I am getting my Pfadt brace in Monday and would like to know if there are any tricks to installing it? Do I have to drop the rear cradle or just jack up the transmission, I looked for a writeup on it but could not find anything so if anyone has a link that would be very much appreciated.

 

Its easier if you do both. The cradle just needs to be lowered slightly.

 

I guess the bolts are fairly obvious to see? And am I going to need to use any lock tight for the cradle bolts or any other bolts?
And I dont have a 2002 shop manual but I have a 97 and I know they are a little different but will it work for the torque specks I need or what?

 

torque specs should be the same, blue loctite is your friend

 

Yea I was thinking they were the same but wasnt sure since the abs module was moved from the rear cradle to under the hood.
And you dont happen to know how many bolts hold the rear cradle up do you, I think Ive hear four but I cant remember. I guess thats all I have to mess with and dont have to worry about any suspension parts.

 

four on the cradle, 2 on the brace

 

I just installed my Pfadt transmission brace with an ls7 clutch upgrade on my 2003 Z06 and now feel a vibration from about 1700 rpm to about 5000 rpm is this normal? is the Pfadt brace transmitting the drive line vibration? this vibration can be felt revving the engine in neutral sitting still or driving. It feels like the clutch is out of balance when you rev the engine up.

Pete

 

From what I understand is that the Gm factory clutches were not balanced the best and that is what you are feeling. I know one guy went and had his balanced and the vibration went away.

 

Thanks, I didnt want to get in there and wonder why things wernt moving just to find out there was a hidden bolt or something. Ive done that a few times when changing out water pumps...

 

I read somewhere that the brace does transmit a vibration in the lower rpm. I will be ordering one soon and I've been trying to research about it first.

 

I will let you know as I am about to go out and finish up the install right now and take it for a test drive.

 

If you can, take some pictures for us of the install process, Not too many threads on that lurking around

 

Yea I meant to but since I dont have am 11/16 deep dish socket I was using just a regular wrench to remove the cradle bolts and was getting tired and frustrated. I do have some pictures of what I took out and the brace sitting right beside of it and one of the brace installed. There really isnt all that much to document because it's only two bolts and six nuts that you have to remove. I did have one problem though, the cradle would not drop for me so I had to lower the transmission and differential onto it so that I could jam some screwdrivers between it and the frame. I definitely did not have much clearance to put in the new brace and had to work on that for quite some time just to get it into place. If I was able to get the cradle just a little bit lower it would have gone a lot faster, oh well.
Other than my lack of proper tools and not being able to get the cradle down very far I am very pleased with the results. Not only did it almost eliminate my wheel hop, given it is in the 40's and I have summer tires, the back end just feels better along with clutch engagement and throttle feel. I do still get a little wheel hop going into second but I was also trying to spin them so.... and also very slight when Im sitting still. I did not notice any vibrations at all, in fact it almost seemed smoother but I did get a slight harmonic at 1,100 rpm in 5th and 6th it was nothing anyone would notice that just got in the car with me but it was not there before.
So all in all I am very pleased with it and it did everything I wanted and more.

 

Nice! glad to hear some feedback man

I've been looking for some threads on a pfadt motor mount install and cant find anything, may just start a thread in this section on " how to"

 

......or buy a service manual.

 

Hahah yea true, Ok be honest.... are REALLY that helpful? Like Cam install?Heads? Pinning the Crank or w.e?

I normally just go out and do it but my friend said I'd probably have to take my engine out? I dont know how much I believe that, but on the other hand, it may explain why there is not many threads on it.

But good tip, Makes me look very stupid
and 10k+ in posts is hard to not listen to

 

motormount install is a cake walk. 18mm nuts. do one side at a time. remove nuts, lift motor replace and redo.

 

Did your car shake more when you revved it?

 

i little more noticeable

 

Little? aww man lol thanks for the info though