Hybrid02

I just bought a front strut tower brace for my 02 Mustang. the design of the brace bolts to the housing around the strut and not to the top of it like most of them I've seen. Does this set-up work just as well? Thanks.

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-Kyle

2002 Ford Mustang
CAI
Flowmaster Force II Duals

96gtstang

thats exactly how mine bolts on... it attaches to the front side of the housings and then it attaches by the firewall as well. ive never had anything different so i cant say weather its better or not but i would imagine it does the same thing

r3dn3ck

they're all about the same. If you don't weld it then it'll only be a little help in any real sense. Don't weld it though... makes working on the motor nearly impossible. Unbolting it takes about 30 minutes.

96gtstang

exactly...except ummm unless your new or wait even if your new with the wrench it should take like 5 min to take off...i think if i remeber correctly its like 6-8 bolts i think it was like 2 or 3 on each strut and 2 at the firewall

r3dn3ck

remove windshield wipers, remove cowl cover, remove plastic firewall liner and weather stripping ... first 4 steps takes 5-10 minutes if you've done it before and you've not even started pulling bolts. The two behind the firewall are every bit of a royal pain in the nutz for anyone with adult size hands. They take me a good couple minutes each. Pulling the usual 6 bolts and nuts from the strut towers takes me a good 20 minutes unless I'm in a real hurry. I've done it probably 20 times. I know how long it takes.

Go out and take one off and time yourself. By yourself, no help. See if you can do it in 5 minutes. It takes at least half an hour. Newbs will proabably take a few minutes more. Help is a really good idea just to make it a non-PITA.

96gtstang

okayyy well im gonna take the approach that im wrong about what were talking about but im gonna post a picture of what a strut tower brace is just so that were all talkin bout the same part...ummm i have a 96 gt and it takes 5 min all i need is a socket wrrench and the appropriate sized socket. im thinking mabe somthing is different in a 99-04 car??????????????? cuz i diddnt have to take any of that stuff appart and this is essentially what i have in the pic

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r3dn3ck

yeah... that's a strut tower brace. I'm just trying to figure out how you get the 2 bolts that go through the firewall on or off without pulling the cowl. I wouldn't worry about it too much.. plan on an hour and you won't be disappointed.

96gtstang

hmm the bolts on my car that are near the firewall go verticle to the ground like straight up and down i think now that you say this mabe one of the braces your thinking of goes and attached with bolts going parralell to the ground ( i am sure thers diff designes out ther lol )

r3dn3ck

99-04 bolts go through the firewall into the cowl.

Justin99gtconv

5 mins!! no way like he said atleast a half hour those bolts on the firewall are a pita. and be carefull taking the cowl off. I did mine in the dead of winter and it shattered like glass and cost me 75 bucks

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96gtstang

Gotcha thats what the difference is..lol then yea in a 99-04 car i have not a clue about taking the cowl off and stuff. glad we got that figured out cuz i was starting to think like there were different types but seriously on a 96-98 maybe even a 94-95 car its a 5 min job

Onetooth13

or at least one I haven't found discussed yet. Just put my new 75 mm TB/plenum on my 97 and now the strut tower brace won't fit. It seems the new set up is so much taller that I don't have clearance for my MAC straight pipe. What to do?????? I'm really hoping there is a new brace for this problem, or I guess I'll have to get one made. Anyone have this happen yet???

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Accufab 75mm TB/plenum combo, MAC (CAI, chrome radiator hoses), Ford Racing (9mm plug wires, aluminum drive shaft, FR500 steering wheel), Xcaliber II, Cobra smoked headlights, Pro 5.0 shifter, Saleen S281 wing, Steeda pullies, Jet 180 thermostat, AFS 18x9 and 18x10.5 wheels w/ Eagle F1 GS-D3 255/40 and 285/35 tires

r3dn3ck

I've had the problem with C&L pipes and the assorted plastic/PVC jobs. Sometimes you can raise the rear of it enough to clear but I've never found a brace that works with everything except the single beam type like you see for 03 snakes. Caused me to bounce my C&L setup.

Saleen S330

Those don't bolt through the firewall, theres a panel that comes off the firewall that the two bolts bolt to, that way you don't have to take the cowel off and stuff. i know it's like that on 94-98 mustangs. that's how it was on my 95 and 97, those do take like 10 mins to take off.

Saleen S330

Can you put a few washers under the the strut tower where you bolt it down to raise it or have you tried that?
I now with the 5.4 swap there was NO way to make my strut tower or any type to work.

Onetooth13

I'm looking at about an inch of clearance I need. Plan as of now is to cut that one part out and then bend and weld a new one in, then get the brace re-powder coated. Hoped there was something a little easier. Oh well, such is life. Thanks guys.

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Accufab 75mm TB/plenum combo, MAC (CAI, chrome radiator hoses), Ford Racing (9mm plug wires, aluminum drive shaft, FR500 steering wheel), Xcaliber II, Cobra smoked headlights, Pro 5.0 shifter, Saleen S281 wing, Steeda pullies, Jet 180 thermostat, AFS 18x9 and 18x10.5 wheels w/ Eagle F1 GS-D3 255/40 and 285/35 tires