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

hey eric how would someone who cant weld, but wants the same thing as you have do it? like me for instance

Hey RickW here you go

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/brakes-suspension-f6/write-up-installing-a-rear-strut-tower-brace-t3131.htm?

All i asked Jack or Dave about was how they felt the performance of the car's handling had changed after installing a rear strut brace.
Thanks.

97rivsc- check to see if you have a machine shop or talk to the people from a speed/performance shop and they can direct you to someone who might do it on the side. Thankfully I have several friends who own or are part of all types of race teams so they help me out.

Jack- I blew out my 9000 Rancho's but they sent me the 5000 series for warranty. I think they handle better than the 9000 even though they are non adjustable. I am thinking about getting spring blockers for drag racing but if you have seen the vid of my run the car does not squat very much at all on takeoff.

I will try to get you the OD adn ID for the bars tomorrow.

The rear plates were made, cut in half to form a slight "V" shape, then rewelded. Tubes were notched then tacked into place after plates were attached to the towers.

Front tube ends were heated with a torch, beat down with 5lb sledge, then ground flat. 1x1x1/4" spacers were welded to bottom of plate for clearance of the strut plate ridges and also helped to recess the bolt holes. Plates were cut on a bandsaw from a plate. The trusses were left over pieces from something else. This is the best picture I have of the front plates...

What's the part number on those 5000's?

What shock mount are you using at the top (original stock style or the new style with the thicker pin?)

What setting did you tend to run your 9000's at?

Your cars a 97, right? Would the guy who made your STB's make a couple more just like them (mine's a 97 too).

I believe they are RS5251 but I'll verify the exact part number for the 5000 series shock tomorrow.

The new shock mounts NAPA has are the better thicker pins. Same part # for '95-'99. You still have to do a little trimming but the shock stalk fits much more secure than the more open sleaves with the nubs...

I initially ran them at 4 but after a year I was at 7 as they seemed to get soft fairly quick. I blew out my pass side at exactly 1yr.

Without the car here, I don't think you want to take the chance to make one and find out if it fits or not. It seems like all these cars are lined up a hair different even if they are the same year. These can't be bent at all like the Caddy STB. You should be able to find someone local that could help you out... If you make a template for the plates, a machine shop should be able to cut them out quick.

I'm surprised that you had so much trouble with the 9000's. How many miles did you put on them? Mine have been on for at least a year, no sign of wear that I can tell, but I don't drive much.

Is the shock stalk on the 5000 longer than the one on the 9000? I've looked at the newer style shock mounts and a lot of material would have had to come off to make the 9000 work.

About 10k mi but I drive pretty hard plus have the car lowered which puts the shock at the bottom of it's travel range. The boots that came with the 9000's probably were not installed the best and had water in them when i pulled them off. The Ranco 5000 series are a direct replacement for the 9000 so you have to do the same amount of trimming of the mounts. it is easier to shave the bottom part of the mount if you have a way to get it fairly level... I did it with a 3/4" drill bit with the mount in a vise. i don't think I even touched the top of the mount other than to get the washer seated on the top of the bushing which required a little shaving of the rubber. Zero problems so far...

Interesting. IIRC Camlifter, who came up with the Rancho mod, also had his Riv lowered.

Does anyone know what springs Camlifter used on his Riv?

Water in the dust boots sounds like it could have been the cause of your failure. It's hard for me to believe any amount of hard driving you could do on road with a 4000 lb car could put much wear on a shock designed for off-roading with a 6000 lb truck. That's my scientific wild-assed guess

Drilling the shock mount pin from the bottom is an interesting idea. If I have to do this again I'll give that a try. Thanks.

i know this thread has gone astray but I was wondering can anyone actually get this STB anymore? I talked with my local dealer but, EVERY DEALER IN THE COUNTRY IS OUT! maybe gmpartsdirect still has it? im not sure but i really want to do this mod

Yes, try ordering the Part # on gmpartsdirect.com if the dealers are stonewalling you.

ok i got the part ordered from gmpd hopin it gets here quick! can't wait for this.

It took about 2 weeks when I ordered it from GMPD.

so i just ordered the second one for the rear today. Im gonna try and find a way to fit the rear one. I know there is a write up on here somewhere about it but im not a fabricator so we'll see what happens

so I emailed gmpartsdirect after over a month and no part and they said that it is on backorder with no ETA. This is ridiculous. does anyone have a STB they are not using that has not been molested?

They're all being sent to me! Mwuhahahaha!

I would totally flip

If I had disposable income for a joke I would totally order one, ship it to Jack the R, but put the name as Mike Harkins.

ya that would be pretty funny, even though I would be totally irate until I learned wtf was up

Well I tried monsterpartsonline for ya, and they also say backordered with NO eta. I'd give your local Caddy dealership a call.

Karma wrote:

If I had disposable income for a joke I would totally order one, ship it to Jack the R, but put the name as Mike Harkins.

hehehe...bad.

If I wasn't so busy right now I would totally Photoshop up a Mike Harkins STB

Bro you dodged a head fuck

97rivsc wrote:

so I emailed gmpartsdirect after over a month and no part and they said that it is on backorder with no ETA. This is ridiculous. does anyone have a STB they are not using that has not been molested?

Mike, I found this info posted less than a year ago, on a Caddy forum, might be worth checking:

Quote :

You are looking for part# 25653157. The source below was able to locate the part for me. I do not know if they can/will ship out of the country.

http://www.gmotors.com/contact.asp
Brasington Cadillac-Saab
Parts Department
2001 N.W. 13th St.
Gainesville, FL 32601
Bill, Marty, Chris (and possibly others)
352-378-5301
800-535-4608
Have your VIN available.

Mention that you are asking for web-sales price quotes.

You may want to call a local salvage yard and ask if they have any 98+ STS's in the yard. I'll bet you can score one for a reasonable price. Tell 'em they're only $30 new online. Shouldn't be anything wrong with going used for this thing.

ya im probably gonna just get it from a salvage yard, screw gmpartsdirect