Function: The Steering Brace (also known as the Wonderbar) performs two functions. First, it ties the left and right sides of the frame together under the front of the car, which maintains the correct geometry of the pitman arm and idler arm during cornering. You can think of it as a Strut Tower Brace (STB) for the bottom of the car. It actually improves the handling of the car more than a STB does. Second, the Steering Brace strengthens the chassis and takes stress off of the steering gear box mount. It is common in ThirdGen F-Bodies for fatigue and stress cracks to form around the steering gear box mounting location.
The brace has been re-designed and improved to fit all years of F-Body. Some early model year 1982 Camaro and Firebird had sway bar mounting brackets with a straight bolt pattern. This was changed mid-year to the offset bolt pattern that was used through 1992. Previously those of you with a 1982 F-body would either have to modify one of the mounting holes per side (which TDS never recommended) or be disappointed and return the product. TDS 105021 Steering Brace is the first and only one available that is designed to fit all years of the F-Body (Excluding the 89 TTA). Another important change is that the mounting pads now attach with three bolts per side, rather than the two all other versions of aftermarket Steering Brace use.
What does this mean? The existing designs of Steering Brace, (including our original version), mount between the sway bar mount and a bracket that is bolted to the frame. The TDS version includes a third mounting hole that takes advantage of another threaded hole allowing the brace to be bolted it directly into the frame itself. So it no longer relies solely on the strength of that bolted-in bracket.
Construction: Laser-cut mounting pads are constructed from 10 gauge (.130" thick) HRPO (hot-rolled pickled & oiled) steel. Cross bar is 1" diameter x .120" wall HREW (hot-rolled extrusion welded) tubing. MIG welded, then powder-coated or plated.
Finish: Available in two colors of Powder-Coated paint. Powder-coated in "Gloss Red" or, for those that wish to retain a stock appearance, Powder-coated "Satin Black". Also, available in un-coated (bare steel) so you can have it powder-coated yourself in whatever color you desire.
Order new bolts TDS p/n 500250 if yours are badly rusted.
This brace weighs 3.7 lbs, for comparison GM's wonderbar weighs 3 lbs.
Note: This item will need to ship via regular Priority Mail or UPS. It will not fit in any of the Priority Mail flat-rate boxes. Please select Priority Mail or UPS when checking out for the correct S&H rate for this item. Also, shipping weight/cost is based on dimensions of packaging. Depending on your ship-to address, your actual shipping cost could be significantly lower than the estimate and if so, we will adjust final payment accordingly.
Steering Brace (aka Wonderbar) for 82-92 Camaro or Firebird
- Brand: TDS
- Product Code: 105021
- Availability: In Stock
-
$68.00