Why Did Ford Stop Putting Strut Tower Braces in 99+ Mustangs?

Swarzkopf

Member

Sep 23, 2004

973

0

16

Pittsburgh

Oct 5, 2004

#1

• Oct 5, 2004

• #1

I used to own a 99 GT, now I own a 95. My 99 didn't have a strut tower brace, so when I got my 95 GT I assume that the brace was aftermarket only to learn that it was stock.

Why did Ford stop putting strut tower braces on newer GTs? Not enough clearance with the bigger 4.6 or what?

Just real curious...thanks.

 

W

wytstang

Mustang Master

Mar 14, 2004

4,988

4

78

Summerville,SC missing South Fl. weather :(

Oct 5, 2004

#2

• Oct 5, 2004

• #2

I would assume it had a better suspension to where it was not needed. I don't think the 94/95 Cobra's came with a brace either I think they had an X brace underneth the car but I'm not sure.

 

W

wytstang

Mustang Master

Mar 14, 2004

4,988

4

78

Summerville,SC missing South Fl. weather :(

Oct 5, 2004

#3

• Oct 5, 2004

• #3

Wait I think they did have one my buddy ones one or should I say used to own one (99 GT) it was totaled and it has a strut tower brace on it. His came with the Steeda suspention tho I don't know if that had something to do with it.

 

9

94twinscrew

New Member

Sep 11, 2004

10

0

0

Oct 5, 2004

#4

• Oct 5, 2004

• #4

It was more of a decorative piece,rather than a functional one.Unless you do autox,...it's pretty useless.

 

Swarzkopf

Member

Sep 23, 2004

973

0

16

Pittsburgh

Oct 5, 2004

#5

• Oct 5, 2004

• #5

I figure it has to help chassis stiffening somewhat. :shrug

My 99 GT convertible definitely didn't have one, unless the previous owner had taken it off and I just didn't notice. I'm pretty sure my buddies 2001 GT coupe doesn't have one either.

Thanks for the replies.

 

AznStanger3v

Active Member

Aug 11, 2003

2,026

0

47

Northern VA

Oct 5, 2004

#6

• Oct 5, 2004

• #6

Swarzkopf said:

Not enough clearance with the bigger 4.6 or what?

Click to expand...

Say what? Bigger?

 

urban96

bubb rubb says:"woo woooooo"

Founding Member

Sep 24, 2002

3,464

1

69

Syracuse, NY

Oct 5, 2004

#7

• Oct 5, 2004

• #7

i think they stopped in 96 didnt they?

 

Rootus

Officially Addicted

Feb 8, 2003

6,659

1

0

Portland, Oregon

Oct 5, 2004

#8

• Oct 5, 2004

• #8

The reason they stopped -- money. It helps stiffen the front a bit, but most people don't notice it.

 

mystang94gt

New Member

Jun 14, 2004

951

0

0

Bay Area, CA

Oct 5, 2004

#9

• Oct 5, 2004

• #9

17yrOldStanger said:

Say what? Bigger?

Click to expand...

Maybe not as far as displacement is concerned but the engine itself is huge compared to ours.

 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member

Oct 22, 2002

3,690

0

56

Republic, MO

Oct 5, 2004

#10

• Oct 5, 2004

• #10

HairyCanary said:

The reason they stopped -- money. It helps stiffen the front a bit, but most people don't notice it.

Click to expand...

That's so weird, cause taking mine off went from a 1/4 horse to a buckin bronco.

 

BlueOvalStangGT

Active Member

Oct 27, 2003

2,849

0

46

Tampa Florida....USF!!!

Oct 5, 2004

#11

• Oct 5, 2004

• #11

17yrOldStanger said:

Say what? Bigger?

Click to expand...

the new 4.6 is way bigger then our engines

 

Mrgreen94gt

SIMMA DA NA!!!

Founding Member

Jul 16, 2002

448

0

0

West TN

Oct 5, 2004

#12

• Oct 5, 2004

• #12

Definitely jsut cheapness on their part. I can feel the front end flexing a little bit on my sister's 04, even though it has Steeda full length subframe connectors. Just doesn't have that solid feel up front. However, the suspension is much better tuned to keep a lot of the harsh shocks off of the towers.

 

nmcgrawj

Advanced Member

Sep 28, 2003

3,651

4

68

Indianapolis, IN

Oct 5, 2004

#13

• Oct 5, 2004

• #13

Ofcourse its bigger in physical size....the cams are on the top of the engine....Atleast the top half of the engine is much bigger.

Now those DOHC 4.6's......those make our motors look like pebbles....

 

SN95StangMan

New Member

Jul 5, 2003

1,292

0

0

Lynwood, CA

Oct 5, 2004

#14

• Oct 5, 2004

• #14

nmcgrawj said:

Ofcourse its bigger in physical size....the cams are on the top of the engine....Atleast the top half of the engine is much bigger.

Now those DOHC 4.6's......those make our motors look like pebbles....

Click to expand...

Those things are huge.

 

BlueOvalStangGT

Active Member

Oct 27, 2003

2,849

0

46

Tampa Florida....USF!!!

Oct 5, 2004

#15

• Oct 5, 2004

• #15

I want one

 

SN95StangMan

New Member

Jul 5, 2003

1,292

0

0

Lynwood, CA

Oct 5, 2004

#16

• Oct 5, 2004

• #16

BlueOvalStangGT said:

I want one

Click to expand...

A strut tower brace?

 

D

DaveL

Founding Member

May 10, 2001

320

0

0

NYC

Oct 5, 2004

#17

• Oct 5, 2004

• #17

All comes down to money. Why put one in there when they can label it as an FMS part and sell it to you.

 

nmcgrawj

Advanced Member

Sep 28, 2003

3,651

4

68

Indianapolis, IN

Oct 5, 2004

#18

• Oct 5, 2004

• #18

BlueOvalStangGT said:

I want one

Click to expand...

Nah....he wants a DOHC 4.6 with a whipple blower on top like me !

 

mystang94gt

New Member

Jun 14, 2004

951

0

0

Bay Area, CA

Oct 5, 2004

#19

• Oct 5, 2004

• #19

nmcgrawj said:

Nah....he wants a DOHC 4.6 with a whipple blower on top like me !

Click to expand...

Dont we all?

 

RacerRick

20+ Year Stangneter

Jun 26, 2004

90

0

7

Ponchatoula, La.

Oct 5, 2004

#20

• Oct 5, 2004

• #20

gcomfx.com said:

That's so weird, cause taking mine off went from a 1/4 horse to a buckin bronco.

Click to expand...

I agree, drove mine a week without and was very noticable. maybe stiffer springs make it worse too and I haven't installed SFC's yet.