Removing struts to install hotchkis strut tower brace [cry] - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

jesslz · 12-31-2012, 03:25 AM

Day 2 of strut brace installation tomorrow...who knew drilling 4 holes could be so difficult.

Anyone else have the hotchkis strut brace on their 2010?

v6sonoma · 12-31-2012, 10:19 PM

Don't have it but was considering it since I'd like a supercharger some day and it is the least likely to interfere.

What problems are you having?

jesslz · 01-01-2013, 03:59 AM

It's just annoying having to remove the struts. We finished it up today. Once we had the right tools, it was fine - but I definitely have to get an alignment.

I got the hotchkis 4 point for the same reason, may get a supercharger in the very distant future

Ventmaster · 01-01-2013, 02:00 PM

Ya didn't have a 24mm box wrench with just the right angle on it- am I right?

Didn't know you had to remove the struts to drill those hoies...

grocerygetter · 01-01-2013, 04:37 PM

strut tower brace is a great 'looks' mod.

67RS2010SS · 01-01-2013, 05:13 PM

I have one but had the struts out to change the springs.

hairzee · 01-01-2013, 10:13 PM

I just dropped the struts down. The worst part was drilling the holes. I needed some newer sharper drill bits.

I was super happy with not only the "looks" but felt the handling was much better also.

jesslz · 01-01-2013, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ventmaster

Ya didn't have a 24mm box wrench with just the right angle on it- am I right?

Didn't know you had to remove the struts to drill those hoies...

That's what the hotckis instructions call for. A fellow C5 member said he did it with a right angle drill (without removing the struts), but I didn't really feel like investing in that. We ended up purchasing a deep socket and regular socket 24mm, along with the 24mm wrench and an extended socket wrench to break the spindle bolts.

jesslz · 01-01-2013, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hairzee

I just dropped the struts down. The worst part was drilling the holes. I needed some newer sharper drill bits.

I was super happy with not only the "looks" but felt the handling was much better also.

Yeah - I let the husband do that part. Our bits were just grabbing the metal like crazy, luckily he did not end up breaking his wrist! lol

Norm Peterson · 01-02-2013, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hairzee

but felt the handling was much better also.

"Felt" being the operative word, as in "felt more solid", right?

Structurally, STBs are better at suppressing cowl shake and other structural vibrations (the "V" in "NVH") than they are at adding enough chassis stiffness to matter in anything even remotely resembling sane street driving.

This is a case of perception being reality most times. That said, the reduction in NVH is a desirable goal and may be enough reason all by itself for anyone to install a STB.

About the difficulty in drilling - I wouldn't be surprised if it was some sort of high strength/low alloy steel you were trying to drill through.

Norm

Enough · 01-02-2013, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesslz

Yeah - I let the husband do that part. Our bits were just grabbing the metal like crazy, luckily he did not end up breaking his wrist! lol

Unibits are the best bet for sheet metal and enlarging pre-existing holes. They are a single flute cutting conical bit with discreet steps for each diameter. Home Depot or Lowes should have them in there tool section. I feel your husbands pain, I have done the wrist wrap before.

Denis · 01-02-2013, 10:45 AM

This is what's keeping me from doing a strut tower brace. The amount of work versus the actual gain in chassis regidity doesn't seem worth it.

Doubleblank · 01-02-2013, 12:33 PM

There isn't total consensus regarding STB's among the various teams racing Camaro's. Many answer with "Well, it certainly can't hurt the handling so why not?" And the minimal additional weight from a STB isn't an issue because most are adding weight somewhere to meet class specs. Personally, I put it in the "good looking and might help" category.

Norm Peterson · 01-02-2013, 02:32 PM

The details matter.

A 2-point STB won't be worth as much structurally as a 3- or 4-point arrangement, assuming that you've got solid enough 3rd and 4th points to tie off into.

A 2-point bar will be better at reducing camber change under hard braking than improving outside front tire camber change under cornering. Although there is an overall net "gain" because the outside tire is also carrying more vertical load, inside front camber does change a tiny bit for the worse, costing you a little grip at that corner.

