Caldina: GTT Strut brace - Trying a workaround...

[Sick Puppy]

Does anyone know if a GTT Strut brace fit non-turbo models? I’m wondering specifically about the braces’ height to get over the intercooler when in a GTT– if I try to fit it to a non-turbo’d one, will it fit under the bonnet?
They have the same towers/ distance, just wondering about internal clearance is all.

I have done a search, and nothing comes up. Thanks!

[gt4dude]

Factory isn't it the same style as a Celica ? strut to firewall to strut but not strut to strut?

Anyways, all strut bars for celica GT4 fit regular celica, theres no bonnet or IC clearance issues at all. some people have this weird idea that the 3s-gte is a super tall motor even when tilted backwards, but they don't realise even with the intercooler on it still sits lower than the strut towers

Should be the same story with the GT-T

[1I1]

Nah Caldina is strut to strut

[Sick Puppy]

Factory isn't it the same style as a Celica ? strut to firewall to strut but not strut to strut?

Anyways, all strut bars for celica GT4 fit regular celica, theres no bonnet or IC clearance issues at all. some people have this weird idea that the 3s-gte is a super tall motor even when tilted backwards, but they don't realise even with the intercooler on it still sits lower than the strut towers

Should be the same story with the GT-T

Thanks for that!

Yeah, like 1I1 said, it's strut to strut, I've seen a TRD one that has both strut to strut and to the firewall, but I don't think I'd have picked that up for $20!

It looked like mine had one at some point, and it isn't there any more, but not for long!

[gt4dude]

Well the GE and GTE are roughly same height, one has an intake manifold curled over the top, the other has an intercooler on top.

The 3S-FE has a taller rocker cover, but still not taller than a 3S-G* with a cooler or manifold ontop

From what I can tell with the bonnets, the GT-T isn't really bulged much in the middle any more than the GT.

These same questions always come up on the Celica forums. Will the TRD 3-point brace clear the top mount intercooler? will it fit under an NA hood? will a 3s-gte swap with top mount w2a cooler clear the NA hood?

[Sick Puppy]

Well the GE and GTE are roughly same height, one has an intake manifold curled over the top, the other has an intercooler on top.

The 3S-FE has a taller rocker cover, but still not taller than a 3S-G* with a cooler or manifold ontop

From what I can tell with the bonnets, the GT-T isn't really bulged much in the middle any more than the GT.

These same questions always come up on the Celica forums. Will the TRD 3-point brace clear the top mount intercooler? will it fit under an NA hood? will a 3s-gte swap with top mount w2a cooler clear the NA hood?

I didn't even think to check 6gc.com, but then it's for a Caldina, and there aren't many of them in the states... and I haven't seen many Caldina GTT's up close anyhow... oh well, slowly but surely it's coming together...

[Sick Puppy]

Alrighty then, I purchased the brace in the end, cost me the princely sum of about $30 incl P & P! Yay! Got the brace in the post:


Ta-da!



Now, does anyone have any advice as to how the heck I fit this?! It seems to not fit… right now, I’m about 10mm out:



Also, what about the plastic mounts that are already on the towers?


Are they meant to be there for Caldinas without the brace, and do I remove them / replace them with the brace, or leave them as is? I'm thinking remove them...

I know there are two ways of installing braces, one is to undo the strut nuts and install while it’s on the ground, the other is to raise the car and take the load off of the struts. So, who's done this before then? As always, help for this n00b much appreciated - thanks!

[snwtoy]

Also, what about the plastic mounts that are already on the towers?



Are they meant to be there for Caldinas without the brace, and do I remove them / replace them with the brace, or leave them as is? I'm thinking remove them...

I know there are two ways of installing braces, one is to undo the strut nuts and install while it’s on the ground, the other is to raise the car and take the load off of the struts. So, who's done this before then? As always, help for this n00b much appreciated - thanks!

Can you take a pic of the whole top of the tower, slighly zoomed out? And re-upload the pic of the brace, as it's not showing here.

Cheers

[Sick Puppy]

Can you take a pic of the whole top of the tower, slighly zoomed out? And re-upload the pic of the brace, as it's not showing here.

Cheers

D'oh! No idea what happened there, they were right when I posted... Correcting now!

Here is a pic of the rough/test fit - haven't taken the nuts off or anything:



And by mounts, I don't mean the top caps, I mean the plastic C-shaped part attached to the tower by the strut nuts...

