Camber brace questions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Davison Michigan
Camber brace questions
I've read a lot of the post regarding the application of camber braces. They seem to be popular for improving agressive handling and sounds like maybe flex issue on coups with tops off.
I am concidering putting them on my 90 vert to stiffen it up. I'm not looking for a whole lot of improved handling but more of an improvement in the amount of shaking going on especially with my hood. The cost looks pretty reasonable so my questions are 1. how difficult of an install is it? and 2. will I notice any improvement with my hood shake?
Thanks
I am concidering putting them on my 90 vert to stiffen it up. I'm not looking for a whole lot of improved handling but more of an improvement in the amount of shaking going on especially with my hood. The cost looks pretty reasonable so my questions are 1. how difficult of an install is it? and 2. will I notice any improvement with my hood shake?
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
1. Easy to install. I had a helper and I got it on in about 15 minutes...the helper wasn't much of a help either! 
2. ??? Before I could drive it I had caliper problem that has kept me off the road.
2. ??? Before I could drive it I had caliper problem that has kept me off the road.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 68
From: Hewitt NJ
The Camber-Brace wont really help that much. R-D Racing makes a Cross-Frame that goes under the car to help witht he frame flexing. Your 'vert alrerady has a factory x-frame, but the R-D one is stronger.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Camber brace does almost nothing for cowl or body stiffness. Just improves handling and worsens ride. If roads in MI are anything like I've heard, you don't want one. Had to take mine off when I moved to PA to keep my fillings intact.
I don't have noticeable hood movement even on these crappy roads, so I'd say you have something out of whack that needs to be adjusted or repaired.
To improve body stiffness on a vert, the RDR cross-bar makes a world of difference (ties the seatbelt towers together).
I don't have noticeable hood movement even on these crappy roads, so I'd say you have something out of whack that needs to be adjusted or repaired.
To improve body stiffness on a vert, the RDR cross-bar makes a world of difference (ties the seatbelt towers together).
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,142
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
A cross-bar behind the seat will do more for chassis stiffness than the camber brace, it keeps the A-arm mounts from flexing in cornering.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 3
From: Port Orange FL
If you can fabricate or have a friend that can you can keep the costs way down to stiffen up that vette. I installed on my shaky old vert for exactly the reasons you are wanting:
1. My homemade version of the Cross Brace-total cost $15
2. Boxed in my factory X brace with heavy sheet metal-total cost $10
3. A used Camber brace I bought on the forum total cost $100
I felt like each and every item made an improvement on my car including the camber brace. Overall they have transformed it. The chassis is very solid now, and the car drives tight with very little flexing around.
My experience with the camber brace certainly did not worsen the ride. I guess it is possible if I had not braced the other areas of the car first that it could have had a different effect but that was not what occurred when I installed it on my car.
Roy
1. My homemade version of the Cross Brace-total cost $15
2. Boxed in my factory X brace with heavy sheet metal-total cost $10
3. A used Camber brace I bought on the forum total cost $100
I felt like each and every item made an improvement on my car including the camber brace. Overall they have transformed it. The chassis is very solid now, and the car drives tight with very little flexing around.
My experience with the camber brace certainly did not worsen the ride. I guess it is possible if I had not braced the other areas of the car first that it could have had a different effect but that was not what occurred when I installed it on my car.
Roy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 3
From: Clearwater FL
St. Jude Donor '06
I agree with the others above. I have the camber brace and it did nothing to improve cowl shake with the top off. It isn't designed to improve this. I mainly noticed the car feels more planted with higher G corners especially if they have bumps in them.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by MYCoupe
The Camber-Brace wont really help that much. R-D Racing makes a Cross-Frame that goes under the car to help witht he frame flexing. Your 'vert alrerady has a factory x-frame, but the R-D one is stronger.
Boxing in the factory brace should help some but adding a cross bar between the B-pillars will help.
I never noticed a lot of cowl shaking with my 92 vert. I had a factory hardtop and when that was installed, it made a tremendous difference in body stiffness and the all of the typical 'vert squeaks and rattles went away. The factory hardtop when properly installed makes the vert stiffer than a coupe.
If your hood is shaking, you may have some problem with adjustments. The locking pins adjust for length so you might try that. If you lower the hood slowly, will the pins sit on top of the locks witout latching? If they don't, the pin length may be too long or the locking latch spring is too weak.
There are also some rubber bumpers that can be adjusted to help keep the hood in place. They have a round top surface with a hex-nut molded below and threads in the body. They can be turned in and out to make adjustments.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: South Haven Michigan
I live in Michigan and put a camber brace on my 89 convertible and noticed a definite improvement in handling. Also it doesn't seem to track in the ruts on asphalt roads nearly as much as it used to. Piece of cake to install except on the driver side the bolt would not go in past the PS reservoir (I think it was that anyway, it's been a couple years), had to grind some off the bolt head (suggestion from Dave) and then it slipped in. Well worth the cost in my opinion.
I also installed the cross brace behind the seats a few days after and didn't notice much improvement.
I also installed the cross brace behind the seats a few days after and didn't notice much improvement.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
I installed a camber brace in mine. It did improve my suspension. I was looking into the cross bar. After reading your "customer satisfaction" comments I should go for it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Originally Posted by Mark_Sheehy
I live in Michigan and put a camber brace on my 89 convertible and noticed a definite improvement in handling. Also it doesn't seem to track in the ruts on asphalt roads nearly as much as it used to. Piece of cake to install except on the driver side the bolt would not go in past the PS reservoir (I think it was that anyway, it's been a couple years), had to grind some off the bolt head (suggestion from Dave) and then it slipped in. Well worth the cost in my opinion.
I also installed the cross brace behind the seats a few days after and didn't notice much improvement.
I also installed the cross brace behind the seats a few days after and didn't notice much improvement.
The way I got around it was leaving the passenger side of the brace unbolted and free. I put the nose of the bolt through the slot in the brace and then moved it into position with the bolt angled towards the rear of the car and on that, rearward, side of the pulley, you can then use the fact that the brace has a slot to do some finaggling and get the nose of the bolt to slide into and through the actual a-arm hole and then bolt it on.
At first I was having the same problems as you were however.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Davison Michigan
Thanks for the great input. Fast Max, nice work. I was thinking of doing something simmilar with my x brace to start with. Now I just need to find a good welder, or maybe this is my excuse to buy one and learn.
I'm gonna go with a camber brace too. I may not be pushing into the turns that hard but if it improves tracking on dished out roads that would be good. I have 285's on all four and have notice the tracking thing a lot on bad roads.
Like I said, the hood shaking or actually bouncing is my biggest annoyance. I'll get the car stiff then see what next to try with the hood. Its most noticeable right over the wheels, not really any motion near the windshield. I have adjusted the rubber bumpers just infront of the wheel. I'd say they are compressing about 1/4" when the hood is closed. Maybe I should raise them a bit more? But I will get it stiff first.
I'm gonna go with a camber brace too. I may not be pushing into the turns that hard but if it improves tracking on dished out roads that would be good. I have 285's on all four and have notice the tracking thing a lot on bad roads.
Like I said, the hood shaking or actually bouncing is my biggest annoyance. I'll get the car stiff then see what next to try with the hood. Its most noticeable right over the wheels, not really any motion near the windshield. I have adjusted the rubber bumpers just infront of the wheel. I'd say they are compressing about 1/4" when the hood is closed. Maybe I should raise them a bit more? But I will get it stiff first.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by MYCoupe
Your 'vert alrerady has a factory x-frame, but the R-D one is stronger.
Especially if you weld it solid in the center, after it has been fitted to the car. 
