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

Really the thicker you go the more clearance issues you'll start to run into. Both w/ the brake fluid reservoir And the hood. Don't want to start getting hood gap. I'd still be curious if someone were to craft an stb for the riv a la modern stb's. Those flatter arched bars with the furled edges...

I don't think many would pay for it. If we're questioning $65 shipped for a brand new OEM bar, it's going to be hard to sell a forged aluminum or carbon bar for $500 plus.

_________________
'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 ^^^ frown

'70 Ninety-Eight Holiday Coupe 455cid • 116k miles
^^^ SOLD ^^^ frown

AA wrote:: I don't think many would pay for it. If we're questioning $65 shipped for a brand new OEM bar, it's going to be hard to sell a forged aluminum or carbon bar for $500 plus.

aint that the truth.
i bet i could fabricate a bar for less than $15 bucks.thats just for the materials.im guessing maybe even less than that.
i can buy 20 feet of 065 wall 5/8s tubing for around $15 bucks. 3/4 tubing around $20 bucks. youre not paying for the materials really.youre paying for the labor.
the more fabricating i get into the more of a bitch it is.working on steel is not easy. the cutting and the welding, the fumes and the setting up.Hard.

Located one for $49.99 shipped. Might pull the trigger on this one.

Shipping included, that's a fair deal.

And a fair deal it was! A friend referred me to a parts guy in town. He located it and got it shipped to his shop for $50. This sucker bolted right up to my 99 will no modification needed! Flush on both ends like it was made for my car and clears everything perfectly. A perfect fit! UNHHH afro

tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 Imag0710

Wow, this might be the first one to fit so well without rubbing the brake fluid reservoir. Nice job!

_________________
'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 ^^^ frown

'70 Ninety-Eight Holiday Coupe 455cid • 116k miles
^^^ SOLD ^^^ frown

Lies and deceit! Photo manipulation!

I was just as surprised as you guys. Definitely giggled a little a bit when I realized it was going to be a perfect fit.

I'm still wondering here. Does anyone know if the STB fits on the 95 series one the same way? I saw Gmann put one on his 95 but he has a series 2 engine. Does that matter at all? I am looking to do this upgrade. I just want to be sure. Thanks!

Fit is the same on the 95. The master cylinder clearance issue remains on all years 95-99....except for Charlie apparently haha

Cool,thanks! I think I am going to do this one!

This STS STB is tits. Definitely made a noticeable difference in ride quality and cornering. Much smoother ride now overall. Definitely worth they $50 I paid Jerry to find it for me.

Does anyone else have a '99 with this on? I'd like to know if I am the only one who had it so easy.

The 98 and 99 models seem to have the easiest install. Mine was a 10 min job taking my time.

I believe the 95's have an issue with mounting bolts. They actually used studs coming up from underneath instead of bolts screwing in from the top side of the tower. And the stock studs, I think I've read, can be too short.

That's weird. On my 95 the bar sat right in. In fact I had room to add washers if I needed to. No shortage of bolt scratch

Here's my 95. Sts bar I got from Rick (DEMonte1997) he had it fit for his 97 so the front bolt holes were cut open into...well, hooks really. Haha I just used a couple thin n wide washers on top of the bar to make up the lost surface area and bolted em down, plenty space for this. Also have the slight radial bend in the bar at the reservoir a la Aaron for the best clearance I could achieve.
tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 IMAG2586-1

tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 IMAG2586-1

tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 IMAG2588-1

tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 IMAG2590-1

tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 IMAG2593-1

tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 IMAG2601-1

No gap

I am totally satisfied with this mod and would recommend it to everyone. The car feels even better just going in a straight line not to mention cornering. Love it.
I wonder how long it will take to forget how my Riv handled without it.

If you forget, just take the bar off and it will all come back!

_________________
'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 ^^^ frown

'70 Ninety-Eight Holiday Coupe 455cid • 116k miles
^^^ SOLD ^^^ frown

charlieRobinson wrote:: Does anyone else have a '99 with this on? I'd like to know if I am the only one who had it so easy.

I have a '99. It went on fairly easily, but I had to do the dimple modification over the brake system reservoir like llamalor2112 shows in his pictures. You may very well be the only one that had a direct fit with no interference. Maybe during the build of your car, tolerance stacking went in your favor. ?? scratch

Yes, a very noticable ride/handling difference after the installation.

Remove it? shocked

Never.

BTW, it looks like these are still available for about $40 from "Vintage Parts" . According to a thread on a Cadillac forum, "Vintage Parts" bought out some portion of this GM stock.

They appear to have about 20 in stock, for about $40 each (not including shipping).

http://www.vpartsinc.com/

Search for:

GM/ACDELCO AUTO PARTS - 25653157

Ash wrote:

charlieRobinson wrote:: Does anyone else have a '99 with this on? I'd like to know if I am the only one who had it so easy.

I have a '99. It went on fairly easily, but I had to do the dimple modification over the brake system reservoir like llamalor2112 shows in his pictures. You may very well be the only one that had a direct fit with no interference. Maybe during the build of your car, tolerance stacking went in your favor. ?? scratch

Yes, a very noticable ride/handling difference after the installation.

Remove it? shocked

Never.

I too have a '99 and my STS bar when on smooth as butter. No problem what-so-ever. It was like it was made for my car.
Greatly changed the handling of my ride, in corners AND on straights. Definitely recommend this.

nothincame2mind wrote:: 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.

I put '03 Bonneville struts and a GXP Bonneville STB on my '97 Aurora, I had to elongate a couple strut holes to do this. If Rivieras suspension changed the same year as Auroras, then the GXP STB would be a bolt on affair for '98 and up Rivieras, unless they were some clearance issues with the SC Rivieras. Auroras have pretty much the same suspension from '98-'03, and it also carries on and improves with the Buick Lucerne.

tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 Gxpstb012

tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 Gxpstb012

tower - Write-Up: Installing a Front Strut Tower Brace (STB) - Page 23 Gxpstb011

That is certainly very interesting. It would be great to see if it clears the SC and other bits on the Riviera. Just from a cursory glance at your photos, I think the one clear item in question would be if the bar is going to clear the alternator on the Riviera and also not hit the hood.

I found the following part number on a thread in a Cadillac forum and if the part number is correct, vintage parts has it as well, again for about $40.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-seville-cadillac-eldorado-forum/185146-will-bonneville-gxp-front-strut-tower.html

http://www.vpartsinc.com/

Part Number#25653157

Can anyone confirm the part number is for the Bonneville GXP strut brace?

Al

Here is a link to the writeup on the Aurora forum, with current part numbers. A lot of places have them listed, but these are hard to find, they may say they have them and then contact you with a little higher quote saying they have to special order them. I got mine from another member on the Aurora forum.

http://aurorah.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Zoom&thread=15888

The part #s in that thread are different. Vintage Parts only has a match for the right hand bracket.

Al

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