Strut tower braces

[Snellgrovia]

I just bought a set of aluminum F/R tower braces for my 91 MTX. Is there anything I need to know about putting these on or is it just a simple bolt-on? I just want to get surprised if my struts out while installing these...

Thanks.

 

[Kevin Airth]

Check that you have enough stud sticking up from the stuts to fit the brace on. If the car has had the strut mounts changed and they used non-Ford parts you will NOT have enough room to install the brace and get the nut on too.
If they have not been changed then they will be worn out by this time. Do you get any clunking over bumps?
.
.

 

[luigisho]

Simple bolt ons. The tension keeps the struts in place. The front may require you to relocate the small struts that hold the hood up or you can use a prop rod of some kind.

 

[Snellgrovia]

It does come with a prop-rod to replace the hood lifts. I'm 99% sure I have enough bolt sticking up in the front to not have a problem. Not sure sure about the back since it's pretty JARRING back there. shrug

 

[ShoGuy93]

Or u could get the hood strut relocator kit.. adam sells them.. great product thats what i bought when i got the STB from the group buy.

 

[Snellgrovia]

I have already put in an order for the hood strut relocators. I just bought brand new hood struts last MONTH and still want some use out of them.

 

[Snellgrovia]

Just an update....the front tower was cake (10 minutes max thumb )....the rear one however....I was laying in the truck for a good 45 minutes....but it all worked out..just a straight bolt on (thanks luigisho)

 

[K-Dawg]

Aluminum STBs? Where did you get those?

 

[Shoaz]

K-Dawg:
Aluminum STBs? Where did you get those?

Tim Dahm's aluminum STBs rock (occasionally available on ebay). I have one for the rear and am very happy with it. His are straight and so won't distort under compression (which kind of defeats the purpose of an STB).

Mine took about ten minutes to install, although my car is a 95 without the sub.

 

[Snellgrovia]

Yes, I got them off Ebay. I paid like $125 for the front one (because someone kept pushing my bid up), but waited to the last second and got the back one for like $95.

The guy I got them from usually has a set on there a few days after he sells a set because 2 days after I got mine, the exact same thing was on there. He prob uses a CNC mill to make them, but that's fine, they are awesome and fit perfect. The pics always show them on a red SHO, so you know the ones I'm talking about.

These are also useful when having them..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6763&item=2426960400

the tiny rod that comes with it does not give me confidence in it's abilites to hold the hood up..

<small>[ August 08, 2003, 08:20 AM: Message edited by: Snellgrovia ]</small>

 

[SHOZ123]

Anyone have the part number for the GM front STB?

 

[luigisho]

Paul are you really going to put that on your car? eek!

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Paul, you can have mine if you want it. I just replaced it with a set of SHO Shop braces.

 

[DavidT]

honestly though. How can you beat paying only $7 for the GM?
I wish an UNBIASED person would try each one, and give us the results...
I really don't see how paying $200 for STB's being worth the $ (especially compared to paying only $14 for 2 GM stb's). Of course, this is just my opinion.
Most everyone treats the GM's like the $5 chip on ebay that guarantees 15 hp
FWIW, I bought 2 GM's last year. I believe the bill was something like $15 shipped to my door.
Paul, I got this from the "archives":
www.gmpartsdirect.com part number 12456148

<small>[ August 10, 2003, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: DavidT ]</small>

 

[shojuan]

DavidT:
honestly though. How can you beat paying only $7 for the GM?
I wish an UNBIASED person would try each one, and give us the results...

You have a point about trying both and then giving opinions. However, I really don't like the idea of putting a bar that's going to have preload on it in there. Although we have the same sort of situation with the factory sway bars. A simple fact of the matter is that adjustable spherical rod ends are expensive. But if you want to do strut tower braces right on a non-stock suspension that's what it takes. Maybe I'm just being a little **** about the whole thing. Preload on strut tower braces isn't going to be as serious an issue as sway bar preload. I still don't like it though.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

DavidT:
honestly though. How can you beat paying only $7 for the GM?
I wish an UNBIASED person would try each one, and give us the results...
I really don't see how paying $200 for STB's being worth the $ (especially compared to paying only $14 for 2 GM stb's). Of course, this is just my opinion.
Most everyone treats the GM's like the $5 chip on ebay that guarantees 15 hp
FWIW, I bought 2 GM's last year. I believe the bill was something like $15 shipped to my door.
Paul, I got this from the "archives":
www.gmpartsdirect.com part number 12456148

I had the GM one on front and I liked it, especially for $12.00. It's definetly worth the money.

Conversly, I just switched over to a set of SHO Shop strut tower braces and the difference is like night and day. The car is a lot more grabby than it was with the GM brace.

If you only have $12.00 get the GM brace, you defintely won't regret it for the money. If you can afford the nicer braces, by all means go that route.

Treat these like brake pads. A cheap set of pads is going to stop your car just fine, but a nicer set of pads will stop it better.

<small>[ August 10, 2003, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Mikeys_Taurus ]</small>

 

[Snellgrovia]

agreed! I waited to get my alighment done until after I installed them (because I wanted them pretty tight and didn't want me fooling around to knock off an alighnment)...I figure it's like an upgrade. If you can only afford the $7...knock yourself out. it's like having stock brakes, yeah, we all can afford them...but we all also want performance ones....and it'll cost us too (and we are fools, and pay for it of course... thumb )

 

[91 SHOplus]

Mikeys_Taurus:
....Treat these like brake pads. A cheap set of pads is going to stop your car just fine, but a nicer set of pads will stop it better.

Very well said.

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

Mikeys_Taurus:
Paul, you can have mine if you want it. I just replaced it with a set of SHO Shop braces.

Is it front or rear? (the one you have and the part number that was supplied above)(Im taking it still requires the relocation kit for the hood strut braces, correct?)
If Paul doesnt want it, I would be willing to take it off your hands.

 

[Snellgrovia]

I got everything on now, including the relocators...one word to the wise, don't do it alone. And, mark the area around the hood screws (you'll know what I mean), to get a proper alignment when you are done. And DON'T OVERTIGHEN THE HOOD SCREWS...I broke one off doing that and had to drill it out, not fun.. headbang

Thanks for the help everyone!!!

thumb