Rather than clutter up the Group By thread, I'm putting some pics here of my install.

The instructions say to remove the ABS system to gain access needed install the brace on the inside fender, behind the ABS system.

Then the right side fender liner must be removed, providing access to a hole in the fender to reach the back side of the brace.

There are 2 components that bolt to the inner fender. A steel plate with the attachment for the brace itself, this attaches behind the ABS.

There's also a steel backing plate that attaches on the other side of inner fender. This is where you must reach up behind the fender (this is why the fender liner is out) and reach inside the hole in the fender to attach the backing plate.

As the bumper was already off, I decided to skip removing the ABS system, and removed the fender instead.

After doing so I was glad I did. I don't think I could have reached in that hole in the inner fender otherwise.

You can see from the pics it is a pretty tight fit. It was scraping my hand up so much that I had to use a glove.

From the next pic you can see that the topmost hole was easily drilled from the engine bay. I just went to Home Depot and got an extra long 5/16 bit.

A Dremel tool was use to start the 3 lower holes, and these were then drilled from the other side of the fender, through the holes on the other side of the inner fender.

A block of wood was used as backing when drilling the holes to avoid drilling into the ABS system.

The black paint is dripping from where I painted the holes that were just drilled with Gloss Black Rustoleum paint.

 

Continued from previous post:

Next I put about 1/2 tube of RTV to fill in some spaces behind the inner brace.

This was done so that if I remove the mount in the engine bay, this one will stay in place. The instructions recommended epoxy, I found this easier.

Messy, I know, but it was hard to reach and will not be seen once the fender is back on.

Following 2 pics is the finished product.

The mounts were painted with gloss black Rustoleum, the brace was painted with Red Duplicolor Ceramic engine paint.

 

Thanks for the pics and lil' write-up.

That does look like a tight fit, and I have pretty big hands, so I'll most likely be going your route of taking off the fender. Seems like a win-win situation....Easier on the hands, and no brake fluid to worry about.

I plan on installing mine as soon as I paint it...probably this weekend, so thanks again.

 

Yea the install was a pain In the *** for me. Small. Hole big hand and at N angel

 

I must have small hands .

 

i installed a different torque brace in my fd(same concept and positioning). took me 5 min, used a wrench and socket.

 

Damn PIA to install if you ask me, not worth it for a non adjustable torque brace that can make your driver's side door rattle at times.

 

Non-adjustable? Why would you want to adjust it.

Yes, it's a bit of trouble, but effective.

 

it doenst adjust.

and i have to agree, its damn worth installing. and many others will say the same. i never misshift to 3rd anymore. in my opinion, it should be a reliability mod...

 

IF It makes you door rattle ,no one else has complained , just send it back for a refund .Get an other one from elseware and rattle both doors . Send it back with all parts and get your money back, easy as that .

 

I thought instead of creating a new thread since there have been many threads on Garfinkle's Brace, I would bump this one.

I have a question for the original poster and for any of those who have the brace installed.

I have not installed the brace yet, but upon inspection, looking in from the engine bay, it looks as if the surface on the fender wall where the plate sits is uneven. It is not perfectly flat. Has anyone else noticed this and done anything to remedy it? I will post up a picture shortly to better explain myself.

 

Here you can see the area that rises higher than the rest. My question is, is this causing the plate to sit unevenly? Has anyone done anything to even this out? Thanks for any input.

 

Looks to me that you have some frame damage.

 

I can't recall if mine has that raised section or not. I'll look at it when I get home.

 

My '93 has that raised section. It's not a problem with the brace as you'll need to bend the bar to match your car anyways.

 

^
Have a 93 also and same raised section.

When the brace is installed you should have it down to about a 1mm gap.

I did not have to bend my bar at all, what the car does need when installing it is a proper PPF alignment.

Before doing the alignment my motor's nose was slightly pointing to the sky, since nice and flat and bar fits great.

 

My 93 also has the raised section. It didn't affect installing the brace.

 

I installed mine with two stock bolt holes, I didn't drill anything, and I didn't remove anything, it took me about a half hour...all the stress is in compression...three years later, it's fine

 

Awesome, thanks a ton for the feedback guys. Cant wait to get it on.

 

I agree the install was tough. Just installed mine, and the pain of install was definitely worth it in the end.

I researched the ebay braces, and decided to go the Garfinkle route. My car shifts much easier, more fun to drive (less vibration and harshness through the shifter, I have a 409 whp single).

On my car (94 pep) there were 3 weld nuts on the back side of the fender, not 2. Perhaps there was a manufacturing running change for some reason. Anyway, I drilled out these nuts with the 5/16" bit, and used a drift to tap out the nuts.'I also had a right angle drill, so I didn't have to remove the abs (tight but possible with a short 5/16" bit or center drill).

 

how do I get in contact with Garfinkle? I need to buy just the bar with the bushings.

 

PM this person:
https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...90&postcount=5

 

he's in this thread. garco motorworks. great guy