PLA Strut Tower Brace Installation.

Although a simple install, a second set of hands will come in real handy to hold the brace for pre mount fit, marking and getting the first bolt into the brace.

Place some wide masking tape onto the mounting area of the strut tower. Hold the brace against the towers, making sure that the small stabilizer mount is pointing down and on the passenger side. Aim for the main mounting point to be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the top of the drivers side tower and use a level to find the mount point for the passenger side. Once you have it fitted where you want it, have someone mark each of the three mounting points. Drawing a complete circle around each is ideal.

This method is best for fitment, as not every fox is going to have the exact same geometry from tower to tower. The nature of Unibody construction, Age of the car, and body flex all play a part in what could be slight to significant differences from car to car. The brace will however mount in approximately the same location on the towers give or take a 1/4 inch. Don't worry too much if you are 1/4th inch from the top on one side and 3/8ths on the other. As long as the bar is level, everything will be fine.


Find the approximate center of each circle and use a punch to dimple the tower. Drill through the strut towers with a 7/16s bit for the main support points and use a 3/8ths bit for the stabilizer. The holes should be only slightly larger than the bolts used to secure each point of the brace.

   

Have someone hold the brace in place. With a washer on one of the larger bolt, reach under the wheel well of the drivers side into the back side of the strut tower. Feed the bolt through the hold and thread it into the brace. Don't tighten it all the way. Do the same on the passenger side main mount point.


With the bar now held in place you can feed the longer bolt for the stabilizer through the hole. Place a washer on the bolt, feed it through the strut tower, and slip another washer on it before feeding it through the strut bar (so you have one between the tower and brace). Place the nylon lock nut on the bolt and tighten it down. Don't worry too much if your holes are not perfect, the bar will cinch up evenly as you tighten all three points.


Just an FYI - with the exception of passenger side front tire you do not have to take anything off your car to install the brace. These images are from our project car, and it was already disassembled at the time of the install.



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