Strut Tower Braces Installed Today!
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Teching In
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Strut Tower Braces Installed Today! I installed the GM Performance front and rear strut tower braces this morning. It was very easy. I used DON's rear brackets from CLUBGP and ZZP front brackets. It took about 45 minnutes to do the installation. There were no major issues at all.
Impressions after driving - WOW this is the best $100 I've spent on a car in a long time. Initial turn in is MUCH crisper and the steering is a lot more responsive. It really tightens up the feel of the car and the steering feedback is better. It feels like it understeers less after the installation but it may be that the turn in feels so much better you think its understeering less. These STB's really makes a significant difference.
THE IMPALA SS SHOULD COME FROM THE FACTORY WITH THESE INSTALLED!
Its a no brainer. I consider it a MUST-DO mod!
Impressions after driving - WOW this is the best $100 I've spent on a car in a long time. Initial turn in is MUCH crisper and the steering is a lot more responsive. It really tightens up the feel of the car and the steering feedback is better. It feels like it understeers less after the installation but it may be that the turn in feels so much better you think its understeering less. These STB's really makes a significant difference.
THE IMPALA SS SHOULD COME FROM THE FACTORY WITH THESE INSTALLED!
Its a no brainer. I consider it a MUST-DO mod!
Last edited by Uncle D; Jul 22, 2007 at 06:43 PM.
Originally Posted by CdnMonteFan
Any hood clearance issues? on mine, no matter what I did I couldn't get my hood to close properly.
They have to be just straight, the ones I have seen installed have no fittament issues.
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Originally Posted by CdnMonteFan
Started off straight, adjusted to the left, adjusted to the right, flipped the bar. swapped the bar with the rear...gave up bro....
This a great mod...it would suck to give up.
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Originally Posted by Corny40
With the STB, the hood is never going to close "properly." You just have to deal with it. It's not really that bad. IMHO benefit > cost. 
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Teching In
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STB solution I think there may be a possible alternate installation method for improving the fit of the front STB.
With the current method the ZZP bracket is installed first and the base flange of the STB brace is mounted on top of the ZZP bracket.
For people with a little fabrication capability I think it might be possible to install the flange of the STB brace UNDER the raised portion of the ZZP bracket. The raised edges of the STB flange would need to be ground/cut back first. This would provide at least 1/4" of extra clearance for people with issues.
I will do some measurements today and maybe take some pictures.
With the current method the ZZP bracket is installed first and the base flange of the STB brace is mounted on top of the ZZP bracket.
For people with a little fabrication capability I think it might be possible to install the flange of the STB brace UNDER the raised portion of the ZZP bracket. The raised edges of the STB flange would need to be ground/cut back first. This would provide at least 1/4" of extra clearance for people with issues.
I will do some measurements today and maybe take some pictures.
Won't really work b/c you still have to take into account how damn close the STB is to the alternator already. That's what is really going to be your limiting factor. Now if there were some way to get or make a STB that's flatter or thinner, then maybe.
He never said he couldn't get it closed at all, just not properly.
Originally Posted by Nacho SS
True...but if he cannot get it to close....I think thats a small problem .
. Last edited by Corny40; Jul 24, 2007 at 03:11 PM.
Launching!
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When I had my stock hood, I did not have a problem with the bar/hood, but did with a the bar/alternator. I had to add a couple of washers underneath the STB and above the mount. Worked good, had a little teeny bit of rubbing from the alt to the STB, but with the flipped motor mount, was not a problem.
However, once I replaced my hood, I could not use the bar anymore. I am playing around with alternates. I am thinking something like the F-Body stb would be good if they could be bent right and still retain their strength and rigidity.
I definitely liked the way the car felt with both bars on better than I do with just the rear on, so I cannot wait til I get something on up front again. Probably just my imagination, but I think I had less squeeks too with both bars on.
However, once I replaced my hood, I could not use the bar anymore. I am playing around with alternates. I am thinking something like the F-Body stb would be good if they could be bent right and still retain their strength and rigidity.
I definitely liked the way the car felt with both bars on better than I do with just the rear on, so I cannot wait til I get something on up front again. Probably just my imagination, but I think I had less squeeks too with both bars on.
Originally Posted by nighthand
When I had my stock hood, I did not have a problem with the bar/hood, but did with a the bar/alternator. I had to add a couple of washers underneath the STB and above the mount. Worked good, had a little teeny bit of rubbing from the alt to the STB, but with the flipped motor mount, was not a problem.
However, once I replaced my hood, I could not use the bar anymore. I am playing around with alternates. I am thinking something like the F-Body stb would be good if they could be bent right and still retain their strength and rigidity.
I definitely liked the way the car felt with both bars on better than I do with just the rear on, so I cannot wait til I get something on up front again. Probably just my imagination, but I think I had less squeeks too with both bars on.
However, once I replaced my hood, I could not use the bar anymore. I am playing around with alternates. I am thinking something like the F-Body stb would be good if they could be bent right and still retain their strength and rigidity.
I definitely liked the way the car felt with both bars on better than I do with just the rear on, so I cannot wait til I get something on up front again. Probably just my imagination, but I think I had less squeeks too with both bars on.
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Teching In
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STB's I agree that with both bars on my Imp has noticeably less squeeks. Also I am still very pleased with how much better the steering and handling feel. They are tighter and more direct without being numb.
12 Second Club
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From: Goldsboro, NC
Originally Posted by hexxLS4
...I keep forgetting more than half you guys are GXPs
The STBs make a world of differnce on the W-Body platforms. The brackets you can get from donrome on ClubGP are made really nice and like it was said for $100 you can't find better suspension bang for your buck mods out there. Now to go the extra mile look at your rear trailing arms and if they are stamped peices (the metal looks like a "U") then you can upgrade those to the GMPP rear trailing arms for like $60 and that helps alot also.
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