VY Strut brace? [Archive] - Australian LS1 and Holden Forums

OzJavelin

07-05-2007, 03:08 PM

CV8-S1

07-05-2007, 03:14 PM

They are just serated nuts. Any fastner store would have them.

dgp

07-05-2007, 08:15 PM

Depending on what month your series 1 was built it may not even have the welded in bolts for the strut brace to lacate onto.

Lets assume that it does....go down to the bolt place and buy some nylocks, these will do the same job without stripping the paint off your strut towers (put some larger diameter washers underneath)

Mungrel

07-05-2007, 08:45 PM

being an 03 i dont think it would have the studs, (month dependant) if it doesn't, you gotta remove the struts and drill your own holes.
Also i think there is only 2 bolts each side.

cashie

07-05-2007, 08:56 PM

I ordered a strut brace for my VY1 SV8 .. and waited for three weeks. When I went back, they had the bar, but not the "special" nuts. They only got two, and I assume that you need four to fit. Can I just get a specialised fastener firm to locate the remaining two nuts or get Holden to chase them up?

Order the nuts in:
11086952 Strut Brace nuts $0.24 ea

Also, as has been mentioned, you had better check if your car has the studs (2 each side), both my cars are 2003 and the Monaro has them and the R8 does not...

Tron2004

07-05-2007, 09:57 PM

being an 03 i dont think it would have the studs, (month dependant) if it doesn't, you gotta remove the struts and drill your own holes.
Also i think there is only 2 bolts each side.
This is correct.
I bought mine from Holden, measured up the holes (2 each strut), and drilled.
Removed the top nut off both shocks and unbolted the stabilizer shaft linkage, then jacked the car up.
The shock assembly will drop low enough to insert the strut brace bolts from under the strut tower.
Spanner on the bolt to stop it turning, then spanner on the nut to tighten.
Easy peasy!! :D
The only other thing that might help would be a spot weld on all 4 bolts from underneath to stop em from
dropping if you ever decide to remove the strut brace for whatever reason.

Mungrel

07-05-2007, 10:04 PM

I too would advise tack welding the studs / bolts in place. Should you need any top end work done, it will make things much easier!

Pulse 8

08-05-2007, 08:18 AM

This is correct.
I bought mine from Holden, measured up the holes (2 each strut), and drilled.
Removed the top nut off both shocks and unbolted the stabilizer shaft linkage, then jacked the car up.
The shock assembly will drop low enough to insert the strut brace bolts from under the strut tower.
Spanner on the bolt to stop it turning, then spanner on the nut to tighten.
Easy peasy!! :D
The only other thing that might help would be a spot weld on all 4 bolts from underneath to stop em from
dropping if you ever decide to remove the strut brace for whatever reason.

Howdy Tron 2004, I have just bought the original type to put on my partners 02 Monaro which doesnt have the bolts at attatched. I plan to take your advice on fit up but was wondering by removing the top trut nuts, does it have any effect on the wheel alignment?
Regards Pulse 8

lollymanv8

08-05-2007, 08:51 AM

being an 03 i dont think it would have the studs, (month dependant) if it doesn't, you gotta remove the struts and drill your own holes.
Also i think there is only 2 bolts each side.

I think may03 onwards when strut tower brace studs came welded in. My vy ss has them and it was built in may 2003.

Mungrel

08-05-2007, 10:08 AM

That sounds about right for the second series, cause first series VZs started coming out mid-late 04.

I still think the most foolproof method of checking is to open your bonnet :p hehe

dgp

08-05-2007, 04:04 PM

Tron2004

08-05-2007, 07:23 PM

Howdy Tron 2004, I have just bought the original type to put on my partners 02 Monaro which doesnt have the bolts at attatched. I plan to take your advice on fit up but was wondering by removing the top trut nuts, does it have any effect on the wheel alignment?
Regards Pulse 8
Probably not but I couldn't say for sure.
Then again, a simple knock of your wheel into the gutter will put your wheel alignment out.

Just remember to undo ONLY the top shocky nut.
You'll notice another nut of similar size beneath the top one.
This actually holds the springs onto the shock assembly. DON'T touch that one!!!
And to get the clearance up into the top of the strut tower, you'll also need to remove the stabilizer link bolt where it connects down near the wheel.
Then jack the car up till you can get your hand up there. There ain't much room but with a bit of persistance, you will be able to get the strut brace bolts up there.

Pulse 8

09-05-2007, 07:56 AM

Probably not but I couldn't say for sure.
Then again, a simple knock of your wheel into the gutter will put your wheel alignment out.

