2004 Grand Am Strut Braces
#1
01-02-2016, 05:32 PM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,156
2004 Grand Am Strut Braces
So I wanted a front and rear strut brace for my '04 Grand Am GT. The "cheap" braces for the N-body cars are about $100 shipped and they look really cheap. I've had a welder for a while and I have yet to use it, so I figured this would be a good/cheap project to do and see if I can make better braces.
I grabbed a couple 90's H-body (Bonneville/LeSabre cars) braces for the bar steel and something to start with.
I made card board templates (went through 2-3 revisions before they got moved to metal).
I cut the end pieces of the H-body braces (leaving a bit of a "duck bill") and welded my end pieces to the duck bills. On the front brace, I regret I cut the duck bill so short and welded a piece back in (it was a last minute design change).
The steel I used is 1/8 inch thick (it's the same thickness as the H-body brace steel). I was tempted to go a little thicker, but I was concerned with the limited amount of threads on the front studs. The back I had plenty of room. If I did this over again, I would probably consider slightly thicker steel for my end pieces.
This has been in progress for weeks/months. Today I finally mounted them to the car (yet to go for a ride). Due to cold temps, I cannot paint them until spring (but I can drive with them). It ran me about $30 to make and was a great project to get experience with my welder.
I grabbed a couple 90's H-body (Bonneville/LeSabre cars) braces for the bar steel and something to start with.
I made card board templates (went through 2-3 revisions before they got moved to metal).
I cut the end pieces of the H-body braces (leaving a bit of a "duck bill") and welded my end pieces to the duck bills. On the front brace, I regret I cut the duck bill so short and welded a piece back in (it was a last minute design change).
The steel I used is 1/8 inch thick (it's the same thickness as the H-body brace steel). I was tempted to go a little thicker, but I was concerned with the limited amount of threads on the front studs. The back I had plenty of room. If I did this over again, I would probably consider slightly thicker steel for my end pieces.
This has been in progress for weeks/months. Today I finally mounted them to the car (yet to go for a ride). Due to cold temps, I cannot paint them until spring (but I can drive with them). It ran me about $30 to make and was a great project to get experience with my welder.
Last edited by The_Maniac; 01-02-2016 at 05:38 PM.
#2
01-02-2016, 06:41 PM
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Brockville Ontario
Posts: 3,052
Wow Jason, they turned out pretty nice 
for the price you are well ahead. They will definitely look great when painted, although the ends turned out pretty nice, well at least in the pics. I have been curious how my ride would change if I added the rear strut tower brace as I only have the front one at the moment
for the price you are well ahead. They will definitely look great when painted, although the ends turned out pretty nice, well at least in the pics. I have been curious how my ride would change if I added the rear strut tower brace as I only have the front one at the moment
#3
01-02-2016, 07:52 PM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,156
I have yet to push my Grand Am with these newly fabbed braces (that will be coming lol). But I have ZZP braces in the front and rear of my Monte. I feel they help tighten the handling on the car. The ZZP braces are the "cheapest" w-body braces (and I had to widen a couple mounting holes in the braces), but I got a Black Friday deal on them, and was completely worth getting in my book.