Hiboost

When I had one bolt out and was attempting to install, it didn't look like the bolt holes would line up and the bolts don't fit in the brace's holes perfectly... I was thinking that this brace was suppose to aid in any side to side movement of the control arms...

CrazyAl

The brace is supposed to reduce the flexing of the body and K-member. Basically, it prevents it from "pinching together" or "spreading apart" depending on the loading your car is experiencing at that time.

At least on my car, it was a perfect bolt-on fit. The only problem I could see, is how did you jack up your car to get under there? If you had the car on ramps or if you put jackstands underneath the control arms, then the weight of the car would be loading the suspension at the time of install, in which case the flex might be enough to prevent installing the brace.

I jacked up the car and placed my jackstands under the very rearmost part of the K-member. There's 2 bolts at that spot where the K-member bolts to the unibody. I put the jackstands right there. When the car is supported like this, there is no load on the front suspension.

classj

Is the brace actually on factory convertible Gt's? If so that makes alot of sense and will be on my to do list when I do the first oil change.

CrazyAl

I think that a very similar part is OEM on the convertibles.

The directions that I had with my Dynatech headers state to remove such before working on the headers, and then goes on to say "convertibles only". So, according to those directions at least, such a part is factory on the convertibles. If so, someone should be able to look up the Ford part number, I'm sure.

BMR makes one of these as well. They're quite inexpensive.

classj

A ford part number and verification would be cool.

On one Gt-500 spec sheet I read they mentioned control arm tie brace or something. I guess they could mean front or rear?