RSM sturt tower braces

[02SilverGT]

I see a bunch of people on here have RSM front and rear strut tower braces. I wnat to put them on my car but i cant seem to fidnd them anywhere, is there a website im just missing?

thanks

[Rayz]

RSM= Z-SPEC

http://www.z-spec.com/catalog.htm

[LittleWhiteGT]

Wow in the pics those things look real thin and flimsy. r they or is it just the pic?

[Teamlino21]

Or you could get one on eBay a little cheaper:
eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-00-01-02-Grand-AM-SE-GT-Front-Strut-Tower-Bar-New_W0QQitemZ140074924617QQihZ004QQcategoryZ33591Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[99GrandAMSE]

... whenever possible, please support those who support the GAOC :)

[02SilverGT]

of course of course, without them there is no us lol

[99GrandAMSE]

... exactly ... of course, I am not saying to buy what you don't want but at least, give them a look :)

[bballr4567]

I know a few people have the bar and its not flimsy at all. Im buying the exact same on myself. The bar itself is over an 1" thick and looks amazing.

[Teamlino21]

Originally posted by 99grandamse
... whenever possible, please support those who support the GAOC :)

I agree Kelly, I did look at them first.

[ltpats]

MRZperformance is working with me on getting one of their solid billet aluminum ones to fit my 2004 Grand Am with the 3400, they even do custom engraving on it at a very reasonable price, I will let you know how it turns out

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by LittleWhiteGT
Wow in the pics those things look real thin and flimsy. r they or is it just the pic?

They are actually pretty beefy. I had to use longer bolts on the tower. The ends are cut out of .25" plate and the bar is .75" x 1.25". The current price is below the group buy price from a couple years ago.

[Houndawg]

They are nowhere near flimsy. Something else would break before these braces even got close to breaking.

[cardude007617]

do these alone help tho?

[Rayz]

just the front brace will stiffen a stock GA considerably, it was my first mod.

[cardude007617]

so if any, get the front first, than get the rear at some time in the future.
would the front STB help with the understeer?

[cardude007617]

so real quick which one is better?:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-00-01-02-Grand-AM-SE-GT-Front-Strut-Tower-Bar-New_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33591QQihZ004QQitem Z140113281254QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

or:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac-97-02-98-99-00-01-Grand-Am-Front-Up-Strut-Bar_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33591QQihZ013QQitem Z230123986081QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

the first looks a lil nicer to me

[AeR0]

the ones from RSM/Z-Spec are pretty good alot of the guys from www.grandsontario.com have them and have no complaints.

[slowbird]

I was pretty dissapointed with the one I got from Megan Racing.

On my old Sunbird they came with a front STB after 91....when I'd install one on a J-body you'd feel it right away.

I didn't notice anything with the Megan racing one...plus no one sells a bar that will clear the 03.5+ 3400 Alternator.

Which way would the bar theoritically flex/move under heavy cornering?

Up/down? Forward Back?

[Peyman]

so the RSM front strut tower brace will fit my 99 3400 without any problems?... my vibrant one fits but it's hella close to my alternator

[DomestikDemon]

Originally posted by slowbird
Which way would the bar theoritically flex/move under heavy cornering?

Up/down? Forward Back?

The whole idea of a strut brace is so that it doesn't move...;)

[slowbird]

Originally posted by DomestikDemon
The whole idea of a strut brace is so that it doesn't move...;)

My apologies...let me rephrase my question.

Which way would the bar try and move under heavy cornering.

:roll2:

[DomestikDemon]

lol, ok not tryin to be a smart-ass....

the strut bar would make like a trapazoid type shape with the struts and the axles.....so my guess is sideways

[slowbird]

Originally posted by DomestikDemon
lol, ok not tryin to be a smart-ass....

the strut bar would make like a trapazoid type shape with the struts and the axles.....so my guess is sideways

LOL...no worries.

The reason why I ask is cause my STB is weak when apply force in a certain direction so I wanna see if I should put it back on.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4155/stbmg7.jpg

Which way do you all think/know the STB prevents twist/movement?

A. B. or C. ??

[DomestikDemon]

B

[Chaz]

just picked up both STB's direct from RSM. Slapped them on and wow! I was honestly surprised by the difference. I was expecting a little increase in stiffness.
Good buy!

[slowbird]

I wish the front fit mine.

