Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB)

98riv wrote:

Try bending the mounting tabs so that you don't have to use as many washers.

With the bar just barely clearing the master cylinder I have hood bulge(see pic).

Not sure but it seems like the master cylinder in this car is a fuzz higher than normal?

Bert

You need to even out your spacers. You shouldn't have to make it that high on one side. Lower it back down a little and try to have equal spacing on both sides. Mine has less than 1/8 clearance to the mas. cyl. and I have no hood bulge at all. No contact to the hood whatsoever.

I only put one washer on each bolt (could maybe have gotten away with none). I used a sander and sanded ALOT off the top of the master cylinder - especially where the STB crosses over. Like so much, I almost cut all the way into it. Maybe 1 to 2mm of plastic left.

I had to drill out the bolt holes on the STB. Put my dewalt to the test.
My rubber mallet came in handy too.

Looking for a strut tower brace, checked ZZP, and Intense, will a tower brace for a GTP, fit a 96 Rivi? car handles well but stock suspension is a little on the soft side as you already know, i will be installing KYB shocks and struts, i would like to limit as much body roll as possible.

No stb made specifically for the Rivs. However, a late model Caddy STS stb is almost a direct bolt on. Lots of guys here use it. W-body will not fit.

what year is your car? Put some info in your sig. please.

here are some pics of my custom strut tower brace. I thought I'd better post them instead of having them just sitting around on my computer. I'm begining to find that either the series I engine sits a bit higher than the 2, or maybe sits farther back in the engine bay. All the pics I saw of others(all series 2) and how they used the STS STB seemed to have way more room at their disposal, as well as Eric's custom one. So i figured I was better off making one from scratch:

The ends I had actually made almost 5 months ago, but then had no time to finish. I made rough blanks out of cardboard to figure the shape I wanted, made sure that the bolts were indeed square with the car(they are!), and then cut the shape from some steel plate I had around.

And below we can see the clearance of the break res.:

The thing is VERY stiff, the one ton press wouldent make the slight bends I needed so I used the ten ton. The angle needed was measured(something like 4 deg if i recall correctly), and then both ends were made to match. Dunno if it really makes a big difference, seems to roll less in the front... but its hard to tell with my rear shocks falling apart.(but not to worry, Ranchos are on order!)

You're gonna love those Ranchos Be sure to make an STB for the rear so it can handle them!

Anyone know if his 95 STB is compatible with the 96?

I could check if there was a 96+ riv in the area... well there is, but i dunno what the "old dears" would think of , "hey, i just want to try something out on your engine..." from a stranger....

you still have the template?

...man this is crazy.....

I work for one of the largest machine shops in the country....I should see if I can make one here....

I installed this brace over the weekend. I have a 98, so the holes matched up with the bolts. I had major clearance issues, though, and had to use 8 washers all around. I've got a slight bulge in my hood now, which I don't like. I love how much better my Riv drives, though. It corners better and just feels more solid in general. This is a great mod and I agree that the brace should have been stock. I want to brace the rear strut towers, too.

Thats the same problem I had with the wifes 99. Big stacks of washers, slight hood bulge and still just barely clearing the master cylinder.

Bert

Steve98 wrote:

I installed this brace over the weekend. I have a 98, so the holes matched up with the bolts. I had major clearance issues, though, and had to use 8 washers all around. I've got a slight bulge in my hood now, which I don't like. I love how much better my Riv drives, though. It corners better and just feels more solid in general. This is a great mod and I agree that the brace should have been stock. I want to brace the rear strut towers, too.

Interesting. I wonder why some have clearance issues and some do not...

I think it's the bars more than anything. Make sure those bars are straight...

Mine was bent when it arrived. Even a slight curve will throw off the alignment.

I'd offer to make custom ones, but it sure wouldn't be cheaper than getting the STS one...

Karma wrote:

I'd offer to make custom ones, but it sure wouldn't be cheaper than getting the STS one...

I wouldn't mind having better ones with no clearance issues.

I've got other $ priorities at the moment though, but I bet I'm not the only potential buyer.

I want one? I really dont want to buy this caddilac one and it dont work and I strecth it to work and while doing that i weaken it

SuperRiv07 wrote:

I want one? I really dont want to buy this caddilac one and it dont work and I strecth it to work and while doing that i weaken it

mine worked perfect not to brag or nothin

yeah but I read all the pages and they seemed to work on 98's with no problem but seem not to line up on earlier models and I have a 96

SuperRiv07 wrote:

yeah but I read all the pages and they seemed to work on 98's with no problem but seem not to line up on earlier models and I have a 96

modify it...... thats what ewolf did..... he basically custom made one!

Yeah I dont have anything to do that with and I dont have a garage to work in at the moment? What kind do you use in the rear?

ewolf did custom make one, did he not? It was similar to the one I custom made, but mine had a bit more material in around the strut tower...

SuperRiv07 wrote:

Yeah I dont have anything to do that with and I dont have a garage to work in at the moment? What kind do you use in the rear?

i have a sub box so i chose NOT to make a rear one