Steeda Strut Tower Brace Won't Fit On Strut Tower Studs

[Party Rock]

I have a Base 2019 Mustang GT without the performance package. The Steeda Strut Tower Brace fits perfectly on the strut tower studs on the driver's side. On the passenger's side, the holes on the Strut Tower will line up and fit on only 3 strut tower studs. However, it will not fit on the strut stud that is closest to the front of the car. The opening in the hole gets caught on the threaded part of the strut tower stud. Please see pictures below.

Anyone have any ideas? Thank you in advance for your help!

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[MegaG]

Before modifying anything I would reach out to Steeda to say what they say about it though as I type this I realize you may have bought this used.

I'm assuming you haven't bolted down the opposite end yet, if you did loosen it and see if you can reposition it.

Otherwise, make sure the tower isn't bent, use some straight edges or something similar. You may be able to see it visually but it may be tough due to the angles in the design. If you need to take some off the mounting plate hole, it doesn't look like you need much, some elbow grease with a file or a specialized bit in a drill. Check Harbor Freight for something cheap for a one off job.

Oddly enough, I have a brand new Steeda strut tower sitting downstairs waiting for me to install it. I am adding the upper and lower K braces as well based on a thread I found here. My parts from Ford all arrived this week. I'm on vacation next week and will working on those items as well as all of my lighting upgrades (Diode Dynamics)

 

[1MEAN18]

You shouldn't have to modify the strut brace at all, if it doesn't fit, its bent somehow. Can you share better pics of both the brace and both towers please? I have this exact brace on an '18 base, bought it brand new, had zero issues with it.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I doubt that the strut tower brace is bent. Though it might be possible that either or both plates slipped relative to the lateral tube during fabrication, or build tolerances on the car itself plus STB tolerancing could have stacked up to produce the situation.

IOW, the problem could be on the supposedly "good side", where it's forcing the plate on the "bad side" to be out of position. Look at how that plate is mis-matched to the big hole in the strut tower.

I'd remove any nuts that have been installed and grind a little clearance on any hole where its stud is either touching or won't go. Take a little off of each rather than trying to get enough clearance from grinding only one hole. Try to get the best visual 'fit' between the STB's plates and the tops of the towers.


Norm

 

[Party Rock]

Before modifying anything I would reach out to Steeda to say what they say about it though as I type this I realize you may have bought this used.

I'm assuming you haven't bolted down the opposite end yet, if you did loosen it and see if you can reposition it.

Otherwise, make sure the tower isn't bent, use some straight edges or something similar. You may be able to see it visually but it may be tough due to the angles in the design. If you need to take some off the mounting plate hole, it doesn't look like you need much, some elbow grease with a file or a specialized bit in a drill. Check Harbor Freight for something cheap for a one off job.

Oddly enough, I have a brand new Steeda strut tower sitting downstairs waiting for me to install it. I am adding the upper and lower K braces as well based on a thread I found here. My parts from Ford all arrived this week. I'm on vacation next week and will working on those items as well as all of my lighting upgrades (Diode Dynamics)

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I bought this Steeda strut tower used. I didn't bolt down the opposite end yet. I tried repositioning it but it just wouldn't fit. I think the only fix here is to take some off the mounting plate hole like you mentioned. Any suggestions on what type of specialized bit that I should be looking for at Harbor Freight to grind out some of the metal?

You shouldn't have to modify the strut brace at all, if it doesn't fit, its bent somehow. Can you share better pics of both the brace and both towers please? I have this exact brace on an '18 base, bought it brand new, had zero issues with it.

I took some quick pictures this morning. Hopefully this is a little better. Drivers side fits good. Passenger side does not. I bought mine used though.

 

[Party Rock]

I doubt that the strut tower brace is bent. Though it might be possible that either or both plates slipped relative to the lateral tube during fabrication, or build tolerances on the car itself plus STB tolerancing could have stacked up to produce the situation.

IOW, the problem could be on the supposedly "good side", where it's forcing the plate on the "bad side" to be out of position. Look at how that plate is mis-matched to the big hole in the strut tower.

I'd remove any nuts that have been installed and grind a little clearance on any hole where its stud is either touching or won't go. Take a little off of each rather than trying to get enough clearance from grinding only one hole. Try to get the best visual 'fit' between the STB's plates and the tops of the towers.


Norm

Since I bought mine used, I'm guessing the plates may have been aligned out of it's original position from the factory over time from use on the previous owner's vehicle? I do like your suggestion about grinding a little clearance on any hole where the stud is either touching or won't go. Another poster suggested to use a specialized bit to grind off a little metal, I'm thinking something like this from Harbor Freight would work?

https://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-1-4-quarter-inch-shank-mounted-stone-set-94992.html

 

[Norm Peterson]

The driver side bolts fit, but the driver side plate isn't fitting up to the center of the tower very well, and that's at least part of the reason the passenger side isn't fitting at all.

