be any more specific.)

Hope that this helps!

Let us all know if it fits the coupe!

I'll measure it out when I see my car again in a week.

Great writeup. Glad it fit!

Thanks for the link to this thread!

Seems like something I could easily do myself.

Yes, it's an easy mod. :banana:

So, any coupe verification? :)

That's a great mod, cool to know other parts can ft on the 7th gen. Accords interchangable parts.:thmsup:

sorry to bump from the dead but did you have to support the front subframe? it wont come crashing down on me if i unbolt the two front bolts would it?

sorry to bump from the dead but did you have to support the front subframe? it wont come crashing down on me if i unbolt the two front bolts would it?

No, you don't "need to" support the front sub-frame for this mod. The two "Front Bolts" in my instructions are the "Rear Bolts" of the Front Sub-frame, as there are still other bolts that are attaching the front sub-frame to the car. Follow the instructions as stated and you shouldn't have a issue. But by all means, if you feel safer by adding a jack-stand or two, please do.

okay thanks ill be putting mine in on friday :)

is there a need to replace the original 12mm bolt with the new 13mm? how would it fit going from 12mm to 13mm?

is there a need to replace the original 12mm bolt with the new 13mm? how would it fit going from 12mm to 13mm?

New bolts are needed that are longer than the original ones. The threads are the same, just the head size of the new bolts were larger.

See in post #8 --- "Then tighten the four smaller bolts (the new bolts required a 13mm socket instead of the original 12mm socket that was used to remove the original bolts)."

New bolts are needed that are longer than the original ones. The threads are the same, just the head size of the new bolts were larger.

See in post #8 --- "Then tighten the four smaller bolts (the new bolts required a 13mm socket instead of the original 12mm socket that was used to remove the original bolts)."

thanks for clearing it up, my 06 accord is lowered 1.5 inches, do u think it would be a problem? i'm kinda worry the car won't clear when going over deep and bumper.

I still think that you will be o.k. as it doesn't stick out too much.

http://www.racinglab.com/cuscolarm10.html

looks like this CUSCO CL9 front brace is a little different (45 degree angles versus the right angles on your brace), than the one installed on your vehicle. Do you think there will be clearance issues with the cat, if i purchase the one offered on this site?

If you look at txt under the photo, it states: "Sample image. Actual product vary by model." The photo is of a different model.

The photo's that I posted at the beginning of this thread is what you get if you order the Type II for an (04 and up) Acura TSX.

Also chcek out http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/partdetails/Cusco/Suspension/Lower_Frame_Braces/Version_II/6993

For those with the 6 cylinder, there is no problem installing the Cusco Type II brace. It clears everything just fine. As I can no longer get under my car my mechanic installed it and charged $40.00 for less than 30 minutes, well worth it. I printed out the Pope's insxtructions and all went well. Kudos to the Pope, he is the man.

Pope looks like version II (link you just posted) looks stiffer, any thoughts on this?

Any confirmation on fitments in coupe?

Pope looks like version II (link you just posted) looks stiffer, any thoughts on this?

In the link, please read the statment below the photo "pictures may vary by application"

Vendors often use one photo for all of their listings of a component if all of the different configurations are simular. As in this case.

Great mod... good for you

so the vendor is making a distinction between two versions. Am i correct in saying that version II is on your vehicle, you refer to it as type two? I guess what confused me was the naming of version I, version one is simply a lower tie bar. Okay so I am all good here now..

Just for more clarification:

Type I or Type 1 is a bar with two mounting points. http://www.racinglab.com/cuscolarm9.html

Type II or Type 2 is a bar with (basicaly) four mounting points. This is what I installed. http://www.racinglab.com/cuscolarm10.html

Nice write up there Pope. Wish I had seen this sooner. Ordered me one today.

Just an update, RacingLab no longer has these. I ordered one from them and got an e-mail along with a refund. They said that these were discontinued. So I ordered one from HorsePowerFreaks. Hopefully I don't get the same results.

i found these http://www.corsportusa.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_81&products_id=3711, they're made for honda accord 03-07 for 150 plus free shipping.

Thanks for that Info. If I get the same results with HorsePowerFreaks, I'll just order from them instead. Different brand, but looks to have the same general idea and a bit cheaper too.

kenshin please post photos when you recieve the brace thanks..

Really nice write up Pope, but recently I saw this article on TSX Club forum and I am wondering do you have any problem like the one in that article ???

Here is the link of the article:

http://www.tsxclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6977

The bar supposely make for TSX, but they actually run into problem like in the article, so I am wondering does 2 door will have the same problem like TSX in the article?

Thank you very much for you time.

Daniel

kenshin please post photos when you recieve the brace thanks..

i finally ordered it, but they no longer has it, search the internet but still no luck:notworthy. i guess i have to wait till some other site has it. was gonna get the cusco one but was worried about the cat would rub against the brace as some report.

I looked at the thread on the TSX. Had no problems like this on mine. Was interested to see the torque specs he used. Pope what do you think?

