69Mach1-409

The CHE piece is stiffer then the factory one and it's a late Xmas gift from the 'rents.

m05fastbackGT

Works for me Jason

metroplex

The factory A-Arm brace is a tube, just like the aftermarket braces. I haven't heard of the factory brace bending or flexing.

bob

Indeed, the firewall isn't a structural member in the car so bracing it back toward the firewall does little if anything for the strut tower brace, but it adds to the sexy I guess.

m05fastbackGT

After much debated thought. I've finally decided to order the Steeda G-trac brace, over the factory A-arm brace.

Although the factory design uses 4 bolts (2-per each side)

I don't like the horizontal support design, in which 4 bolts are holding 2 flat pieces of metal together, one overlapping the other.

IMHO if there's enough force involved. This could lead to possible bending/flexing of the A-arm support mounts.

That being said. I personally believe the Steeda G-trac. is the better overall design. For it uses large hardened bolts that provide vertical support at the LCA bushing mounts.

69Mach1-409

The factory A-arm brace.



The CHE brace I replaced it with.


The OEM one isn't too bad, but I can feel the difference between it and the CHE now on my car.

metroplex

The purpose of the brace is to reduce crossmember flexing. The OEM braces the rearmost area of the crossmember, which makes the most difference. The OEM brace is about 7/8" OD, and the tubing wall is just shy of 1/8".

Like I said before the CHE appears to be the best design - using both the A-Arm bushing mounts and the OEM flange mounts but the extra weight is unnecessary. I've had some bad experiences with aftermarket parts being poorly engineered/tested, so I'm recommending the OEM part because it has passed extensive factory testing.

m05fastbackGT

Yes. I totally agree, the purpose of the brace. is designed as an enhancement support to the crossmember, and not as a primary structural support.

And although your recommending the OEM brace, because it has passed extensive factory testing.

What continues to really bother me about the OEM design. Is that it's support relies upon 4 bolts holding 2 flat pieces of metal together.

My concern is.. sooner or later, there's going to be flexing involved, due to stress/movement from one piece of metal, being bolted over another.

IMHO. the OEM design. just isn't what I consider a crossmember support enhancement, but more as a weakness. For again, it's support emphasizes on the flat end surfaces of it's A-arm brace, being bolted over the A-arm support mounts.


At least the Steeda G-trac..is somewhat similar in design alongside the CHE brace. In which also emphasizes on vertical support at the LCA bushing mounts.



Just my $.02

metroplex

The OEM brace is not a flat piece of metal. It is a tube with flattened ends. There's no way to bend it because that flattened area is going to be very rigid. The reason they use 2 bolts per side is to prevent rotation about the fixed point. Overall, I don't see any problems with the OEM design. It is lightweight and does the job just fine.

m05fastbackGT

Okay so I used the wrong choice of words. What I intended to say, was the 2 flattened ends of the OEM brace, being bolted over the A-arm support mounts.

By using the phrase, pieces of metal. I was referring to just the flattened sections, and not the entire OEM bar as a whole.

My bad lol.