Just remember to undo ONLY the top shocky nut.
You'll notice another nut of similar size beneath the top one.
This actually holds the springs onto the shock assembly. DON'T touch that one!!!
And to get the clearance up into the top of the strut tower, you'll also need to remove the stabilizer link bolt where it connects down near the wheel.
Then jack the car up till you can get your hand up there. There ain't much room but with a bit of persistance, you will be able to get the strut brace bolts up there.
Hey Tron and VYSS,
Thanks for the info. I will have a crack at the weekend and see how it goes. Have had the bar hanging on the shed wall for three months as I wasnt sure on how to go about it. Thanks again.:thumbsup:

Tron2004

09-05-2007, 09:17 PM

Hey Tron and VYSS,
Thanks for the info. I will have a crack at the weekend and see how it goes. Have had the bar hanging on the shed wall for three months as I wasnt sure on how to go about it. Thanks again.:thumbsup:
No wuccas.
Take your time, don't rush and you'll have a factory look strut bar in place in around half a day.

http://www.users.on.net/~tron2005/OlymDCP_%20012a.jpg

Mungrel

09-05-2007, 10:21 PM

or for a lil extra you can have a shiny whiteline one :P
(which does the same job but more bling factor :headbang:)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k188/fpv_eta/engine2.jpg

vxSSilver

10-05-2007, 01:22 AM

mines a december 03 vy ss and it has the bolts there.

round about how much is the strut brace ??

michaels1v8

10-05-2007, 02:26 AM

Standard holden one is about $40

iamhappy46

10-05-2007, 09:36 AM

Standard Holden one: $42 trade price
Whiteline one: Atleast $130 depending on freight from whiteline to your supplier.

My VYI ute(May or June 03 build date) has factory strut brace bolts and it took about 5 minutes to fit.

Tron2004

10-05-2007, 09:35 PM

mines a december 03 vy ss and it has the bolts there.

round about how much is the strut brace ??
Mine's March 03 VY and definitely did not have the bolts there.
Paid $44 back in Jan 05 from my local Holden dealer.

Itchy_Feet

10-05-2007, 11:20 PM

what is the dif between the oem and whiteline by comparison to each other and std no brace???

michaels1v8

10-05-2007, 11:34 PM

Basically whiteline is superior. Not only in looks but it is also more solid. The Holden one is hollow and doesnt quite have the strength of a aftermarket one..

According to the half a million post on this forum though, the holden one does provide improvement on cars that dont already have a strut brace..

SO from what I have gathered, the holden one provides good street improvement and is better than no strut brace but for competition and track work it just is not strong enough and thats where the Whiteline is superior.

Plus the whiteline is nice and shiny:yahoo:

Mungrel

11-05-2007, 12:16 AM

:woot: :headbang:
Whiteline one is awesome, and easy to install :thumbsup:

Itchy_Feet

11-05-2007, 12:04 PM

Niiice, i figured that was what would be going on.

shep

11-05-2007, 12:27 PM

or for a lil extra you can have a shiny whiteline one :P
(which does the same job but more bling factor :headbang:)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k188/fpv_eta/engine2.jpg

Hey Mungrel.
Nice job on the OTRCAI.:thumbsup:

Now put it on Gas :stick:

Mungrel

11-05-2007, 12:48 PM

Hey Mungrel.
Nice job on the OTRCAI.:thumbsup:

Now put it on Gas :stick:

Cheers mate.

Gee dunno bout the gas! Recently i've seen a few nos jobs gone bad - it aint pretty! Plus, i've still got my clutch & diff to do yet :( I'm also confronted with the dilemma of moving over east and actually driving my car, or using the money i've saved to strap a blower on her and leave her in the shed like i do now lol. its a tough decision!:driving:

JBonDSS

11-05-2007, 04:09 PM

Also another thing to note with holden vs aftermarket, is that you easily remove the bar with aftermarket, should you need to change the engine covers, coils etc..

Mungrel

11-05-2007, 04:49 PM

Also another thing to note with holden vs aftermarket, is that you easily remove the bar with aftermarket, should you need to change the engine covers, coils etc..

An excellent point there.
Between my strut brace and my brake booster i've got very limited clearance.
If i ever decide to rip heads / intake manifold off, i can do it without undoing the strut brace from the inner fender.

BLACK 346

11-05-2007, 05:16 PM

I changed my intake manifold with the Whiteline Adjustable Strut
brace still in place, so no need to remove it at all.

shep

11-05-2007, 09:13 PM

Cheers mate.

Gee dunno bout the gas! Recently i've seen a few nos jobs gone bad - it aint pretty! Plus, i've still got my clutch & diff to do yet :( I'm also confronted with the dilemma of moving over east and actually driving my car, or using the money i've saved to strap a blower on her and leave her in the shed like i do now lol. its a tough decision!:driving:

He He I'm talking LPG:D