The Megan racing bars i have SUCK!

[Peyman]

Originally posted by slowbird
I wish the front fit mine.

The Megan racing bars i have SUCK!

so the rsm stb doesn't fit the 3400?

[slowbird]

Not 03.5+ 3400's.

The Alternator is in the way

[Peyman]

can anyone CONFIRM that the zspec STB fit the 99 grand am?

[bballr4567]

Go look at your alternator and if doesnt have the power wire connection on top then any STB will fit.

[DRMALIKIA]

Got mine last week. I am a bit worried though, as the front strut bar seems very close to the driver side firewall trimming. But I spent a whole two seconds dinking with it before I decided to get out of the heat. Here are some pictures, too bad you can't get this much detail off their website. I think it would really help their sales across their line up of products if they invested some time in, explaining the details.
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/25/zspecstbfrontrearbracespg6.jpg
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/563/zspecstbcloseupbracketsgn7.jpg
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/9240/zspecstbalternatorclosepq1.jpg
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1527/zspecstbwidththickness8fr4.jpg
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6734/zspecstbdamages800x600zn9.jpg


I am happy with the product compared to other STB I have seen for our cars, however, the finish leaves something to be desired. I know Z-Spec is a sponsor and helps support our community but, they should take greater car on the finish for these braces. Mine arrived pretty banged up and it wasn't from the shipping. Not a hughe ordeal but that means I have to take these and have the flaws worked out of them. Just irritating is all. I am going to wait until I can find a local machine shop that can engrave the center of of each bar with PONTIAC GRAND AM, or something lame, lol. Then, I need to find a shop to powdercoat them red to match the paint of the car. Pretty cool though, glad I finally decided to get them.

|)O(

[slowbird]

Hmmmm...I wonder if that alternator gap clears the Newer Alts?

Hey DRMALIKIA:

How much do they weight? Can you check or guess?

[bballr4567]

Matt the only reason they put the alt gap in there is for the newer style alts. The older ones can use a straight STB.

[slowbird]

Really eh?

Well...Z-Spec is about 5 minutes from my house...so maybe I'll go there and tell them I wanna test fit it before I buy it.

[bballr4567]

lol seems reasonable.

[ltpats]

Matt:
Please let me know if you get that test fit, I have been in constant e-mail contact with them and they keep telling me they need to find a 2004 to verify the fit, heck you might get a discount for your time. Thanks

[slowbird]

Originally posted by ltpats
Matt:
Please let me know if you get that test fit, I have been in constant e-mail contact with them and they keep telling me they need to find a 2004 to verify the fit, heck you might get a discount for your time. Thanks

I'll try and book something with them.

[Houndawg]

I have the RSM on my 05 3400. They fit fine.

[slowbird]

Originally posted by Houndawg
I have the RSM on my 05 3400. They fit fine.

Can you post pics of the clearance please?

[DRMALIKIA]

Originally posted by slowbird
Hmmmm...I wonder if that alternator gap clears the Newer Alts?

Hey DRMALIKIA:

How much do they weight? Can you check or guess?

Maybe 10 lbs.

[Houndawg]

Originally posted by slowbird
Can you post pics of the clearance please?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/houndawg/IMG_0491.jpg

[slowbird]

Originally posted by Houndawg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/houndawg/IMG_0491.jpg

That doesn't look like it clears at all.

Looks like that Power Terminal boot is touching the Bar.

[Houndawg]

Originally posted by slowbird
That doesn't look like it clears at all.

Looks like that Power Terminal boot is touching the Bar.

Nope

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/houndawg/IMG_0495.jpg

[slowbird]

oh...cool

[03graystone]

oh hell yeah i can finally get one of these!!! got some from ebay a while back, but that was the problem, it hit. sold it at a flea market and have yet to find one, but this one is the tits! im gettin one!

[DRMALIKIA]

Originally posted by Houndawg
Nope

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/houndawg/IMG_0495.jpg

When these are mounted, is the bar closer to the fire wall or it is closer to the front of the car if you are facing it?

[Houndawg]

It's right in front of the firewall. In the upper left corner of the picture you can see the weatherstripping on the cowl that seals the rear of the hood.

[hoobasta4]

sorry for asking, but these front AND rear braces will work for an '05 Grand Am GT correct? and are simple bolt on?

Hooby