How tight are the back bolts on the passenger side up against the sides of their holes in the STB plate?


Norm

 

[Norm Peterson]

Since I bought mine used, I'm guessing the plates may have been aligned out of it's original position from the factory over time from use on the previous owner's vehicle? I do like your suggestion about grinding a little clearance on any hole where the stud is either touching or won't go. Another poster suggested to use a specialized bit to grind off a little metal, I'm thinking something like this from Harbor Freight would work?

https://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-1-4-quarter-inch-shank-mounted-stone-set-94992.html

That could work, if there's one that's small enough and you have a die grinder. I'm not sure that a typical drill has enough rpm capability to get the surface speed of a stone up enough.

Consider using a round file. Brand new, maybe about the same diameter as the bolts that you're having to make fit, and of decent quality so it'll be sharp. It's not like any of the holes look like all that much material needs to be removed.


Norm

 

[DavisCustoms]

I had the exact same issue when I put the Steeda Strut brace on my 19 Eco non-pp. Driver side was perfect, but on the Passenger side 3 studs were roughly 1/64" to 1/4" off.
Steeda requested I send the bar back for replacement (which I appreciated the offer) but since it was already in hand, I just used a drill press to slightly widen 3 of the holes.
Their stuff is top notch and it was probably just a fluke during batch manufacturing.

Also, I noticed your is also a 19 non-pp, maybe Ford tweaked the placement on one of the welded Passenger side brace studs on the 19 possibly? (which would make 3 of the 8 holes not line up...) which I would be more inclined to believe since every part i've ordered from Steeda since 2007 has been perfect within reason.

This is what I sent Steeda during our conversation.

 

[Party Rock]

The driver side bolts fit, but the driver side plate isn't fitting up to the center of the tower very well, and that's at least part of the reason the passenger side isn't fitting at all.

How tight are the back bolts on the passenger side up against the sides of their holes in the STB plate?


Norm

The back bolts on the passenger side are lined up in the center of the hole in the STB plate.

That could work, if there's one that's small enough and you have a die grinder. I'm not sure that a typical drill has enough rpm capability to get the surface speed of a stone up enough.

Consider using a round file. Brand new, maybe about the same diameter as the bolts that you're having to make fit, and of decent quality so it'll be sharp. It's not like any of the holes look like all that much material needs to be removed.


Norm

I'll look into using a round file. Thank you so much for your help! I appreciate it!

 

[Wolvee]

I'm not trying insult you by asking this but do you have the vehicle jacked up on one side or maybe have a low tire or spot where you're parked? Not everyone understands flex so I just want to throw it out there.

 

[Party Rock]

I had the exact same issue when I put the Steeda Strut brace on my 19 Eco non-pp. Driver side was perfect, but on the Passenger side 3 studs were roughly 1/64" to 1/4" off.
Steeda requested I send the bar back for replacement (which I appreciated the offer) but since it was already in hand, I just used a drill press to slightly widen 3 of the holes.
Their stuff is top notch and it was probably just a fluke during batch manufacturing.

Also, I noticed your is also a 19 non-pp, maybe Ford tweaked the placement on one of the welded Passenger side brace studs on the 19 possibly? (which would make 3 of the 8 holes not line up...) which I would be more inclined to believe since every part i've ordered from Steeda since 2007 has been perfect within reason.

This is what I sent Steeda during our conversation.

Thank you for attaching what you sent to Steeda. I guy I bought the Steeda strut brace from had a 15-17 Ecoboost non-pp. I was thinking the same thing last night about what you said regarding Ford tweaking one of the welded Passenger side brace studs for the 2019.

 

[DavisCustoms]

I'm not trying insult you by asking this but do you have the vehicle jacked up on one side or maybe have a low tire or spot where you're parked? Not everyone understands flex so I just want to throw it out there.

In my case.... car was flat one all 4 tires in the garage, and the car only had 700 miles on it.

 

[DavisCustoms]

Thank you for attaching what you sent to Steeda. I guy I bought the Steeda strut brace from had a 15-17 Ecoboost non-pp. I was thinking the same thing last night about what you said regarding Ford tweaking one of the welded Passenger side brace studs for the 2019.

it's the only thing that really makes sense... if the rearward pass side strut stud was bumped rearward by 1/4" while is was being welded by Ford, it would throw off the other 3 holes in the brace.

 

[petah50]

I installed on on my 19 base GT. It was a little tight, but fit well. Just give it a slight nudge with a rubber mallet.

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