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

Hello "charlieRobinson" ....

you sir,.... Have Been VERY HELPFUL !......

For 5 Days GOOGLE has Been Giving me Forums that recommend this part, as well as directing me to retailers that do not stock this part.....

i understand Google sells Priority search Results positions, to the businesses that can afford it, and that's ok.... but searches need to be productive and Relevant... and interestingly enough that is why This Forum, and its Generous Contributors,.. are now even more Crucial to an Enthusiast like myself than ever... i appreciate having a place to share and find knowledge,... with mature people. maturity is a rare commodity on the Net.

oh, and i almost forgot, the Ruthless scrap yard dogs, were Quoting $90 + Grab yer' Ankles prices... (in the Sacramento Region)

i ordered my Strut Tower Brace a few minutes ago... i'm really glad all you Guys are Here, being a nurse is my calling, But CARS are my PASSION ! (And ROCK N' ROLL, And Homade Corned Beef !...)

YOU GUYS ROCK

Hmm. RivParadise, it's very hard to tell if there is sarcasm in that post or not. Did you find it for less than $90? And if so, where?

RivieraParadise wrote:

(Larry...... Really ?... why didn't I think of that ... i did have a good laugh about that,.. it eased my tension quite a bit though to actually get it, and at a great price, since Charlie posted the website ! ...and i really do appreciate the spirit behind your suggestion.... you would think google would have takin' me right to it .. right ?..lol)

For 5 Days GOOGLE has Been Giving me Forums that recommend this part, as well as directing me to retailers that do not stock this part.....

YOU GUYS ROCK

When this thread was started, the brace was easy to get for around 30.00 at ANY GM dealer. Now it's a bit harder to find. They need to search around a bit, but they are still out there. I even bought an extra one that I am going to modify to fit across the rear shock towers. I need to change the shocks any way because one is leaking.

Hello Derek

"it's very hard to tell if there is sarcasm in that post or not." (these are the best emoticons i've ever seen !)

i had to laugh when i saw what you said, because I cannot tell if you are serious or not ?
that's why i try and use the emoticons

Charlie posted this for me.... The Price is DEFINITELY a cause For Celebration !

""ordered mine from shopgmparts.com
Items Total: $26.54
Shipping: $9.95
Handling Fee: $0.00
Order Total: $36.49""

Cool huh !... i love a Bargain !

wow, glad to be helpful! Thanks, Todd!

LOL. I'm glad you are having fun with the emoticons! It was actually the emoticons that partially threw me off. Glad to hear you were able to get a new one like the rest of us found. I know for a while they were MIA/hard to find which is why I wanted confirmation that you actually found it!

-Derek

I still think a custom fabrication strut bar is the way to go. Is that what these things are? Struts or sways? I dont know the difference!

You don't know what a strut tower brace is, but you think fabrication is the way to go?

yep!
well i know it's a called a strut brace now! Thanks, AA and topic title!

Order Number: 29X635XX
This item is discontinued. I can still get one but price will be 51.75.

I said 'no' and asked for a refund.

FYI for anyone shopping shopgmparts.com

charlieRobinson wrote:

Order Number: 29X635XX
This item is discontinued. I can still get one but price will be 51.75.

I said 'no' and asked for a refund.

FYI for anyone shopping shopgmparts.com

Yup, they are harder to get. Still worth it IMHO.

Has anyone just tried a salvage yard and pulled one from an STS? They couldn't want very much for it.

AA wrote:

Has anyone just tried a salvage yard and pulled one from an STS? They couldn't want very much for it.

You just guessed my plans for Saturday afternoon!

AA wrote:

Has anyone just tried a salvage yard and pulled one from an STS? They couldn't want very much for it.

I searched the far corners of both larger yards here for an extra one, not a single STS to be found.

I can make one in about an hour with some 1/8"steel plate and a 3/4" or 1" 120wall dom tubing.

OK , so i just Received an Email from "patrick@shopgmparts.com" telling me that (REGARDING STRUT TOWER BRACE)

""This item is discontinued. I can still get one but price will be 51.75. If you would like to proceed I would need the security code from the card used or email me back if you used paypal and I can send a link to pay the difference online""

so... i'm still going to pay... i figure if 51.75 is the price,.. its still the best MOD. For the money.. (i hope its on the "up and up"... i sent my security code.... WE SHALL SEE !

For $52 I'd rather pay a fabricator to make me one that fits perfectly.

well i thought about that already, Charlie... and Fabrication is not cheap, plus i'm so excited to get the part and put it on..... i guess that's kinda silly.... but its Honest

By the way, Charlie... your Riviera is a Beauty ! its the Pearly white color i wish i had... my car is in really Exceptional condition, so clean and well maintained , not a speck of rust... except the paint really Bites the Big one... and a good Repaint might just put me in the poor house...

Thanks, Todd! the pin striping is coming off and the paint could use a touch up, for sure. I am sure I will paint it someday down the road. Been thinking a real dark forest green would be nice. Almost black but with a green tint.

I am calling/emailing shops around town to see if I can get a strut brace made. if it costs less than 50 I will be satisfied. Especially if it fits perfectly and feels tight and strong.

In the mean time I will see if I can find an STS brace at the yards.


Also, what is the science behind a strut brace? is it really just a bar that links the two strut towers together? On some strut braces I see hinges or other components. They don't look like solid pieces. What are the ups and downs to a strut brace that is 1 solid piece and another that has hinges on each side of the towers?

