Strut Tower Brace.. Is it worth it or not?

willan · 09-03-2002

Any guys using strut tower brace, my beautifull wife bought me one for my birthday, only thing is I have drill 8 holes to install it. Is it worth it or not?

Brew · 09-03-2002

Wow she bought you a strut tower brace for your birthday??? Can I have my wife call yours so she can talk mine into buying me a new exhaust for the stang for my birthday??

Don't know if it's worth it or not but I will get one someday to tighten up the front end of our vert. I have heard of some braking so hopefully it's a good quality one. If your drilling 8 holes I would think it's a pretty good brace with 4 seperate mounting points so I would go with it.

carguy65 · 09-03-2002

Yes it is worth it! You will feel it right away.

Twister · 09-03-2002

I dont think so, it increased my cars understeer problem

GTRaptor · 09-03-2002

Yes, it will promote understeer to some extent, but theres always a way to correct this.

Raise front tire pressure & Lower rear tire pressure.
Drive a different line & Use weight transfer to your advantage.

The nice thing about the brace is that it will help stiffen the car and make the suspension work not the frame.

Twister · 09-03-2002

rob, the other reason why I don't like strut tower braces is that I keep braking them

GTRaptor · 09-03-2002

Buy a Chrome Molly one !!
Would also advice you to get a G-Load brace and full lenght subframes.

If understeer is a problem: CC Plates, and adjustable struts.

willan · 09-03-2002

wow we're split, my babe bought the brace from the Ford motorsport catalog. Since Im not racing the car , I really don't think I will break it. But now I am still undecided. Hey Brew she was gonna bye me eibach sport kit but wasn't sure I would like it!

spencer martin · 09-03-2002

NO NO NO USE IT!! I have a convert. and developed a stress crack in the upper corner of the passenger side winshield. Ford replaced the windshield under warranty, but I bought a Maximum Motorsprt chrome strut tower brace and could feel the difference immediatley. the cowl shake that was present before, is now gone. of course it doesn't have to be chrome, but thought if I was going to buy one, might as well dress up engine compartment.

TarPony · 09-04-2002

My Ex bought me some subframes for my '95 5oh coupe for my B day one year. Kind of a gift that kept on giving. One of the best gifts I ever got from her! If you are smart you will buy her something just as meaningful for her at her B Day!

Anyway, use the strut tower brace. Drill the holes. I have a convertible, bought a Ford Racing brace and it made a world of difference. Fits really well. Never could figure out why Ford stopped putting those things on the GT's stock.

The same cracking happend to my convertible windshield and Ford replaced it under warranty. (The engineers actually factor the glass into the stiffening of the car!) Cracking won't happen again with the brace. Cowell shake is all but gone. Anything you can do to stiffen that chassis up is worth every penny, coupe or convertible.

When you fit it to drill make sure the car is on flat ground, wheels striaght ahead. Install the brace with the car on the ground so you don't put any twist or tweak into the chassis, just like you would subframe connectors. Its easier to fit the bolts up from inside the wheel wells and put the nuts on from the inside of the engine compartment. Takes about a hour and one half, if you are as slow as I am.

Great Lady!....Does she have a sister

Regards, TarPony

Amustang42 · 09-05-2002

I had to take my brace off because of the new manifold. What a difference. Put that brace on as soon as possible.

GTRaptor · 09-05-2002

Well, i just order my new Cobra brace to fit the Explorer intake, cant wait, i hate the "shakes" it developed without it.

97 MGT · 09-07-2002

Thanks for the advice on getting rid of the understeer rob. I am gonna have to try that.

I know i have one on that came stock on my 97 GT and i do have a pretty nasty understeer problem when turning hard.

Subframe connectors are soon to come