Puretech x-brace install

[bavarian3]

Finally got this in. Trimming the tower cover/carpeting took some time. Pretty happy with the results. Now let's hope it actually keeps the RACP sound =)







This is how much I had to take off on each mount, passenger side.

[liam821]

No. There are 2 bolts that go horizontally into each tower as well.

Further update...

I went ahead and gound down the part of the connection that was off. All is good there now. I did come to one realization as many of you said to install it while it's on the ground..well you can't, not fully at least.

The lower horizontal tower bolts nut side cannot be accessed without the car raised/wheels off. I guess we all just mount everything we can at load then go in and do the lower tower bolts? robgill liam821

I think I installed mine on jack stands, but didn't have any issues getting all the bolts to line up. It was very tight though.

[fourmula1]

Someone may know exactly how the chassis flexes, but assuming you have divorced suspension in the rear, the shock towers may not flex much on ground or off. You could check by putting the cross member in on the ground and then lift the car and see if the gap between the towers changes? I think you are good to go!

[bavarian3]

So all that is securing the plates on the tower are the two bolts from the shock mounts? Those studs aren't very strong and I don't think they were designed to account for a brace. At least the OE front brace nuts have a shank and collar which increases the surface area.

No. There are 2 bolts that go horizontally into each tower as well.

Further update...

I went ahead and gound down the part of the connection that was off. All is good there now. I did come to one realization as many of you said to install it while it's on the ground..well you can't, not fully at least.

The lower horizontal tower bolts nut side cannot be accessed without the car raised/wheels off. I guess we all just mount everything we can at load then go in and do the lower tower bolts? robgill liam821

[bigjae46]

So all that is securing the plates on the tower are the two bolts from the shock mounts? Those studs aren't very strong and I don't think they were designed to account for a brace. At least the OE front brace nuts have a shank and collar which increases the surface area.

[chalaka]

Does this brace require welding or drilling? Or it’s just a bolt on affair?

just some minor drilling, and the rest are bolted on...

[bavarian3]

Teemmy two 48mm holes in the floor. 4 bolt holes total through the shock towers.

To update everyone - the car is on the ground now, but unfortunately no difference in the alignment of the holes. I really don't want gaps from the plates and shock towers as shown above, so I think I'll torque them down first, then grind the x-brace to plate holes as needed.

liam821 how did you solve yours being off?

[Nate047]

You have to cut holes through the carpet and top layer of the floor panel with a hole saw for the brace to go into place. It sits flush against the inner part of the floor directly above the subframe mounts.

There is a less obtrusive version of this style of brace made by Yurkan Cages, where the bottom portion runs kind of along the floor of the trunk and the top portion is quickly removable for occasions where you temporarily need more trunk space.

[Teemmy]

Does this brace require welding or drilling? Or it’s just a bolt on affair?

[fattycharged]

CMP does. I think Yurkan does as well.

ah yes, good call, forgot about the CMP option.

[Tbonem3]

CMP does. I think Yurkan does as well.

[fattycharged]

Anyone installed the DSWorks 6 point in the forum? I’m waffling back and forth on paying the invoice for it, but I really like the idea of tying the front points in and no one else seems to offer that.

[liam821]

I've installed two of these. I would loosen up the bolts on the top of the tower bracket. Then line up and install the 4 bolts in the cross brace. Now tighten down the 4 bolts on top of the tower. Last step is drill and install the 4 horizontal tower bolts. I dont see any issue with the horizantal gap but you could insert some washers if needed.

+1 on make sure the car is on the ground

This is what I did. Mine was off a hair as well during install, but my car has been though a lot so I'm not surprised.

[simonnim]

Not trying to hijack the thread by has anyone checked on rigidity improvements vs Vince bar or even a half cage.

[0-60motorsports]

Yeah put the car back on the ground first and then check, it should be fine using the methods the members above have mentioned.