Rear Strut Brace Installation

[Ham86]

Hey guys i just got a rear strut brace for my 1983 86 and realised i cant see the threads sticking out(of the tower).

What is the best way to put on the brace. Ive herd somewhere to drill holes but i wanted to ask people who know.

Cheers

[sam2306]

theres no threads there as ae86s dont have struts in the rear only one hole for the shock,
assuming that this brace has two holes drilled in it to mount to the shock mounts you have to drill holes and bolt it in

[Ham86]

ahk. so drill a hole in the middle each side of the brace and put on that one thread.

[johl]

no if it is like most rear braces it doesnt go on the rear shock thread at all. you usually have to drill a hole either side of it

[Ham86]

so make my own thread on bolts arrangement either side.

[svenmate]

Firstly, it depends on what type of brace you're using. If it has two holes at the end of each side, then you have to drill two holes in the position you want on the shock tower.
Like so..

http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/dcimages/4/7/4/62359.jpg


If it has one hole and its vertical, then you might have to do this..

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s15/karolex147/rearbrace.jpg

Or if you have a front strut brace, do what Nick did in his ae71..

http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/dcimages/5/1/5/1765.jpg

[Ham86]

i might do it behind both shock threads. is the best way to weld or drill and make a thread?

[svenmate]

Just drill, incase you ever need to remove it. I'd recommend a plate of steel on the other side of the tower too.

[Sam-Q]

even better don't install it at all, you will be better off.

I am going to move this to the tech section

[johl]

lol at the front strut brace

[ke_70]

someone should do a flex test on these rear tower braces and see how much/if this part of the car actually needs bracing.

[Sam-Q]

don't need to, they just don't flex there- multiple layers of metal and it's on an angle to the floor where the cross frame is. Even if it was to flex it wouldn't matter much as it's the pan-hard that takes up the side load.

If all that wasn't enough bolting a 'brace' through some layers of sheet metal just aint going to cut it.

[Dongaz]

don't need to, they just don't flex there- multiple layers of metal and it's on an angle to the floor where the cross frame is. Even if it was to flex it wouldn't matter much as it's the pan-hard that takes up the side load.

If all that wasn't enough bolting a 'brace' through some layers of sheet metal just aint going to cut it.

What if you have rear coilovers? Most people say the struts need some form of bracing then.

[lolwat]

What if you have rear coilovers? Most people say the struts need some form of bracing then.
load of shit apparently there fine

[Sam-Q]

yes I second that, I have put a grinder through that area, stacks of support. That's why I am so amused by these litte trinket parts that are meant to reinforce the area.

[Dongaz]

That's what I thought aswell as I have rear coilovers in mine and haven't seen any problem with that area cracking at all. It saw multiple mt runs and also a full track day back when the bumps at QR weren't so nice.
I did install one of the 2 bolt braces across there. I am yet to use the car again since doing this. I do know that it took a bit to drill through the sheet there. There was a couple of layers if I remember correctly.

[Sam-Q]

yes 3 layers minimum depending where you drill through, however if you only use two small diameter bolts the holes would just elongate if there any actual force on it, luckily there isn't.

[Dongaz]

Might pull it off and weld up the holes then. I think I used 12mm bolts and a plate underneath in the wheel well. Oh well, something that will be up for sale soon enough then :P