Rear Tower brace?

[88Stangboy]

Anyone ever used a Rear strut tower brace? I was thinking of making my own
out of some steel i have laying around and i was wondering if anyone has any input on how much flex they take out of the chassis...is it even worth the effort if i have a 10 pnt. cage already?

 

[jadedinpa]

if you have a 10-point cage, don't bother.

 

[88Stangboy]

I was thinking that...i was just going to fabricate an 'X' type brace between the two towers in my trunk. But i probably wont bother now...anyone know about the solid engine mounts? Its a street driven car, about 3 times a week on average.

 

[iwashmycar]

well, would it help to put in a rear shock brace in a car that doesnt even have subframes like my own??

-adam

 

[TrophyHead]

well, would it help to put in a rear shock brace in a car that doesnt even have subframes like my own??

-adam

No.....there a waste of money. I forgot the reasoning.....something to do with not moving lateral?????

Subframe connectors are the ****nit though. Highly recommended. I'm sure you know that though.

 

[TomCat]

I was thinking that...i was just going to fabricate an 'X' type brace between the two towers in my trunk. But i probably wont bother now...anyone know about the solid engine mounts? Its a street driven car, about 3 times a week on average.

I have solids in mine... some people were saying that they'd stress the chassis over time if you do a lot of hard launches and stuff. Be warned though, they do increase the feelable vibrations... mine gets pretty shaky at times.

 

[88Stangboy]

My car shakes plenty anyhow, i was wondering because my engine mounts i have are pretty much shot and i was going to have to replace them and i was thinking of solids, eventually my car will be only a weekend car. So vibrations not really a concern...how bad though?

 

[wazazzle]

Next time I do a rebuild, I'm going with solid motor and poly trans.

 

[jadedinpa]

solid motor mounts aren't bad at all. do it.

 

[TrunkFunk]

Every bit helps.
Subframes only tie the front frame to the rear. They tighten things up a bit, but they also leave plenty of lateral twist.

I had a set of subframes in a notch that actually made the rear seat framing squeek under accelerating load.

Ever seen a truck frame. They tie the rails together along the whole length of the frame. You don't see that kind of reinforcement in a fox stang ... not anywhere along the shotty (at best) split subframing.

 

[_jb_]

I don't think it would hurt.

 

[88Stangboy]

well its going to weigh about 10 pnds if i make it out of 1 inch square tubing, so im wondering if its worth the weight addition. Remember i already have a 10 point roll cage in the car. So will it even matter if its in there or not?

 

[5.0fox]

dont waste the time and effort to build it. the rear towers arent as critical as the fronts.

 

[Sicarius428]

If you already have a cage, I doubt it will help very much.
Kevin

 

[Mustang5L5]

No.....there a waste of money. I forgot the reasoning.....something to do with not moving lateral?????

The rear shocks have no involvement with rear end geometry at all. You can tie them into a 20 point roll cage and it won't really make a difference.

Instead of fabbing up a rear shock brace, you should invest that time into reinforcing the torque boxes.

 

[TrunkFunk]

The shock towers are just a point to tie the two sides of our unibody cars together at the rear.
The braces are not intended for shock travel distortion.

 

[larrendeuce]

"One of the biggest problems facing the Mustang is the flexing of the rear shock towers. This effect becomes particularly acute when the car is equipped with a coil-over conversion kit. A simple section of tubing welding between the two towers can eliminate this problem. ....the brace can also be welded to the roll bar to provide additional rigidity." - Mustang Performance Handbook 2, William R. Mathis

 

[Mustang5L5]

"One of the biggest problems facing the Mustang is the flexing of the rear shock towers. This effect becomes particularly acute when the car is equipped with a coil-over conversion kit. A simple section of tubing welding between the two towers can eliminate this problem. ....the brace can also be welded to the roll bar to provide additional rigidity." - Mustang Performance Handbook 2, William R. Mathis

Well coil-overs are an entirely different animal. Now you are putting heavy loads on something that wasn't designed to take it. You SHOULD brace the rear shock towers with coil overs.