While installing my Respeed coilovers and camber plates I noticed something about my Racing Beat strut tower brace. It seems as though the mounting holes in the brackets that sit on each strut tower may be enlarged, or it may just be me.

Each hole is approximately a 1/2" in diameter. It just doesnt seem like they should be so big when the bolts going thru them are so much smaller in diameter. I have been debating getting shims to make the bolts fit better, or to contact Racing Beat about new brackets, which I am sure won't be cheap.

I have yet to reinstall my brace because of this. So, are all of the brackets this size and it won't pose any problems, or do I need to address this issue?

 

Any chance that it is a 2nd gen version, which has been modified to fit a 1st gen? I've heard of guys doing this to make them fit...








.

 

The holes on my 85' STB are pretty tightly alligned with the bolts. Did you buy this brace used? If there is any mis-alignment - caused by a previous accident possibly, the brace will not fit right (i.e the holes don't line up). The previous owner may have opened the holes so the brace would fit. Just athought.

If you torque to spec, the oversized holes shouldn't pose a severe problem if the brace fits w/o adjustment.....we are talking about the 3-point firewall STB, right?

 

Kentetsu-- No, It's the first gen brace that goes to the firewall.

Keith-- I had thought about that. The wholes line up fine, but they are just bigger in diameter than I feel they need to be. I am just not sure if it would allow flex even after being torqued down. Yes, I am talking about the three point brace that uses the two mounts that sit on the strut towers. The holes where the mounts are held to the strut tower are the holes I am talking about. I will try to get a pic later.

 

here are a couple pics of mine installed...the bolts and holes to seem to fit just fine.






the pics are not working? hmm....

 

Was this purchased used? Maybe I was right, just going in the wrong direction with the idea. Maybe the holes were opened up so that it could be used on a 2nd gen?

 

Based on the firewall mounting point/distance; I do not think it would be possible to install this on a FC. However; nothing is impossible....

These STBs are a very tight fit if you have ever installed one - and they do not install easily (read: patience!). I'm willing to bet $$ that the holes were enlarged slightly to accomodate fitment (or lack of patience).

Anyway to sleeve the holes? I'd head to home depot and find some bolt sleeves and see if those can be cut/tapped into the enlarged holes to make up some space; or is the gap that much bigger?

 

Can you call RB and find out the size ofthe holes on a new bracket? Then measure yours to see how much bigger they are? Might save you on buying new brackets (they don't look cheap) if they are even available separately.

Or they may not be too far off from new.....no harm in crossing those fingers!

 

Duplicate post - sorry

 

After a local RX7 meet I have established that they have been drilled out for some irrelevant reason. The bad is that they weren't done with the center bores in the right places, so the wholes are off a little. I am going to check some things out, try some things, and get this thing back on my SA.