DIY Strut Tower Brace!!!

[XRSizzler]

Hi,New to this forum and see lots of STB made for high coinage...I decided to make my own, it's not perfect but it more than adequately does the job. For an alternative, click my write up below: http://home.attbi.com/~mostang/strut_tower_brace.htmMo

[MadBill]

Excellent post, XRSizzler!I was toying with the idea of making my own brace but now there's no question! Being ever the sceptic though, I'm planning some tests first. I intend to fit up a dummy brace, attached solidly at only one end, and arranged so that it is restrained fore and aft and up and down at the other, but can move freely in the cross-car direction. At that end I will mount a scribe of some sort, in contact with the C plate surface. I'll then honk the car around smooth and rough corners and various rough roads, maybe jack one corner 18" off the ground, and see for myself via the length and direction of the resultant scribe marks just how much movement I'm trying to prevent, and in which direction. (Per that BMW site, the towers SHOULD move apart under cornering loads) Ought to be quite illuminating, and will hopefully insprire me to great efforts with the subsequent DIY!"Without the facts, you're just another man with an opinion."

[XRSizzler]

Sounds like a logical and fairly objective test to quantify any deflection in the engine compartment. I suspect there isn't very much flex in the upper engine compartment since I coudn't notice any difference with the STB but it is very strong and stable. BTW, I jacked up the front end from the right side forward subframe connector and there was vitually no back to front flexing! Pretty impressive compared to my 88 Mustang which flexes like a wet noodle and squeaks like a rusty door hinge. Let us know the results of your independent testing!!!Out,mo