| Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) | |
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TonySmooth89 Aficionado
Name : Anthony Age : 35 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-11-14 Post Count : 2410 Merit : 16
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:14 pm | |
| you have a 96 right? Maybe you could have one modded and sell it to someone on here...*hint hint* | |
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robertwolf86 Fanatic
Name : robert Age : 38 Location : new york Joined : 2007-03-11 Post Count : 268 Merit : 0
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:22 pm | |
| when i installed the stb i had to use 1 more washer then everyone elsy siad they had idl why | |
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Jack the R Master
Joined : 2007-01-16 Post Count : 8074 Merit : 105
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:25 pm | |
| Mine's a 97. I'd seriously make these if they didn't need to be custom fitted to each car. You pretty much have to do it yourself, or at least leave your car with a fabricator so they can get the fit right. But you can show them these pics and say "make this!"
BTW, I'd leave off the piece on the side, between the front and back bolts, if I had to do it again. I thought for sure it would clear the ridges on the strut tower, but it didn't and bent. At least it bent instead of crushing those ridges. | |
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robertwolf86 Fanatic
Name : robert Age : 38 Location : new york Joined : 2007-03-11 Post Count : 268 Merit : 0
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:07 am | |
| i had 2 use 2 thick ass washers on each and each side. idk if that efeckts my stuts alittle of what but it handles a little beter.
i got drilled roters last year, and they are alteady wArped. i think it is b/c thr ceramic pads where they heat up faster. but they cool down fatsr. i think the heat warped them. igt is a shame. i am going to go getg them the tires balanced and an 4 weel alinment too. see if that helps. i do get a tire ba;ncesed every 5000 mi. | |
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Jack the R Master
Joined : 2007-01-16 Post Count : 8074 Merit : 105
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:30 am | |
| I had to use a pile of washers on each side, in front, so many my nuts were only hanging on to a couple threads.
I think the unmodded brace and washer pile does not work very well. | |
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Jason Aficionado
Name : Jason Age : 41 Location : Comox, BC, Canada Joined : 2007-01-23 Post Count : 1378 Merit : 66
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:56 am | |
| Good work. I'll have to try that when I get back to my riv. | |
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AA Administrator
Name : Aaron Age : 47 Location : C-bus, Ohio Joined : 2007-01-13 Post Count : 18452 Merit : 252
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:01 am | |
| Good job, Jack. The only reason I don't have the STB is that whole washer thing. I just can't do it, never could take the step. I like your approach very much, and I have a similar idea that will happen this year. Stay tuned... _________________ '05 GTO 6.0L • 6-spd • 95k miles • 0-60: 4.8s • 16.9 avg MPG • Nelson Ledges Lap: 1:26'95 Celica GT 2.2L • 5-spd • 165k miles • 0-60: yes'98 SC Riviera • 281k miles • 298 HP/370 TQ • 0-60: 5.79s • ET: 13.97 @ 99.28 • 4087 lb • 20.1 avg MPG • Nelson Ledges Lap: 1:30 3.4" pulley • AL104 plugs • 180º t-stat • FWI w/K&N • 1.9:1 rockers • OR pushrods • LS6 valve springs • SLP headers • ZZP fuel rails KYB GR2 struts • MaxAir shocks • Addco sway bars • UMI bushings • GM STB • Enkei 18" EV5s w/ Dunlop DZ101s • F-body calipers EBC bluestuff/Hawk HP plus • SS lines • Brembo slotted discs • DHP tuned • Aeroforce • Hidden Hitch^^^ SOLD ^^^ '70 Ninety-Eight Holiday Coupe 455cid • 116k miles^^^ SOLD ^^^ | |
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Jack the R Master
Joined : 2007-01-16 Post Count : 8074 Merit : 105
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:58 am | |
| Jason, Aaron - I don't think you'll be disappointed with a modded STB. It's worked so well, I may make the rear STB a higher priority. I'm just not sure there's any reason to bother until I've upgraded the tires. All - Here's a description of what I did, apparently the photos aren't clear enough - - Quote :
- On the front corners there's a tube welded on, and a washer welded on to the bottom of the tube. This lets the force get transferred into the base of the strut mount stud, instead of midway up.
At each end of the big tube that is the main part of the brace, a piece of steel is welded in to partially cap it. Then another piece is welded in between the cap pieces and the corner tubes mentioned earlier. I think this is what's doing all the work. The brackets on the end of the STB are very soft and thin metal, you can bend it by hand. They probably work o.k. when the STB is bolted flat on a Cadillac, but we've got it up in the air where it can bend. With the bracing I put in between the big tube and the end tubes, mine can not be bent. The force goes right into the end tube, and into the base of the strut mount bolt, where it belongs.
There's a diagonal brace - I doubt this does much.
