WTB: Rear strut tower brace

[AleroCzak]

I have looked for one of these on the internet, and the only places I could find them they were out of stock or something. I tried amazon, but the third party seller must have screwed something up because it never came. Does anybody have one they would like to sell and ship to me?

Does anyone know of a place to get one?
Does a brace for a different vehicle fit?
Does a n-body brace for the front fit in the rear?

[01OhioAlero]

Any for grand ams or aleros will work in back. I have a ebay one, similar to this, works fine.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Manzo-Rear-Upper-Strut-Bar-Fits-Pontiac-Grand-Am-1999-2002-SB-PGA9905RU-/112116107909?fits=Model%3AGrand+Am&hash=item1a1aa40a85:g:co0AAOSwajVUPWCI&vxp=mtr

[Bahlzeron]

Not all years of the GA's will work (without modification).. I think it was 03 and newer GA that was the same for rear. I bought a set that was for 99-02 GA and ended up having to cut and tap it to add in threaded rod and about an inch/inch n half spacer to get it right length. Front was fine though. Of course though it may depend on what brand you buy too.

edit: Any for grand ams or aleros will work in back. I have a ebay one, similar to this, works fine.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Manzo-Rear-Upper-Strut-Bar-Fits-Pontiac-Grand-Am-1999-2002-SB-PGA9905RU-/112116107909?fits=Model%3AGrand+Am&hash=item1a1aa40a85:g:co0AAOSwajVUPWCI&vxp=mtr
LOL.. same one I have, and from the same seller.(though I bought front and rear as a set)

Edit 2: If you don't have a front STB yet, might as well do both.... they make a huge difference.

[AleroCzak]

I already have a front STB. It's still in its box though, I'm waiting until I have both front and rear braces so I can install them at the same time.

The one in the ebay link says it's for Pontiac Grand Am from 1999 to 2002. That one will not fit properly?

[Bahlzeron]

That's the same I have. I had to extend it about two inches (I know I said one inch before, I was mistaken) to fit properly. Unfortunately that's all that is available for the N-bodies anymore. Oddly enough, for the front STB the 99-06 GA is the same as all years Alero, but only the 03-06 GA is the same as Alero for the rear even though both are N-body.

They used a thread on the fittings that you can't get a coupling nut for.. otherwise it would be so easy to extend. It is pretty easy to extend still though, I just cut mine in the middle and tapped it and used threaded rod and a spacer to make the bar long enough to reach from one side to another. The bar is hollow so tapping is really easy, I tapped mine for 9/16-18 no need to do any drilling (hole is ~half inch), just tapped it. Here's links to what I bought to extend it

Bosch tap only cost bout two bucks: Bosch 9/16-18 tap (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bosch-HCS-Taper-Tap-9-16-18-00253-Bulk-/330856758037?hash=item4d08997b15:m:mwlmFcbbTn4lW06 YslDP-fw)

Threaded rod 9/16-18 one foot length bout three bucks: 9/16-18 one foot threaded rod (http://www.ebay.com/itm/57157-Threaded-Rod-Plain-9-16-18x1-ft-/381023834925?hash=item58b6ca532d:g:irQAAOSw65FXvgw X)

I used a coupling nut as a spacer.. but a pack of five cost twenty bucks, a simple spacer would do fine and (more than likely) be cheaper than a coupling nut. Just in case here's a link to coupling nuts.

9/16-18 coupling nuts (http://www.ebay.com/itm/250383BG-Rod-Coupling-Nut-Grd-2-9-16-18-Pk5-/381004378358?hash=item58b5a170f6:g:nlYAAOSweWVXd~Z 3)

[AleroCzak]

I feel like if I had to extend it I would screw it up somehow. But unless someone could sell me something that fits properly, I'll have to try it.

[Bahlzeron]

Since no drilling is needed, I highly doubt you would mess it up.. it took me maybe half hour total to do it (and I've never used a tap before).. and that included getting tools out, as well as putting them away and cleaning up. The bar is hollow aluminum, so no drilling needed, the tap I linked will self center in the hole with ease (I didnt even use a tap handle, I used a universal fits-all.. a.k.a. crescent wrench). Cut the threaded rod down to about 4-4.5 inches in length, thread into one side of bar 1-1.25 inch, add 2 inches of spacer (or coupling nut I linked which is like 2 1/8) then thread on the other side of the bar, and done.

Or, since I already have the stuff.. buy the STB, ship it to me I'll do the work, just pay me $15+ return shipping (will probably be cheaper to ship just the bar without the mounts)

[01OhioAlero]

For your front 03 and up was cause of the movement of the alternator slightly. That's why some of them have the notch in them, all backs of all years should be identical.

