[JSPONT]

I added these braces because I was told with the new power I am making it will help not rip the upper arms out of the mount area. I already had umi upper and lower arms. I like the look and they bolted in with no issues, fit great. I know factory 4 speed gm cars had brackets but not as pretty!

[chrisp]

Good upgrade .

[Chris65LeMans]

I went with the PMT Fabrications rear suspension kit for mine. (arms, sway bar, braces). My car was originally a 4 speed, but didn't have any braces when I got it - although that doesn't mean it never did. My front suspension is from UMI - I'm really happy with all of it.

[David Jones]

I can't say I've ever seen a set of the braces.
At what point do they become needed?
Are they a security thing only or do they offer a benefit you can feel in normal driving?
My rear uppers and lowers are BMR Fabrication. A quick look shows BMR offers the braces......a part I didn't know existed or was needed.

[69goatboy]

I think the control arm braces were used on MT cars. I believe there was a tendency of frame damage from hard launches. The damage would occur where the UCA would mount in the frame, I think.

I too have the BMR uppers (adjustable) and lowers, but I have the factory style control arm braces from PY.
The factory ones look like they were fabricated from thick flat bar stock instead of the tubular style the aftermarket companies usually make.

[b-man]

Any A-body car making decent power and especially stick cars should have those braces.

Frames were cracking at the rear crossmember so the factory started installing them on the stick cars.

Pretty much addresses one of the weak points of the A-body chassis, the very early cars were known for cracking in this area.

These braces are from Hotchkis.

[JSPONT]

Yes manual cars and high h.p. big block chevys got them.
Ther function is to stop the upper control arm mount points from ripping or breaking. Over time the upper control arms are "pulling" on the upper crossmember. It's like when you keep folding sheetmetal, it breaks after a while. It can help with wheel hop too.
It ties the upper xmember to the lower arm mount.
It does not effect driving at all. I have a TKO 600 and will be making about 750 H.P. this season so it was just insurance for me.

[David Jones]

Thanks guys.
Sounds like $130 well spent.

[Vol]

I just installed a set tonight. With UMI they should clear the floor pans as well with their unique bend.

[JSPONT]

Yes cleared the floor pan with no problem!

[David Jones]

B-Man's look to be straight and appear to clear easily. Is clearance an issue?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by David Jones

B-Man's look to be straight and appear to clear easily. Is clearance an issue?

I made my own for my Chevelle; they are straight and clear marginally.

Clearance should not be an issue if the part has a specific bend in it.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Here's what it looks like when it breaks.

K

[David Jones]

I ordered a set of BMR Fabrication braces last night. It's nice to be fairly close to Summit Racing's Georgia distribution center...they are out for delivery today. BMR's show no bend....if they don't clear they'll go back and I'll get a set of the UMI's. Since the rest of my stuff was BMR I thought I'd stay with them. Reading their instructions, there was no mention of possible clearance issues so we'll see.
I learn something new here on PY every day.

[goatless]

I have the Edelbrock braces on my '69. IIRC, they are straight. Installation was a breeze.

[JSPONT]

Originally Posted by David Jones

I ordered a set of BMR Fabrication braces last night. It's nice to be fairly close to Summit Racing's Georgia distribution center...they are out for delivery today. BMR's show no bend....if they don't clear they'll go back and I'll get a set of the UMI's. Since the rest of my stuff was BMR I thought I'd stay with them. Reading their instructions, there was no mention of possible clearance issues so we'll see.
I learn something new here on PY every day.

That's the only reason I posted, the guy who sets up my rear ends told me to make or buy a set, stick cars with decent power and sticky tires can hurt that upper x member. You can make a set out of flat stock. I just figured it was like insurance. We all should have them. Beats welding up a cross member!!

[HWYSTR455]

If the frame is square, the fixed braces work fine, fyi. There should be no reason to 'load' that area with adjustables.

Triangulation is key to ridged strength, hence the braces. Another good area to brace is the front lower rear control arm mount, both F and A bodies. But that can impact header fit with some.

In 1970, from what I understand, there was also a brace the 455 HO manual cars got that connects/reinforces the rear frame rails, across the ends. There's a pic of it in the assembly manual, but I've never seen one in person. If anyone has info on that, I would be interested.

.

[David Jones]

After 40+ years, IF is a huge word. I suspect the adjustability is taking that into account.
Like installing the uppers and lowers you loosely install the braces and then after the car is at ride height you tighten things down.

[george kujanski]

I bought a OEM-type set from PY years ago... no probs installing.

George

[David Jones]

This morning I jacked up the car for an install on the BMR braces. Before I did anything I noticed that my mufflers we're going to be pretty close to the required longer bolts. I removed the front lower control arm bolts, fed the longer one through and it contacted the muffler. The longer bolt would possibly fit coming in the other way but that would require dropping the rear of the exhaust system to feed the bolt in. My fear is that once installed that the mufflers would still contact the longer bolts during normal movement allowed by the rubber mounts. Spread the mufflers? The H pipe dictates they stay put. Soooooo, Summit is getting these back and I'll order a set of the OEM factory type braces which should work with the current bolts.