I was told that when installing a strut tower brace, you should unload the suspension by jacking the car up before you snug down the stb bolts. It supposed to put a preload on the suspension and makes everything tighter. Has anyone ever heard of something like this?

 

i would say NO

install it with normal weight on the suspension.

i know when i installed my bar on my 96, i did it in my driveway, where one corner of the car was about 6" higher (kindda a dirt lot). and 5 miles down the road (albeit not very even road) i had a stress crack in base of the windshield.

had a new window put in, put the car on level ground, loosened the bolts and retightened them...3 yrs later and no problems...even switched cars w/ same bar

 

If your STB is not adjustable, there's nothing you can adjust. Stick it on there.

 

but having the frame tweeked when you install it could change things a bit. i think tha's what happened to me. drove that road dozens of times...first time with the STB and the window cracked....strange coincidence

 

the CONCEPT is simple.
a jack under the K member would make the towers want to spread.... so if you tightened the STB, it would have some "preload" to it when you put it back on the ground.


in reality, the bar isnt adjustible, and the car is made of stamped sheetmetal. it doesnt really make any perceivable difference

 

Well I just installed it on the ground with the suspension loaded just to be on the safe side. But that inner bolt on the right hand side is a PITA with those a/c lines in the way.

 

I've done mine both ways and can't tell a difference.

 

Gearwrench is all I have to say