Let us know how the brace fits when you get it. It seems hit or miss. At worst, you might have to bore out a hole on each side so the bolts/studs will thread through it.

I might end up taking mine to a shop to see if they can weld some extra metal on and maybe reinforce it. The end flaps on the STS bar seem very thin to me.

Still, it's a good mod as it seemed to firm up the front end a little. And every bit counts.

Quote :

Also, what is the science behind a strut brace? is it really just a bar that links the two strut towers together? On some strut braces I see hinges or other components. They don't look like solid pieces. What are the ups and downs to a strut brace that is 1 solid piece and another that has hinges on each side of the towers?

STBs reduce the amount of movement between the strut towers in a hard corner. The thing to remember is the brace works mostly under tension, not compression or torsion. This means a relatively thin hollow tube will do the job. It also means the brace can be rigid or hinged, which I think is mainly done for mounting purposes. Making the bar solid or heavier doesn't really get you much more than added weight above the center of gravity. More discussion on page 10 of this thread.

Stopped by a shop after work to talk to a fabricator, He said it would cost me $150-$180 to make an STB, F that,That's understandable. Im going to keep looking around.
Edited to reflect my reflected thoughts.

51.75-36.50= $15.25

so basically
1) you don't understand what the part is yet feel that not only do you need one, it's better to have it fabricated.
2) you feel that the added $15.25 to obtain the discontinued part is so unacceptable, you cancelled your order.

How much time have you already spent looking for another alternative from buying new from monster parts online ? How much more time is it going to take you to find a fabricator, bring your car to him and have him make it ? Keep in mind he won't make the STB for FREE. In the absolute best case scenario, let's say it will cost 36.50, or the price from monster parts online. That's highly unlikely. Let's say, for the sake of argument, you find someone who will make one for $50

Either way, unless you assume your time has NO VALUE (which I know you don't because you felt it would take too long to remove the leather skin from your seats in your parts car) then your plan makes absolutely no sense.

edit: Not trying to be rude about it. The bottom line is that at $52, the STB is still one of the best bang for the buck mods you can do. Members on the fence about this mod should definitely go for it.

51.75-36.50= $15.25 <- Correct
so basically
1) you don't understand what the part is yet feel that not only do you need one, it's better to have it fabricated.
I do understand what an STB is. I also understand that anything that is made to fit properly is preferable over something that must be rigged to function.
2) you feel that the added $15.25 to obtain the discontinued part is so unacceptable, you cancelled your order.
Correct
How much time have you already spent looking for another alternative from buying new from monster parts online ?
I spent about 15 mins today looking and calling fab shops ( 2 in total). I have not yet checked the local yards for an STS.
How much more time is it going to take you to find a fabricator, bring your car to him and have him make it ?
Actually, the mechanic that was helping me with Ruby is a fabricator. He was busy today so I couldn't get a hold of him, but he is my go to. His shop is right down the street from my office so it would be very convenient to leave my car with him for the afternoon so he can take measurements, etc..
Keep in mind he won't make the STB for FREE.
Duh?
In the absolute best case scenario, let's say it will cost 36.50, or the price from monster parts online. That's highly unlikely. Let's say, for the sake of argument, you find someone who will make one for $50
Actually, I was budgeting $75-$125 for a well made STB. I am sure my mechanic/fabricator will give me a decent deal. I would even tip for a job well done
.Either way, unless you assume your time has NO VALUE (which I know you don't because you felt it would take too long to remove the leather skin from your seats in your parts car) then your plan makes absolutely no sense.
Honestly, it would take hours to properly take apart the stitching and unwrap the seats. I don't even know how you would stitch them back together. It would probably be more effective for you to pay someone to upholster the seats you have
edit: Not trying to be rude about it. The bottom line is that at $52, the STB is still one of the best bang for the buck mods you can do. Members on the fence about this mod should definitely go for it.
If I knew the STS's STB was going to be a clean fit then I would still not agree. I would make a few phone calls and see if I could get it at a yard for half that first. But regardless, I would rather pay a premium for a custom made STB that fits properly.
ok, I am ready for it...

Just fyi,the leather covers can be removed without disturbing the threads.
Makin a STB is the dumbest simple thing anyone can do.
Take 2 pieces of 1/8" plate,next,get a piece of paper,now place the paper over the shock tower location.once you have the paper in place,trim the paper so it fits nicely over the shock tower bolt studs.transfer the paper template to the steel plate and cut out the plate bracket plates.carefully mark the plate for the holes and drill them out.after you have fabbed the plates,remove the shock tower nuts and drop the plate onto the strut tower. once your satisfied the placement is good move onto the bar.take into account the location of the shock sticking out the top of the tower. Now get some 3/4 dia tube 120wall from your local steel place,measure exactly where it shoul go in relation to the plates.take your time.once the bar is where you want it,you might have to grind down the ends on an angle so the bars fits fairly flush with the plate so you can close the hood.if the bar sits a little proud of the brake master cylinder,you might have to whack the area above the MC to get it to clear the hood. You should have no prob with clearance with 3/4 steel tube.
when all is good and youve made all your location marks with a marker,take the whole shebang down to a garage and have em throw a couple welds to hold it all together.the mechanic will prob ask for $20.any more and say "Fuck you" Done. steel tube and plate should not cost more than $30 or so. take a good look at all the pics in the stb thread to get a good idea of placement of the plate and tube.
Im guessing you can find the raw materials for alot less than that.And it's custom.and if it dont fit,ya got no one to blame but yer self.lol. if ya cant find the caddy bar of course.