Print off the photos that I posted and the photos from the TSX site. Look at where the rear mounting points for the CUSCO Type II brace will be at on your car. Compare where your CAT is in referance to those locations and where the CATs are in the photos. You may even need to pull a string from one side of your car to the other at these mounting locations to help you verify the clearance. This should give you enough information to determine if there may or may not be a problem.

aggghhh!! Seems like these are all gone. I've ordered from two places on line and both were out of stock. Called a third place to check stock before ordering and they were also out. Seems like I missed the last two places by one order. Searched all over and can't find one in stock. Even eBay comes up empty. I'm being told by the last two places that everyone is awaiting an order to come across the ocean for these. The last one said that he could special order it, but it would cost an extra $80 or so. :thumbsdow Just my luck.

Somebody here with welding skills should make these from steel. I had this cusco part on my WRX and it's kinda a bad joke when you consider everything on the car is steel and these are made from aluminum. Steel would do a better job, and having the additional weight this low is not a bad thing. It's only about $10 of metal too.

I will sell mine for $165 million dollars (same as the AIG Bonus Package) and I will happily ship for free.

I will sell mine for $165 million dollars (same as the AIG Bonus Package) and I will happily ship for free.

:lmao: I bet you would. Would you take a check for that?

Is that check drawn on Bernie Madoff's account?

Actually, I will accept only cash. Twenty dollar bills in nonsequential serial numbers. Wrapped in plain brown paper, and dropped off under the large oak tree across from the White House at midnight.

Anyone get lucky this weekend, that is with finding a online retailer who has the Type II brace in stock?

Woo Hoo, my brace has finally shipped today. Took long enough to get them back in the states. Tracking puts it here on Monday. Can't wait. I know what I'm doing next weekend now. :lmao:

I think that you'll like the handeling with the new goodies installed! :naughty:

Me too. I've been holding off on installing the front sway until this arrives. Plan on doing them both at the same time.

Anyone get lucky this weekend, that is with finding a online retailer who has the Type II brace in stock?

:dunno:

Try www.horsepowerfreaks.com. They recently received a shipment (where I got mine from). Now if this was to fulfill pre-orders, IDK. I would call them and ask. Don't just order via web. Call to confirm availability.

Try www.horsepowerfreaks.com. They recently received a shipment (where I got mine from). Now if this was to fulfill pre-orders, IDK. I would call them and ask. Don't just order via web. Call to confirm availability.

It seems everybody sells them out before they get their shipment in at the end of a given month.

I bought one from my local distributer.

Edo Performance in Westminster CA.

The silly ricers want $85 to install. :lmao:

It is like 20 minutes of work.

It is like 20 minutes of work.


I did it in 30 min's from start to finish! That included stopping and taking the photos that you see at the begining of this thread!

If anyone wants me to install their's I'll cut them a deal!
How's $40 sound!
(plus travel & expenses) :naughty:

Hopefully I'll get mine installed this weekend. Took the girl in for the timing last weekend and went ahead and had them put the front sway bar in for me. Couldn't pass up the price. Charged me less than $300. I know I could of done it myself, but just didn't have the time or the lift and it had been sitting in my living too long. :lmao: I can already feel a big difference with just the sway bar installed.

Brace is DONE "Finally". Even though I got started later than I had hoped, I said to myself that I wasn't going to put it off another day. Sweated out the 90+ heat and got her on there. I'm guessing about 30 minutes tops. Thanks again Pope for this great idea and write-up. Can't wait til I take her out later this evening. Gonna have some fun.

:lurk:

O.k. ....... You should have at least taken it around the block already. So .... what do you think?

Definitely stiffened up the front. Was able to take the corners tighter. Had the wife and dad in the car with me and they were sliding back and fourth. :lmao: I really like it. Now I just need to work on getting air ride so I can level out the car. Got a little bit of audio in the trunk so the back sits lower than the front which is not good. This is one nice addition to the stiffening of the body roll. Thanks again.

HI The Pope
Great DIY.
Will this fit a GEN 7 Coupe?

HI The Pope
Great DIY.
Will this fit a GEN 7 Coupe?

:dunno: I don't know. Maybe someone that has tried fitting it to one will chime in. They (the brace) are hard to find avalible, so if you want to try it, you'd be able to sell it if it didn't fit.

No joke there. Took me about 3 months to get mine and I know their are several others looking for one.

will work on a 2006 V6 6SP?

I believe this will work on all 7th gen sedans. Not sure about coupes though. I hope someone can chime in here who has done this on an 06'. Of course, you didn't specify if you have coupe or sedan. Of course like Pope mentioned a couple post up, IF you can get your hands on one of these (and that's a big IF at the moment), if it doesn't fit, you should have no problem finding someone to take it off your hands.

Mine is a sedan

Then it should fit yours. Pope listed in his first post that this is for the 7th gen sedan. Even though yours is a 7.5, I believe the sub-frame remained the same.

Yes, it will work!

I've even updated the title if this thread to include 7.5 Gen! :thmsup:

Well, there you go. Now the fun part is going to be finding one. :lmao:

i could never install this on my accord to low

It seems everybody sells them out before they get their shipment in at the end of a given month.

I bought one from my local distributer.

Edo Performance in Westminster CA.

The silly ricers want $85 to install. :lmao:

It is like 20 minutes of work.

Wow,finally got mine today.

I will be busy the next two weekends.

Afterthat, hopefully get to install it.