Removing Cowl/Wipers For Factory STB Install

[Canuckican]

Canuckican, this is where the confusion on this install comes from, and why you get so many different responses. If you read the thread, this thread is not about installing the actual strut tower brace, and black, metal k brace. This is about installing the third bracket that comes from the factory on PP cars, and cars that come from the factory with 20 inch wheels. This brace does not come with any of the kits that are sold by vendors. This is not a part that you installed, hence why you didn't have to mess with the wiper arms.

On another note, I am waiting on my hardware to come from my local Ford dealership today. With any luck it's right, and I can get the correct part numbers for the hardware listed so we can put this one to bed

Oh and so I can finish up my own install as well ha ha.

Shawn

You're right. I conflated the braces. However, now this means I need to buy another piece too!

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[Shawn 94 GT]

Yeah, I figured Ford had to put it there for a reason. Install is not really that bad, there was just a lot of conflicting information on that brace.

 

[Shawn 94 GT]

Ok, the W715135-S450B is not he right nut for the studs on the shock tower. It's close but the thread pitch is different. I contacted my local Ford dealership to order the correct nuts according to what they looked up. The Ford dealership I dealt with was awful, and they sent me W520215-S440, which are huge, and don't seem to fit anything in the entire engine bay. Does anyone know the correct part number for the nuts that attach the actual brace to the strut towers?

Thanks,
Shawn

 

[Shawn 94 GT]

It was a crappy, freezing rain kinda day here in SC, so I figured it would be a good time to finish this up. I've got it all done except for the two missing strut tower nuts that I've still got to figure out. W712334-S442 are supposed to be the correct ones, and apparently the Ford parts diagram has the wrong nut listed for this application. I will be ordering these tomorrow, and see if they work. I will be posting here if they do so all the info will be in one thread.

 

[dguzzi]

Don't feel bad, I'm waiting on the nuts too!

 

[plc268]

Canuckican, this is where the confusion on this install comes from, and why you get so many different responses. If you read the thread, this thread is not about installing the actual strut tower brace, and black, metal k brace. This is about installing the third bracket that comes from the factory on PP cars, and cars that come from the factory with 20 inch wheels. This brace does not come with any of the kits that are sold by vendors. This is not a part that you installed, hence why you didn't have to mess with the wiper arms.

On another note, I am waiting on my hardware to come from my local Ford dealership today. With any luck it's right, and I can get the correct part numbers for the hardware listed so we can put this one to bed

Oh and so I can finish up my own install as well ha ha.

Shawn

It's been a while since I've done, but I installed the k-brace, but I didn't need to remove the windshield wiper. Well, I did anyway, but I couldn't figure out how to get the cowl off without breaking anything. :headbonk:

So I put the wipers back on and proceeded to install the k-brace. I remember it being a tight fit, and used a ratcheting wrench on most of the nuts.

 

[Shawn 94 GT]

Just for clarification again, this thread is not so much about the install of the K brace itself. It's about the install of the third bracket that ties the K brace to the firewall, hence the wiper arm removal. I still have no idea how to get the cowl off completely. It's either attached using some kind of very strong adhesive, or some strong clips. I pulled around on it pretty forcefully, and it never even gave a hint of coming lose.

 

[5.0_SD]

Sending you a PM

 

[plc268]

Just for clarification again, this thread is not so much about the install of the K brace itself. It's about the install of the third bracket that ties the K brace to the firewall, hence the wiper arm removal. I still have no idea how to get the cowl off completely. It's either attached using some kind of very strong adhesive, or some strong clips. I pulled around on it pretty forcefully, and it never even gave a hint of coming lose.

Fair enough, I read through everything and was still confused. :doh: I get what you're saying now though.

What's the part number on that third brace to the firewall? Never knew that existed, and I can't seem to find it while browsing ford parts.

 

[Rod Schneider]

I've had my cowl panel off--there is no adhesive, but there is a push in retainer at each end where the plastic panel meets the fender. They can be carefully pulled out using a small flat head screwdriver to depress the tabs. On my car (16 ecoboost) I ended up removing the battery box to allow the plastic cowl to move forward enough to disengage the tabs that hook under the windshield. At that point it lifted right off........

 

[Shawn 94 GT]

5.0 SD, thank you for that PM. It does look like once you have all the clips out that it pulls fowards towards the front of the car to release. Either way that thing seems to be firmly attached, even after you remove all the clips.

At this point you shouldn't have to actually remove the cowl unless you need windshield replacement, or have a problem with the wiper mechanism itself. This job is totally doable with just pulling the passenger side wiper arm off

I spoke with a different Ford dealership yesterday, and they were much more helpful. It looks like the correct part #for the STB attaching nuts is W712334-S440. I should have these in today, and will post if they are the correct ones.

plc268, I will see if I can find the part # for the third brace. I had it wrote down somewhere, but can't find it now. It should be included in this thread.

 

[Shawn 94 GT]

Ok everyone, this install is in the bag. Nuts came in from Ford today, and they are the correct ones. The part number for these nuts is W712334-S440. I will include this in my original post

Just to have all the info in one thread the part number for the third bracket that attaches to the firewall is FR3Z-63016A52-A. I will also be putting this in the first post.

Now to move on to the undercar braces from the performance package. I am told this is only one bracket and a aero deflector so hopefully it won't be as complicated as this one is.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Shawn

 

[Rash]

Would I be wasting my time installing the third brace without the K-brace or strut tower brace? I bought my '18 with stock 18" wheels but upgraded to 20", so I don't have the third brace from factory - would like to add it. I plan to add the k-brace and strut tower brace later, but if it would be easier to do all three at once I will. Just don't have the $$ for all three right now so thought I'd do the third brace first, but if it's pointless without the other two I'll wait.

 

[BmacIL]

Would I be wasting my time installing the third brace without the K-brace or strut tower brace? I bought my '18 with stock 18" wheels but upgraded to 20", so I don't have the third brace from factory - would like to add it. I plan to add the k-brace and strut tower brace later, but if it would be easier to do all three at once I will. Just don't have the $$ for all three right now so thought I'd do the third brace first, but if it's pointless without the other two I'll wait.

It's not pointless but it definitely completes the package significantly and you'd be taking the other two off to do the firewall brace anyway. I'd wait to do the installation till you have all three.

 

[Shawn 94 GT]

Pretty Much what Bmac said. In my opinion, if your going to install the K brace and the strut bar, the third bracket really completes the package. The metal where the third bracket goes is just really thin sheet metal. That bracket really solidifies the firewall mounting area. If you want to go ahead and install the third bracket, it certainly is not gonna hurt anything. I installed it first, so when you get K brace and strut bar, you will already have the hardest part done.

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