[snwtoy]

Hokay

For what it's worth, the brace looks identical to mine.

I've always removed and re-attached mine while at least one wheel was on the ground.

The rubber/plastic bits ... I don't have them. WTF could they be for? Lose them imo. They look like spacers so the nuts sit correctly when you do not have a brace.


I would jack the whole front up and see if you can fit it. 10mm of chasis flex is conceivable. You will need to go for an alignment after you fit it.

[Sick Puppy]

snwtoy, cheers for that, I was wondering if they were spacers. I'll have a crack at it this week, and see what happens. It's getting WoF'ed this week, so I can add an alignment to the mix too. Thanks!

[Bling]

10mm out is a bit weird. was that with it sitting perfectly over the bolts?

I'd just whip the 4 nuts off and see if it fits on while it's sitting on the ground.

[Sick Puppy]

[sigh] only I could take something simple and f*** it up...

BZGBling, you were right - the easiest job in the world... even got to use my socket set properly for the first time too!

But something somewhere is wrong... basically the brace does not measure up with the towers.


I thought I was 10mm out, well, actually it's 20mm, with my not so trusty tape measure a la Mitre 10:



Makes no difference whether I do it on the ground or jack it up at the middle underneath the engine. So, out of the myriad things that could have gone wrong, are:

1. Caldina GTT brace does not fit non-GTT caldinas - unlikely, given consensus here and 1I1 reckons so too. (having said that, can someone please measure the distance between the nuts on their towers please? A GTT and non-GTT would be very helpful here.)

2. My car is buggered - possible I guess, an ex-car dealer friend of mine doesn't like the steering, but I can't see any signs of accident damage. It is high mileage though, maybe chassis is getting old? Doubtful...

3. Brace is buggered - plausible, more so than no. 2. I have no idea about the history of the car it came off of, although there is no rippling or damaged paint. I suppose I could get it bent into shape, although that's gonna be a PITA to get it right...

4. I am the muppet to rule all muppets, and should just sell my tools, leave all the forums I'm part of, and stick to watching crap TV soaps with my missus.

Any suggestions anyone?

PS, It's not no. 4, that will result in a slow painful death for me! lol

[Dell'Orto]

Jack up one corner of the car, then try. Is definitely a ST2xx strut brace?

[Kiwi-Corolla]

I just measured the length between the two outer strut bolts on a 98' GT-T and the ones on the very far edge came to 1070mm in distance, and the ones closest to the front of the car came to 1067mm in distance. The measurements were taken from the centre of each stud (in darkness with a torch mind you, but I'm confident with my measurements). I didn't get to measure the distance between the last bolt as my helper disappeared (:roll:), but if those two match up with yours then the third measurement is irrelevant.

Here's a photo, as they tend to speak a million words:

[Sick Puppy]

Jack up one corner of the car, then try. Is definitely a ST2xx strut brace?

Will give it another crack tomorrow, jacking up one side. It's come off of a GTT or so I've been told, it looks exactly the same too.

I just measured the length between the two outer strut bolts on a 98' GT-T and the ones on the very far edge came to 1070mm in distance, and the ones closest to the front of the car came to 1067mm in distance. The measurements were taken from the centre of each stud (in darkness with a torch mind you, but I'm confident with my measurements).

Here's a photo, as they tend to speak a million words:

[Pics]

Your arrows are so much prettier than mine lol

Looks like it's the strut then... yours match my measurements roughly, although I measured the inside of the nuts. It's within coo-ee for me. There is a GTT at a wreckers I went to last week, I will go back and see if they still have the brace on it and compare.

Should be getting WoF sorted this week anyhow, will see about making this fit, somehow!

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Sweet. I just managed to measure the distance between the last two studs by the way (the ones closest to the engine) and they were 965mm apart.

[1I1]

Is it possible a bit of pressure and bending in the right places it'll form the right dimensions to fit?

[Anth_555]

i dont think jackin the car up to get the brace to go on is agood idea. the idea of a brace is to reduce movement not hold something in place. there realy is only to reasons why it wont fit. 1 its the wrong brace or 2 and most likly its bent

cars can flex alot. and to twist a car so much to get a brace to fit can only make more problems then good

[Dell'Orto]

True, but what about if its been bent that way, could be a sweet/rangi DIY chassis machine