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Strut Tower Brace
These pictures where taken on June 30, 2003
This modification was really simple to add on. A strut tower brace will help eliminate car roll when cornering at higher and lower speeds. A strut brace could have been purchased from RSM but instead I purchased a brace that was made for an existing car. This GM part was made for the 98+ Buick Regal. It is part number 12456148 and can be purchased on www.gmpartsdirect.com or at your local GM dealer.
I started by finding a level place and parked the car there.
I then positioned the brace where I wanted it to go and made sure it was level.
Then I colored where the holes should be drilled and then took the black tower covers off.
With the tower covers off I could then line them up to make sure the brace was straight across. After checking the points I drew onto the covers, I realized I was not straight. So I changed the position of my points.
When I finished that I started to drill where the points were. I used a small drill bit as a guide for a larger one. I then finished the hole off with the right size bit. When that was done I attached them onto the brace and tightened the screws a little, but not too much. This was so I could still adjust it during the installation of the covers back onto the car.
I slid the covers back on and tightened the nuts further. When that was done I then procedded to attach the tower covers back on. When that was done, I was finished. Just to make sure it was on tight, I grabbed it with both hands and started to push and pull the brace frantically. It was tight, the car moved and the brace didn't.
Was it worth it? Yes definitely. I could instantly feel the difference it made. The handling became stiffer and the car turned easier. The car felt like it stuck to the ground better. This was probably the easiest, but yet best, modification I have done so far.