Topic: DDMWorks Cross Bay Brace

[kennysabarese]

I'm too cheap to have them install it just to stop from making a mess on my driveway

[DeepBlueGXP]

Shocks and springs will be a lot easier without the brace.

[Dave@DDMworks]

I'm too cheap to have them install it just to stop from making a mess on my driveway

just make sure to have the car up on jack stands and put something underneath to catch the fluid and you should be good. That is how we do it and nothing gets on the ground

Hope that helps,
Dave

[TomatoSoup]

just make sure to have the car up on jack stands and put something underneath to catch the fluid and you should be good. That is how we do it and nothing gets on the ground

Yeah, that's how I did it.  Nothing got on the ground, but I did get it over the chassis.  Sigh.

Anyway, given DBG's dig, I took a couple of photos of my PS reservoir tube routing (there's plenty of photos of the brace install already!).  This is definitely not the only way to route these, maybe not even the best way, but it's what I did, if it helps...

First, showing the new mounting bracket in place sandwiched between the fusebox bracket and the body bracket, using the original bolt and clip nut that was there.  I routed the tubes between the two arms of the fender bracket and then nice and snug between the inner arm and the wheelwell liner (arrow):

[attachment=1]

Next is taken from the inner (engine) side of the fusebox, showing the tubes, arrowed, coming out from the wheelwell area as noted above:

[attachment=2]

Lastly one taken from above showing the two tubes (smaller below and obscured by the larger) zip-tied back to the old reservoir bracket, away from the turbo (A).  Then the smaller tube is zip-tied to the shock tower (B) but protected from wear by a small cutoff of the smaller tube that's been slit down its length and pushed over the metal lip:

[attachment=3]

Tip: route the tubes first and make sure all is good, before attaching either end(s)  (Don't ask)

[Dave@DDMworks]

Yeah, that's how I did it.  Nothing got on the ground, but I did get it over the chassis.  Sigh.

Anyway, given DBG's dig, I took a couple of photos of my PS reservoir tube routing (there's plenty of photos of the brace install already!).  This is definitely not the only way to route these, maybe not even the best way, but it's what I did, if it helps...

First, showing the new mounting bracket in place sandwiched between the fusebox bracket and the body bracket, using the original bolt and clip nut that was there.  I routed the tubes between the two arms of the fender bracket and then nice and snug between the inner arm and the wheelwell liner (arrow):

[attachment=1]

Next is taken from the inner (engine) side of the fusebox, showing the tubes, arrowed, coming out from the wheelwell area as noted above:

[attachment=2]

Lastly one taken from above showing the two tubes (smaller below and obscured by the larger) zip-tied back to the old reservoir bracket, away from the turbo (A).  Then the smaller tube is zip-tied to the shock tower (B) but protected from wear by a small cutoff of the smaller tube that's been slit down its length and pushed over the metal lip:

[attachment=3]

Tip: route the tubes first and make sure all is good, before attaching either end(s)  (Don't ask)

Good little write up.

As an extra little help, when installing the kit, I always route the hoses back to where they are going to go, then install them onto the reservoir. At that point you can see how much you need to trim. I then mark the hose, remove the reservoir and trim the hose and re-install. Takes a couple extra minutes to do, but allows a really good fit on the hose length to make sure there is no kinking.

Hope that helps,
Dave

[TomatoSoup]

As an extra little help, when installing the kit, I always route the hoses back to where they are going to go, then install them onto the reservoir. At that point you can see how much you need to trim. I then mark the hose, remove the reservoir and trim the hose and re-install. Takes a couple extra minutes to do, but allows a really good fit on the hose length to make sure there is no kinking.

You bring up a good point there... The instructions don't say anything about trimming the hoses to length. 

I found that (at least the way I routed it) the bigger hose was just about perfect length and so I assumed you'd already cut them to correct length.  The smaller hose however was too long and I was a little worried I'd done something wrong   I ended up cutting 4-5 inches off - and could probably have taken a little more - but with the zip-ties, is wasn't banging around so I left it at that.

[Dave@DDMworks]

You bring up a good point there... The instructions don't say anything about trimming the hoses to length. 

I found that (at least the way I routed it) the bigger hose was just about perfect length and so I assumed you'd already cut them to correct length.  The smaller hose however was too long and I was a little worried I'd done something wrong   I ended up cutting 4-5 inches off - and could probably have taken a little more - but with the zip-ties, is wasn't banging around so I left it at that.