Norm

12-31-2012, 03:25 AM	#1
jesslz Drives: 2010 RJT 2SS RS M6 "Ruby" Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 104 View My Garage	Removing struts to install hotchkis strut tower brace [cry] Day 2 of strut brace installation tomorrow...who knew drilling 4 holes could be so difficult. Anyone else have the hotchkis strut brace on their 2010? __________________ Ruby's Build Thread: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=248877

12-31-2012, 10:19 PM	#2
v6sonoma Drives: 2010 SS RS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 8,108 View My Garage	Don't have it but was considering it since I'd like a supercharger some day and it is the least likely to interfere. What problems are you having? __________________ Mods: BBK Intake, BBK LT's and High Flow Cats, Corsa Cat-back exhaust, Hurst short throw shifter, SLP skip-shift eliminator. 7/1/09 Placed order for IOM/IO int/ SS/RS 6M 9/26/09 Took delivery!

01-01-2013, 03:59 AM	#3
jesslz Drives: 2010 RJT 2SS RS M6 "Ruby" Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 104 View My Garage	It's just annoying having to remove the struts. We finished it up today. Once we had the right tools, it was fine - but I definitely have to get an alignment. I got the hotchkis 4 point for the same reason, may get a supercharger in the very distant future __________________ Ruby's Build Thread: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=248877

01-01-2013, 04:37 PM	#5
grocerygetter instigator Drives: 2020 6.2 Trail Boss, 2022 XC90 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: 72034 Posts: 3,979 View My Garage	strut tower brace is a great 'looks' mod. __________________ -John S.

01-01-2013, 05:13 PM	#6
67RS2010SS Drives: Maroon 67 rs and CRT 2012 ZL-1 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,005 View My Garage	I have one but had the struts out to change the springs. __________________ " No matter how tough you are when a 2 year old hands you a toy phone you answer it"

01-01-2013, 02:00 PM	#4
Ventmaster Drives: 2017 1SS 6spd Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 2,869	Ya didn't have a 24mm box wrench with just the right angle on it- am I right? Didn't know you had to remove the struts to drill those hoies...

01-01-2013, 10:13 PM	#7
hairzee Drives: 2010 SS Camaro Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 177	I just dropped the struts down. The worst part was drilling the holes. I needed some newer sharper drill bits. I was super happy with not only the "looks" but felt the handling was much better also. __________________ 2010 SS, CAI intake, Kooks 1 7/8 LT with high flow cats, Pfadt Sways and Springs, Lloyds Mats, Magnaflow 3"cat back, Ported TB, JRE tune, Rx Catch Can, Forgestar F14, BMR subframe, BMR 4point strut brace.

01-02-2013, 10:45 AM	#12
Denis Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Yorktown Heights, NY Posts: 7,695 View My Garage	This is what's keeping me from doing a strut tower brace. The amount of work versus the actual gain in chassis regidity doesn't seem worth it. __________________

01-02-2013, 12:33 PM	#13
Doubleblank Drives: 2010 Camaro SS, 2014 Z28 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 414	There isn't total consensus regarding STB's among the various teams racing Camaro's. Many answer with "Well, it certainly can't hurt the handling so why not?" And the minimal additional weight from a STB isn't an issue because most are adding weight somewhere to meet class specs. Personally, I put it in the "good looking and might help" category. __________________ ERL 500 ci Short Block, 2in ARH Headers, TSP LS7 Heads, LSXR/NW 102, Forgeline, MGW Shifter, StopTech BBK, Pfadt C/O's, Pfadt ASB's, etc, PowerFab Dynotune

01-02-2013, 02:32 PM	#14
Norm Peterson corner barstool sitter Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Eastern Time Zone Posts: 6,990	The details matter. A 2-point STB won't be worth as much structurally as a 3- or 4-point arrangement, assuming that you've got solid enough 3rd and 4th points to tie off into. A 2-point bar will be better at reducing camber change under hard braking than improving outside front tire camber change under cornering. Although there is an overall net "gain" because the outside tire is also carrying more vertical load, inside front camber does change a tiny bit for the worse, costing you a little grip at that corner. Norm