vote strut tower brace or no???

[Detoxx03]

I say yes

[jderry]

yes, get a hotchkis one those bar ones look kinda borring

[1BADAIR]

I have the hotchis one from my car is anyone is interested

[twoolley08]

I think that on the 4th gens the STB isnt as big of a deal, but on the 3rd gens it seems we suffer from a lot more flex. Especially when considering drivers of my weight class. For typical street driving an STB isnt going to provide much benifit, but when you start dancing with the curves is when the STB starts to show. Most people think of them as a simple brace, but when you start thinking about driving on that unseen edge and the predictability of your ride, thats when the STB's become necessary. They are a great addition to help with predictability. Any flex at all is going to change suspension geometry and because of that, its more difficult to push the car to that invisible edge and maintain it. but once that flex is removed you can really push the car KNOWING where the edge is and KNOWING its not going to change. No it doesnt remove all variables, but to remove even one variable from the equation is a huge benefit in my book. I am one of the poorest people on this board probably and yet I have made it a point to get an STB for my car.

Most people dont remember the problems with 3rd gens especially in the early years. Did you know there is actually a GM TSB for the early 3rd gens which was to address stress cracks on the inner strut tower caused by tower flex. Did you know the only thing GM recommended is to weld up the crack and nothing more. Sure sounds like a half ass attempt to cover up a problem becuase they didnt want to admit that the car was a structural nightmare. The 3rd gens, ESPECIALLY the early years, NEED an STB. There are no doubts in my mind. After reading that one STB which is scary as hell, considering the stress crack is on a component which is vital for vehicle control and performance. GM designers should have taken the blame and fixed the problem properly instead of throwing a bandaid on it.

If anyone is curious of the TSB then go to firebirdnation.com and look for it in the tech article section where I placed it. Just search my username and you can find it that way too.

And one more thing, if GM had stress crack problems on the early 3rd gens, do you really think the rest are much if any better? Which the suspension rework for 4th gens I dont think they have the same issues, but I wouldnt be surprised if they do. GM has always had a habit of hiding problems instead of addressing them.

oooohhhh you are SO RIGHT with GM HIDNG their problems, i had a 2007 2500HD Duramax, it was a lemon, when it was in four wheel drive the front tires folded in towards each other, i got kicked out of a few dealers for *****'n them out and other dealers just told me it was normal. but after 6 months of fighting with them and countless tims of the parts being replaced, they said they will take it back and i will owe them 3 grand ha i said no deal im taken u to court and they ended up calling back 2 days later saying they will give me 8 grand back

[toadzq8]

They are great for leaning on while you clean your motor!

[phoenix_rising]

They are great for leaning on while you clean your motor!

I hope so. I am really eager to start shining up my engine bay. I bought one of these but have not installed it yet. I am still trying to decide what colors I want under the hood. But I seem to have been picking up a few polished aluminum things here and there so who knows?

[steddy]

Stb

I've been running one for about a year. I also have welded SFCs also. I figured it would help square the structure a little and it has lessened the impact of pot holes and such, but its no deal breaker. If you can get one realitively cheap, go with it. The biggest improvement was the SFCs with the T-tops, it made a HUGE difference in the feel.