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I brought my car in to work today to install my new 18s and line it up after installing my VanSteel coilovers in the front. Unfortunately while I was under it, I found my VBP strut rod has a huge stress crack! I'm planning on gutting the rear next winter to rebuild the rear end and do Vansteel coilovers back there, but in the meantime I need to fix this so I can get back on the road.
Obviously VBP is out of business, so I can't go to them. I know Vansteel has these brackets, but does anyone know if their bracket will fit the VBP strut rods? Are the strut rods a standard size? I'd rather replace only the bracket if possible... It'll be much faster, and I don't want to waste time /money when I'm going to be gutting it in a few months.
I appreciate any advice!
Here's the damage :
On the bright side, I love the jump from 15" Torq Thrust to 18". They came out great, however I had one wheel that was showing a ton of roadforce. I managed to get it down to a somewhat reasonable level, but I think it may be a bad rim. I may have to try to get it replaced, not sure how much luck I'll have with that though.
How about taking it off bending it straight and welding in some reinforcement steel as a fix until you replace it all. Seems that would be cheap enough if you have a welder. Even if you don't it should be cheap enough. Don't know how that would compare to the cost of replacing it as melwff suggested.
How about taking it off bending it straight and welding in some reinforcement steel as a fix until you replace it all. Seems that would be cheap enough if you have a welder. Even if you don't it should be cheap enough. Don't know how that would compare to the cost of replacing it as melwff suggested.
That's not a bad idea. Vansteel's bracket is $99 I think, so if that would fit it'd probably be worth just getting that. I think I'll be able to reuse this strut rod setup with the coilovers anyways.
You need a plate to back that bracket up. Too much stress the way it is.
I just talked to a buddy of mine who is a welder and does custom fab. He said I can drop it to him and he'll repair and reinforce it.
Does anybody know the removal process for just the bracket? Can I just disconnect the strut rods and drop the bracket? Should the car be up in the air, or can I do it on the ground?
It will be easier up in the air so you can get to it..But yes, just remove the bolts for the strut rods, then the 4 that hold the bracket to the housing. Pay attention to which way the braket is on the housing- mine are not square and the bracket only fits one way. And as usual, if it's not correct, only the last bolt won't go in..
... I found my VBP strut rod has a huge stress crack! I'm planning on gutting the rear next winter to rebuild the rear end and do Vansteel coilovers back there, ...
Here's the damage :
Sure not a good advertisement for VBP even if they are no longer in business...
i was thinking "gee. i wonder why they went out of business..." put a plate between the bracket and the diff and it will have nowhere to bend to. OEM. ebay. 40 bucks. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-GM...8AAOSwylhcCoE- yours is batwing?
Last edited by derekderek; Jun 28, 2020 at 07:58 AM.
It will be easier up in the air so you can get to it..But yes, just remove the bolts for the strut rods, then the 4 that hold the bracket to the housing. Pay attention to which way the braket is on the housing- mine are not square and the bracket only fits one way. And as usual, if it's not correct, only the last bolt won't go in..
Thanks Tim. I wasn't sure how much the strut rods actually supported the wheels and if they could just be removed without supporting the wheels. Sounds like it's straightforward like I was thinking.
Originally Posted by nwav8tor
Sure not a good advertisement for VBP even if they are no longer in business...
Paul
Not at all. I also just had one of my calipers from them fail after 4yrs. I opened it up and found it was leaking at the seam between the two halves because it had been poorly machined during the rebuild.
Originally Posted by derekderek
i was thinking "gee. i wonder why they went out of business..." put a plate between the bracket and the diff and it will have nowhere to bend to. OEM. ebay. 40 bucks. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-GM...8AAOSwylhcCoE- yours is batwing?
Mine was a batwing. I converted to a pre 80 rear-end setup a few years back for added strength.
That's what I would have done. And box it while I was at it. Even if you have some concern about weight boxing it in would be a good idea. Drill a couple of holes with a holesaw in the bottom for access to those bolts and you'd have a better than new product.
Originally Posted by REELAV8R
How about taking it off bending it straight and welding in some reinforcement steel as a fix until you replace it all. Seems that would be cheap enough if you have a welder. Even if you don't it should be cheap enough. Don't know how that would compare to the cost of replacing it as melwff suggested.
That's what I would have done. And box it while I was at it. Even if you have some concern about weight boxing it in would be a good idea. Drill a couple of holes with a holesaw in the bottom for access to those bolts and you'd have a better than new product.
Good idea. I'm pulling it out today or tomorrow and dropping it to my buddy to weld...I'm mid-move and my welder is deep inside my moving POD at their storage facility! I asked him to repair and reinforce it, I'll mention what you said about boxing it in.
So I guess my main question was will the aftermarket VBP strut rods fit in other brackets... IE are the strut rod end diameters universal? Based on the responses that a factory bracket would work, I'm guessing they are?
I'm in Burlington. You have a used stock bracket? Are there any downsides to using the stock vs aftermarket? Does the stock have the same adjustability with the concentric bolts? Also, I'm not sure the VBP strut rods will fit in the stock bracket, although the consensus seems to be they will
Originally Posted by derekderek
you r&r the bracket whether reinstall fixed one or replace it is gonna affect the rear wheel alignment.
Yeah I had planned on doing a 4 wheel alignment after doing the wheels/tires, because I just did the front coilovers, but then found the crack. I still plan on doing a real thorough 4 wheel alignment once I fix the bracket.
Broken strut rod bracket
