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

My STB fit perfectly. All I did was use longer bolts and a few washers to space it up a bit. Very noticeable improvement that you can feel. I agree with Jason. I don't think you will be able to do it cheaper, or better.

Guys, let him waste his time and money if he wants. It is HIS time and money, after all.

I am puzzled though. You state you'd rather pay a premium for a custom made stb that fit properly (your words). Yet you say "F" that to the 150-180 estimate you got. That's what I call a premium price for a custom made part. In fact it's a DEAL for a custom made-to-fit bar. Unless you know someone who works for free. The material isn't what's expensive, it's the shop labor charge.

If there are enough people interested,I can fab up a STB for around $85 shipped.with rod ends and everything.

When by budget frees up a little Ill contact you! I have to do the Power steering, Water Pump and thermostat...

(I sometimes make things for free... but don't tell anyone. Its a secret. )

Lolol! I hear ya! but I mean,what the fuck!? all this bickering over a dumb little brace?$50 or there abouts for materials,$40 or so for labor and shipping.who cares? it's just work

oi ! did i start this ?...... lol

i'm totally cool with the 15 extra Bucks... REALLY...
hey "Charlie", i spent a couple of hours a day, for 5 days looking for this part, i'm thrilled that the "source" you gave me, worked out...
that guy "Patrick Meyer" @ shop gm parts.com,
was very prompt to respond to my inquiry, and willing to go the distance sourcing it elsewhere for me.... at a somewhat thin profit, i'm guessing.... (he's a good egg..)
and the extra 15 bucks ? well i spent that much at taco bell for my brother and i to eat lunch... so i feel pretty good about it... i thought i might weld the spacers in place, but "Larry" seems to be pleased with his install so i think i'll just skip the welding, and bolt it on...
no fuss, .. no muss...
cool "Charlie", as long as the project is fun, its all good.......

I will spend $100 on materials and spend 100 hours to make something that would cost $50 to buy and shipped to my house. I find mesmerizing enjoyment in DIY projects and the time and money is completely justified.

03/02/12 i installed the Strut Tower Brace Today.... Part # 25653157 Price - 51.75 from shopgmparts.com,.... i used 1 THICK Flat washer Combined with 1 THICK Lock washer on the right and left sides, in the Forward Screw positions.... and, on The Screws Nearest to firewall, i used NO Washers ... There was just a crack of light Visible Between the Top of the Brake fluid Reservoir and the Brace, and after a rough "Shakedown Run" the Fluid Reservoir Remains Undisturbed. I was Instantly Impressed as i left my house, i hit a series of Speed Bumps and 90 Degree turns over a couple of Steeply Sloped Exit/Entry ways,
and a Rough Surfaced Railway Crossing....... And What A DIFFERENCE ! it Took 15 minutes to Make THE BEST "Do it Myself" Modification i could imagine... NOW it Feels Like a Rock Solid Luxury Car...

Congrats on your new ride quality. I agree, when I put this bar on, it made significant difference.

I have a friend who is a suspension engineer for Honda. This guy is very a quantitative data guy, everything is numbers, forces, and results. He really helped me understand the science behind body roll, slip angle, unsprung mass, etc. We were talking about suspension design one day and I brought up the topic of the strut tower brace. Even though these braces work, he said, it's one of the areas where the understanding behind it, and the ability to measure and predict how they work is not well figured out. Many OEM engineering groups simply use these bars knowing they will get a result, but not knowing exactly how to tune the response, except for trial and error.

What I know is the Riviera offers a rock solid chassis that works very well for isolating noise and vibration when cruising on the road. With the STB mod, that same structural rigidity can be made to work for us when throwing the car into turns and uneven surfaces.

Still, we can't say often enough how great this mod is for these cars. Cheap, easy, awesome.

Hey Todd, if you don't mind me asking, how long did it take you to receive the brace from Shop GM Parts (aka Monster Parts)? I just ordered one... can't wait to put it on!

Whats the part#? I looked and didn't find one

Page 1 - in BIG, BOLD, RED LETTERS!

So, I orderd a front Sturt Tower Brace from GMParts,Paid $36.49.
Just got an email from them ,saying the order is on hold and that its discontinued by GM
, but they can still get one for $51.38.!
Nice!!! Now I just hope I get one after reading about the GREAT service people have gotten from them in the past!!!
I'll post it when I receive it!!

I wonder if the Bonneville GXP STB will fit. Looks like it might help clear the MC. Not sure how many of them they are out there, but it might be another option. Apparently some Bonne guys are using the '98-'04 STS bars.

Ok, so I finally got the strut tower brace I had ordered 3 weeks ago!
It takes about a 1/2"of spacers/washers to get enough clearance over the master cylinder reservoir, but just clears it.
I agree , it does make the car feel ALOT more stable and feels better going over bumps and railroad tracks.
Definitely worth the wait, and I highly recommend this mod.
I can't believe this wasn't a standard factory installed item for the Rivieras!!!

Probably not factory simply due to the clearance issue. What year is your Riv? My 98 only needed about 1/8" of washers added.

I ordered and installed one of these STB's and I finally was able to finish the job today. It required a lot more washers than I would otherwise have wanted (5 per bolt on my 98, which I find pretty odd) in order to clear the brake fluid reservoir. I bent the tabs back a bit and the bar still is about 2 millimeters above the reservoir at best. Still, my car turns beautifully.and it feels much more solid up front. The back end is pretty low, though, and I always scrape my exhaust tips on the pavement when I back out of a driveway, so maybe new struts or shocks are next... ahh the joys of having a 15 year old car

Hey Dave, my Rivi is a 98 and after reading Zach's post , sounds just like what I had to do.
I was thinking about flattening the side that goes over the MC ,so that I dont have to have as many washers/spacers, just trying to figure out how to flatten one side and not the other.

No washers needed for my '98. Gotta read through the thread for the quick & easy process. To give credit where it's due, robotennis tried a similar method before I did it. I have probably 100k miles on my bar, including some stressful offload activities. No issues so far.

Hi Zach,
i'm sorry i did not answer your Question, in a Timely fashion.... you ask me -

"how long did it take you to receive the brace from Shop GM Parts"

it took 16 days to arrive, from the day i ordered it.
i'm sorry that i stopped Routinely checking this thread, i guess there are no email notifications sent, when there is a new post....
i will just make a shortcut in my browser for this thread.
just out of curiosity, did you end up sourcing you Strut Tower Brace at Shop GM Parts? and did you pay a similar price ?

i noticed that you plan suspension upgrades next, i was wandering if you have the Self leveling struts option installed on your Riviera? my mechanic got the front end on my Riv, all sorted out but the old girl still felt a bit loose and unstable. i was told that if the Air Struts weren't Leaking,(they weren't ) that there was no reason to bother with them yet. well, i replaced them anyway... i WISH i had replaced those FIRST, Before i started on the front end.
i only brought it up because it is the second easiest job i have Done, besides the Strut Tower Brace,
that yielded instantaneously gratifying results... in perceived Stability...

again, i'm sorry for the delayed response....i'll check this thread out... regularly now.
Todd.

Todd, if you click the little link at bottom right: "Watch this topic for replies", an email notification will be sent to you whenever someone posts here. But also nothing wrong with checking your favorite topics on a daily basis!