Shock Tower Brace

[Jaime]

Anyone else have a shock tower brace where the holes don't line up well? Here's how far mine are off --

Left side:
http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab273/jaime398/818%20Build/20140513_224703_zpsinqpabb7.jpg

Right side:
http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab273/jaime398/818%20Build/20140513_224637_zpslzg418sy.jpg

Any suggestions? I'd hate to have to compress my frame with a four foot clamp every time I reinstall the brace.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Jamie
Didn't the frame come assembled?
Bob

[Xusia]

I was going to say that as well. Mine came mounted.

[Jaime]

Yup. When I took the bolt out to get the front subframe out, it popped out to that wide. The brace was the only thing holding it at the right spacing. That means someone at Factory Five had to squish it together and bolt it. I'll bet it took two people or one person with a bar clamp.

[RM1SepEx]

Ouch...

[Jaime]

So, I gather most people didn't have this...

I'd like to know which is off, my brace or my frame. Frame problem can lead to body fitment problems. Can some measure the center-to-center distance of their upper shock tower brace holes for me?

BTW, I've got other problems, but if Factory Five makes it right I'm not going to make a big deal about it. If they don't, them I'm going to need help. I think I'm cursed this year; Mazda just bought my six month old daily driver back because they couldn't fix its electrical problems.

[longislandwrx]

I took my brace off.. I haven't tried to bolt it back on yet. A certain amount of preload can be expected. On aftermarket threaded braces they usually recommend you add a half turn of preload iirc. I can measure my brace when I get home tonight if no one beats me to it.

[Jaime]

Just talked to Factory Five. They say that when the car is on its wheels and the rear shock puts load on the frame, it should come in a bit. They also say it still shouldn't quite line up even then.

[Mechie3]

I don't remember mine being hard to put on and it wasn't on wheels but on a cart. My spacers are too long to fit the gaps though.

[metalmaker12]

Anyone else have a shock tower brace where the holes don't line up well? Here's how far mine are off --

Left side:
http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab273/jaime398/818%20Build/20140513_224703_zpsinqpabb7.jpg

Right side:
http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab273/jaime398/818%20Build/20140513_224637_zpslzg418sy.jpg

Any suggestions? I'd hate to have to compress my frame with a four foot clamp every time I reinstall the brace.

That sucked in from when they welded it. The only real way to fix that is to first measure where is off center ( left or right side) than strip the powder off at the seem where it sucked in and heat it into alignment. But I would bet it's just sucked in on that one side and you might be able to porter power press it out to get it very close to where you need it with minimal powder damage. A frame machine could help, but if you brace the frame, check all your measurement and move the needed area over you should be closer. Maybe both sides sucked in and you just have to press both out slightly. It is not too bad so it should come out with minimal effort if the right equipment is used. Where you located, Good luck

[Jaime]

That's something I didn't want to hear from someone who had an early kit (which presumably should have more problems). I also have this:

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab273/jaime398/Factory%20Five%20Visit/20140512_114837_zpsvef7fodr.jpg

and this:

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab273/jaime398/Factory%20Five%20Visit/20140513_080414_zpsuedfvnjg.jpg

So far, I feel I wasted $600 on powder coat because I will almost certainly have to do it again (plus a few hundred in blasting). And I really hope I don't have to trailer a brand new frame to a collision shop to be fixed.

Factory Five reassured me this morning that the condition of my frame is how it was designed. I'm starting to doubt it.

[EODTech87]

I was told the same thing today, that once the engine and transmission were installed it would all line up.

[metalmaker12]

Don't get to worried man, try to install the engine and tranny and the weight might help you out. FFR are a bunch of enthusiast just like us and know there product better than I. Mine fit prior and was tighter once engine and tranny were in. The jig they used is pretty stout so hopefully the weight of the units will help you out, and it's just pre-load.

[Jaime]

... or maybe mine was built on a Friday...

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab273/jaime398/818%20Build/20140514_185237_zpsdubtpan7.jpg

The bracket is welded on 5 degrees off. I have to bend the tab the get the front subframe on.

[Mechie3]

My powdercoat wore off the roll bar too with the body being too tight during shipping.

[Jaime]

What did you end up doing?

[STiPWRD]

I don't remember mine being hard to put on and it wasn't on wheels but on a cart. My spacers are too long to fit the gaps though.
I just measured my spacers last night and they also don't fit the gaps - gap is 1.45" and spacers are 1.5." I'll probably have to sand down the spacers a bit.

I can get the brace on and off easily though.


My powdercoat wore off the roll bar too with the body being too tight during shipping.

Mine too. I'm going to touch this up or re-spray the roll bar. Hopefully it'll blend in with the powder coat, either way I'm not building a show car.

[metros]

Mine was worn through on the rollbar too. I touched it up with some por15 which matches fairly well. Only can really see when looking at an angle.

[Mechie3]

What did you end up doing?

Frowning at it and doing nothing yet. :lol: It's gotten worse since fitting the body and going on/off/on/off with it. Figured it wasn't worth fixing until I was done making it worse.