There's a brace from the front mount tubes, to a washer welded under the rear holes. I don't think this does anything, and could be left off. Also, you don't need the washer if you've got enough material around your rear mounting holes after fitting the brace to your car. There was little material left around mine. | |
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Kustom Kreationz Amateur
Name : Buck Location : Swainsboro, GA Joined : 2008-03-12 Post Count : 25 Merit : 0
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:49 pm | |
| What year Caddy is this STB for? From the looks of it, I think I may have a solution that nobody has tried yet....... | |
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turtleman Expert
Name : Codith Age : 37 Location : Villa Park, IL Joined : 2007-02-08 Post Count : 3671 Merit : 140
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:15 pm | |
| I did mine pretty traditionally. I used 2 washers at the front bolt and 1 washer at the back bolt though. As a result, the clearance is still perfect and I have at least one of the two with a very healthy amount of threads.
I came pretty close to welding the bottem washer to the bar but figured it wasn't necessary and I'm not a great welder so it would have looked like shit anyway. | |
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Jack the R Master
Joined : 2007-01-16 Post Count : 8074 Merit : 105
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:15 pm | |
| - Kustom Kreationz wrote:
- What year Caddy is this STB for? From the looks of it, I think I may have a solution that nobody has tried yet.......
It's for the previous generation STS. | |
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robotennis61 Guru
Name : robotennis Age : 63 Location : las vegas Joined : 2007-12-17 Post Count : 5562 Merit : 143
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:33 pm | |
| i installed a stb brace today. the only modification i hade to make was placing the longer end of the tab,about half way down the tab,and placing it against a vise and giving it a big whack which created a kink. after flattening out the tab,and doing the same on the other side she lined right up with only a little inner grinding of the holes on either side to elongate them. no prob. fits like a glove with no washers or inte3rference with the brake reservoir. | |
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Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17 Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:40 pm | |
| so, is every car different, or is every brace different? the amount of fab involved in making it work varies so much. _________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily | |
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Jack the R Master
Joined : 2007-01-16 Post Count : 8074 Merit : 105
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:11 am | |
| robotennis61 - need pics
Mr.Riviera - I'm sure the braces are the same, the problem we have is different model years and maybe different aftermarket strut mounts. | |
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robotennis61 Guru
Name : robotennis Age : 63 Location : las vegas Joined : 2007-12-17 Post Count : 5562 Merit : 143
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:39 am | |
| ill get some pics. dont know if i can capture the kink that i hammered in,but had i hammered a little more she would have dropped right in. with only a little inner grinding needed. ....pics coming..... | |
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robotennis61 Guru
Name : robotennis Age : 63 Location : las vegas Joined : 2007-12-17 Post Count : 5562 Merit : 143
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:42 am | |
| oops! | |
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robotennis61 Guru
Name : robotennis Age : 63 Location : las vegas Joined : 2007-12-17 Post Count : 5562 Merit : 143
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:43 am | |
| just a simple bend. plenty of beef left on the tab too! | |
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robotennis61 Guru
Name : robotennis Age : 63 Location : las vegas Joined : 2007-12-17 Post Count : 5562 Merit : 143
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:26 pm | |
| dang it! ah did it again! i give up! | |
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Jack the R Master
Joined : 2007-01-16 Post Count : 8074 Merit : 105
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:30 pm | |
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robotennis61 Guru
Name : robotennis Age : 63 Location : las vegas Joined : 2007-12-17 Post Count : 5562 Merit : 143
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:07 pm | |
| no. just make a bend on the back elongated tab,over a bench vise,about a inch or there abouts,and flatten the bent tab with a hammer so it lines up with the threaded stud and thats it. if you place the 2 front tab holes on the studs,youl see how much u have to elongate them. i split the elongation between the 2 sides and did the same for the rears. hardly had to take any metal at all. cant tell you guys how much better it can be because ive still not installed my new kyb,s. but the car feels much better now. solid! | |
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robotennis61 Guru
Name : robotennis Age : 63 Location : las vegas Joined : 2007-12-17 Post Count : 5562 Merit : 143
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:06 pm | |
| just curious? has anyone tried this?......... | |
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1998 Riv Expert
Name : Dave Age : 64 Location : In The AZ Oven Joined : 2007-01-17 Post Count : 4502 Merit : 44
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:49 pm | |
| My stb bolted on with just a couple washers, and they have not moved a mm since install last summer. I think the earlier model years have more fitment issues than the 97 or 98 to 99 cars. I have a couple mm of clearance to the brake fluid res. Nice upgrade along with the KYB GR2's. | |
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robotennis61 Guru
Name : robotennis Age : 63 Location : las vegas Joined : 2007-12-17 Post Count : 5562 Merit : 143
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:12 am | |
| cool! | |
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deekster_caddy Master
Name : Derek Age : 52 Location : Reading, MA Joined : 2007-01-31 Post Count : 7717 Merit : 109
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:59 am | |
| robo can you put at least the year of your car in your sig? It makes a big difference for the STB. | |
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1998 Riv Expert
Name : Dave Age : 64 Location : In The AZ Oven Joined : 2007-01-17 Post Count : 4502 Merit : 44
| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:14 am | |
| - robotennis61 wrote:
just curious? has anyone tried this?......... cool!
But you mean going the modifications route, don't you? I modified nothing on the STB, just needed a couple washers for spacing. | |
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| Subject: Re: Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) | |
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| Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) | |
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