I will put it in the instructions that it is ok to cut the hose, always good to get feedback like that

Dave

[Critterman]

measure twice - cut once

[DeepBlueGXP]

Thanks TS

[1LILNDN]

I'm installing my new shocks and springs soon, should I put this off until then?

Kenny you should still be Honey-Mooning Not working on the Damn Car               

[kennysabarese]

We were there for a week. Back to work today.

[Helios]

One thing that was obvious though was the reduction in cowl shake.  

One thing that's been a bit annoying with my Stage 2 was the RPMs would drop low sometimes as if the car would stall. The car would shudder in response, but the RPMs would normally return to normal. The cross bay brace had reduced the shudder SIGNIFICANTLY. I still don't know why the RPMs behave this way. Hopefully, it will get better with my move to stage 3.

[kennysabarese]

I'm sure it's not supposed to do that, I would contact DDM about it.

[Helios]

I'm sure it's not supposed to do that, I would contact DDM about it.

They have looked at it on a few occasions. Nothing has ever been found. They tweeked the tune and it was better for a little while, but returned to the same condition a few months later.

[Night Hawk]

Another way of avoiding spilling PS fluid either on the chassis or the ground is to siphon the PS fluid out of the reservoir first and then disconnect the hoses. A lot less fluid drains out and can be easily absorbed by a rag just underneath the hose connections. I moved the PS resrevior over the battery this past weekend to get ready to install the brace. No mess, no spill.  Planning to install the brace later this week. Thanks for posting your suggestions on the brace install.

[GXPinKC]

Contact me earlier next week. We'll "get-r-done".

So yours is already red, perfect for spilling blood!

Thanks Bob for taking the time to install the Red Cross Bay Brace from DDMWorks today as well as the Solstice / Sky Power Steering Relocation Kit a few hours ago!  Great job and it was fun again getting together and discussing thngs Kappa.  

Sorry, that you had to spill a drop of Red Blood on you thumb.  Anyway, it was great fun for Carol and I to get to see you again and visit.  Extreme Kudo's my friend!!!!!!  Very Sweet Indeed does the Red DDMWorks Cross Bay Brace look under the hood, and we could feel the difference as we traveled back to Olathe, Kansas.  

[Uranium-238]

Sorry, that you had to spill a drop of Red Blood on you thumb.

Sorry Bob, just had to give you a hard time.

[snaponbob]

Sorry Bob, just had to give you a hard time.

Actually, skinned my knuckle above the fourth finger a tiny bit. If Ron had not told me, I probably would have missed it entirely. Only one tiny hiccup with the install of reservoir as the instructions called out a threaded insert of a 6mm bolt, but a flanged nut from my junk drawer took care of that. All went smoothly, and only needed 1.5 pints to top off the system. Fun install.

[Uranium-238]

Just sucks that we can't do it and stay B-SP legal.

[Go-N Def]

Actually, skinned my knuckle above the fourth finger a tiny bit. If Ron had not told me, I probably would have missed it entirely. Only one tiny hiccup with the install of reservoir as the instructions called out a threaded insert of a 6mm bolt, but a flanged nut from my junk drawer took care of that. All went smoothly, and only needed 1.5 pints to top off the system. Fun install.

Was that 1.5 pints of blood or power steering fluid? 

[Sly Bob]

I was thinking 1.5 pints of beer?   

[snaponbob]

Just sucks that we can't do it and stay B-SP legal.

Do what?

[Uranium-238]

Do what?

Use the power steering relocation kit.

[snaponbob]

Use the power steering relocation kit.

Thought so. FWIW, I have a brace installed and left the reservoir in the stock location. It IS a bit of a pain to do, but it CAN be done. The down sides are no access to the cap unless the cross piece is removed, and adjusting the right front shock is a headache. Given the "issues", the brace is STILL worth the limitations. If the P.S. is not leaking, I don't need to check the fluid very often, and I fashioned a tool for the adjuster. Since I have found the shock settings I want, the only time I need to play with the shocks is for concrete or asphalt.

So, there ya go. It CAN be done.

[smartin]

I was thinking 1.5 pints of beer?   

That's what I was thinking!