Strut Tower Brace Install
The following pictures are from the installation of my Strut Tower Brace into my
1998 Mustang Cobra. The strut tower brace is a Ford unit out of a 1996 Cobra.
When I purchased it used I assumed it would just bolt into place on a 1998 model.
Unfortunately, Ford changed the firewall on the 1998 models. The area on the
firewall that the brace bolted down into was gone, so I had to modify the brace
and bolt it horizontally into the firewall. The following is a step by step
description of the process.
1. Here are pictures of the engine bay before the process. In these pictures,
I have already removed the wiper blade arms and the cowl and firewall covers
|
Right Strut Tower
|
Firewall
|
Left Strut Tower
|
|
|
|
2. The next step was to place the brace onto the strut towers and the firewall.
I carefully adjusted the brace so it sat flat on the towers and the firewall.
I then used a punch and dimpled the towers in the center of each hole. I then
used a XX drill bit and drilled the holes. After I drilled a hole I placed
the bolt in the hole to keep the brace from moving.
|
Right Strut Tower
|
Firewall
|
Left Strut Tower
|
|
|
|
3. I then drilled the firewall and the brace at the two small existing holes
in the brace(See arrow above). I then removed the brace and reinstalled the
lower cowl cover. I debated cutting this cover around the brace so I would
have metal to metal contact, or drilling through the cover and installing the
brace on top of the cover. I went with installing the brace on top of the
cover because it would be easier with less potential to mess up.
4. I then installed the bolts with new nuts and washers. Remember to use loctite
on these so they don't come loose. I tightened down all the bolts then went back
and re-tightend them all.
|
Right Strut Tower
|
Firewall
|
Left Strut Tower
|
|
|
|
5. Lastly, I cleaned the dirt off from where the upper cowl cover covers. Then
reinstalled the upper cowl cover and wiper arms.
6. In afterthought, I would purchase the Steeda unit that is made for the
1998 Cobra. The 96-97 brace fits but it probably isn't as strong after drilling
holes in the back of it, and it doesn't look as clean. After driving the car
I really couldn't tell much of a difference, but i'm sure there is.
Back