[AleroCzak]

Since no drilling is needed, I highly doubt you would mess it up...
... (will probably be cheaper to ship just the bar without the mounts)
I probably have the tools somewhere to do it myself. Thanks for the help, though, I appreciate it.

[AleroCzak]

I just cut mine
What did you use to cut through the metal bar? I just got all the parts but I have to extend it.

[Bahlzeron]

It's just aluminum.. I used a hacksaw for the STB, and a grinder with a cutoff wheel for the threaded rod (hacksaw was taking too long on the threaded rod)

[AleroCzak]

Well somehow I managed to screw something up. (I've been good at that lately) For the front bar, under the hood, the bar ended up shorting out the alternator fusible link. Yay.

[jlhog]

I ordered front and rear in July. Received the front and installed right away. I am still waiting on the rear bar. Last report was 2-3 weeks away yet. Must be a slow boat from China

[Bahlzeron]

Well somehow I managed to screw something up. (I've been good at that lately) For the front bar, under the hood, the bar ended up shorting out the alternator fusible link. Yay.

Did you get the straight bar, or the one that has angled ends/notch/bend?

Edit to add: For your front, 03 and up was because of the movement of the alternator slightly.

I ordered front and rear in July. Received the front and installed right away. I am still waiting on the rear bar. Last report was 2-3 weeks away yet. Must be a slow boat from China

geez, that bites. When I ordered mine back at the beginning of January, both shipped in the same package, and quickly too.

[jlhog]

I just got shipping notice on the one I ordered in July so this is back in stock
http://www.shutokoengineering.com/product-p/sb-pga99ru.htm

Or This
http://www.ebay.com/itm/112116107909?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[AleroCzak]

I just had the straight bar in the front, got it from amazon.
edit:
jlhog, have you installed your front brace yet? Did it destroy your wiring?

[jlhog]

I just had the straight bar in the front, got it from amazon.
edit:
jlhog, have you installed your front brace yet? Did it destroy your wiring?

Yes, I have the front installed. Its been in since July without an issue. I don't have much room between plug on the alternator and bar. But it works..

[jlhog]

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1264_zpsg6pwgbrd.jpg

[Bahlzeron]

jlhog, looks like you have the bent type bar, not the straight one. I think you have yours in backwards (left is on the right, and right is on the left)... the bend I is supposed to angle the bar close to the firewall to clear the engine.

[jlhog]

jlhog, looks like you have the bent type bar, not the straight one. I think you have yours in backwards (left is on the right, and right is on the left)... the bend I is supposed to angle the bar close to the firewall to clear the engine.

You may be right on that. It had no directions and for some reason it went on that way. I will flip it around this weekend. It still clears the way it is, but more room would be better.

[AleroCzak]

what happened under with mine was the bar was tight on the wire connecting to the alternator and the vibrations punctured the rubber cover

[Bahlzeron]

what happened under with mine was the bar was tight on the wire connecting to the alternator and the vibrations punctured the rubber cover

Unfortunately it's not well documented, if at all, in listings that the bar without any bends or notches won't fit the V6 models, only the fours. I have an idea for ya to get that straight bar some clearance to fit, but I gotta see if it will work... I'll look into that tomorrow when it gets light.

[jlhog]

Well I tried to flip the brackets for the front bar and no way will it fit that way. I thought I tried that when I installed it in July. I was able adjust the bar upward about 1/4" for more clearance above the plug.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t1/JLHOG/IMAG1281_zpsbh1hulad.jpg

[AleroCzak]

Unfortunately it's not well documented, if at all, in listings that the bar without any bends or notches won't fit the V6 models, only the fours. I have an idea for ya to get that straight bar some clearance to fit, but I gotta see if it will work... I'll look into that tomorrow when it gets light.

Well lately I've been complaining on the internet in an attempt to get my money back for it... We'll see how that turns out.

[Bahlzeron]

Well I tried to flip the brackets for the front bar and no way will it fit that way. I thought I tried that when I installed it in July. I was able adjust the bar upward about 1/4" for more clearance above the plug.

That doesn't make sense that it would go over the engine instead of behind it, out of the way. It's good you were able to adjust it to get a bit more clearance though.


Well lately I've been complaining on the internet in an attempt to get my money back for it... We'll see how that turns out.

Could try to contact the seller to see if they have one for a V6 model, and do an exchange.

[jlhog]

Received the rear brace yesterday. I will try to install this weekend.