MagicMtnDan
FRF Addict
Ford F150 SHOXSpeed Strut Tower Brace
30 Minutes To A More Solid Suspension
From the April, 2010 issue of Off-Road
By Jason Gonderman
Sometimes sports car technology bleeds over into the off-road realm, and when it does it usually hits in a big way. Over the past several years the auto manufacturers have been switching things up and changing our beloved pickups from the tried-and-true coil spring and torsion bar to the new-to-trucks coilover or strut-type front suspension. This has been great as it has allowed us to more easily lift our late-model trucks. But when we lift a truck and add larger tires this adds weight, which forces the chassis to flex more, which in turn minimizes shock performance creating a harsh and unstable ride. There is a cure for this however, and it comes in the form of a strut tower brace.
Strut tower braces have been around for decades in the sports car and off-road racing world. Seeing the need, SHOXSpeed has developed a line of strut tower braces specifically for late model pickup trucks. Installed in less than 30 minutes the SHOXSpeed brace not only helps improve handling and steering response but also reduces chassis and body flex resulting in a smoother and more controlled ride.
The SHOXSpeed strut tower brace comes complete with all the necessary hardware, excellent instructions, and is powder coated with a high-temp coating in a classy high gloss black which looks great in any engine compartment.
SHOXSpeed Strut Tower Brace
The strut tower brace is comprised of three parts, the two outer strut brace brackets and the engine strut brace bar. The strut brace bar is connected to and isolated from the brackets by a polyurethane bushing. Isolating the bar from the brackets helps to prevent unwanted road noise from resonating into the cab.
The folks at SHOXSpeed have thought of everything. The strut tower brackets are notched out to clear the ABS signal wire, the stud mounting holes are slightly oversized to accommodate for any variation of lift kit, leveling kit, or even stock struts, and all the small details have been addressed such as providing a plastic sleeve to protect the radiator hose on F-150's from unwanted contact with the strut tower bracket.
To ensure long life after years of abuse, the SHOXSpeed brace comes with only the finest Grade 8 hardware and locking nuts and washers.
SHOXSpeed USA
619-656-3132
http://www.shoxspeed.com/
Notes:
1. I assume this will bolt on to the Raptor too but we'll have to check.
2. Other than esthetics, I'm not sure what value, if any, strut tower braces offer today's vehicles since they're typically so much more rigid than vehicles of years past.
3. Who's gonna be first?
30 Minutes To A More Solid Suspension
From the April, 2010 issue of Off-Road
By Jason Gonderman
Sometimes sports car technology bleeds over into the off-road realm, and when it does it usually hits in a big way. Over the past several years the auto manufacturers have been switching things up and changing our beloved pickups from the tried-and-true coil spring and torsion bar to the new-to-trucks coilover or strut-type front suspension. This has been great as it has allowed us to more easily lift our late-model trucks. But when we lift a truck and add larger tires this adds weight, which forces the chassis to flex more, which in turn minimizes shock performance creating a harsh and unstable ride. There is a cure for this however, and it comes in the form of a strut tower brace.
Strut tower braces have been around for decades in the sports car and off-road racing world. Seeing the need, SHOXSpeed has developed a line of strut tower braces specifically for late model pickup trucks. Installed in less than 30 minutes the SHOXSpeed brace not only helps improve handling and steering response but also reduces chassis and body flex resulting in a smoother and more controlled ride.
The SHOXSpeed strut tower brace comes complete with all the necessary hardware, excellent instructions, and is powder coated with a high-temp coating in a classy high gloss black which looks great in any engine compartment.
SHOXSpeed Strut Tower Brace
The strut tower brace is comprised of three parts, the two outer strut brace brackets and the engine strut brace bar. The strut brace bar is connected to and isolated from the brackets by a polyurethane bushing. Isolating the bar from the brackets helps to prevent unwanted road noise from resonating into the cab.
The folks at SHOXSpeed have thought of everything. The strut tower brackets are notched out to clear the ABS signal wire, the stud mounting holes are slightly oversized to accommodate for any variation of lift kit, leveling kit, or even stock struts, and all the small details have been addressed such as providing a plastic sleeve to protect the radiator hose on F-150's from unwanted contact with the strut tower bracket.
To ensure long life after years of abuse, the SHOXSpeed brace comes with only the finest Grade 8 hardware and locking nuts and washers.
SHOXSpeed USA
619-656-3132
http://www.shoxspeed.com/
Notes:
1. I assume this will bolt on to the Raptor too but we'll have to check.
2. Other than esthetics, I'm not sure what value, if any, strut tower braces offer today's vehicles since they're typically so much more rigid than vehicles of years past.
3. Who's gonna be first?
