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UMI Red Mild Steel Shock Tower Brace for the 1993-2002 Camaro and Firebird
The fourth-generation F-body flexes across the front of the chassis when a stiff tire loads up, and that flex shows up as vague steering. This UMI brace links the left and right front shock towers with a single piece of 1-1/4 inch USA tubing and quarter-inch laser-cut mounting plates, finished in UMI red powder coat, and it also puts a physical guard between the towers when large tires are in the fenders.
Key Features
- Connects the front right and left shock towers so the front structure works as one piece.
- Improves handling and steering response on the 1993-2002 F-body chassis.
- Provides protection between the towers when the car is running large tires.
- Built from 1-1/4 inch USA tubing with 1/4 inch thick CNC laser-cut mounting plates.
- Weighs less than five pounds, so the bracing costs almost nothing in nose weight.
- Installs in 15 minutes or less with basic hand tools, reusing the factory shock tower nuts.
- Red powder coat over the welded steel assembly.
Fitment
| Vehicle | Years and restrictions |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Camaro | 1993-2002, every model year listed individually by UMI |
| Pontiac Firebird | 1993-2002, every model year listed individually by UMI |
UMI publishes one restriction on this brace: it does not fit V6 models, and it does not clear a FAST 102 intake manifold.
An exact-SKU retailer listing adds 1996-1997 SS cars to that exclusion list. That restriction does not appear in UMI's own fitment note, so treat it as secondary information and check the car before ordering if it is a 96-97 SS.
Specifications
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | UMI Performance |
| Manufacturer part number | 2005-R |
| Part type | Front shock tower brace, also called a strut tower brace |
| Material | Mild steel |
| Tubing | 1-1/4 inch USA tubing |
| Mounting plates | 1/4 inch thick, CNC laser cut |
| Finish and colour | Red powder coat |
| Adjustable | No |
| Part weight | Under 5 lbs |
| Sold as | Each |
| Direct bolt-on | Yes |
| Modifications required | None |
| Mounting hardware | Not included; the four factory shock tower nuts are reused |
| Published install time | 15 minutes or less |
| Chromoly equivalent | UMI part number 2006, 4 lbs, thin-wall 4130 TIG welded to the same 1/4 inch laser-cut brackets, same dimensions |
| Warranty | UMI warrants parts to be free of defect at the time of purchase; coverage is limited to replacement of the part and excludes labor, towing and other direct or indirect costs |
What's Included
- One red powder coated mild steel shock tower brace
- No mounting hardware; UMI's procedure reuses the four factory shock tower nuts and washers
About UMI Performance
UMI Performance manufactures in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania and states that its parts are 100 percent USA made from North American raw materials, with laser-cut plating, precision-bent DOM tubing and Tiger Dry Lac powder coating done in house. The same brace tools are used for its chromoly version, so the mild steel and chromoly parts share dimensions.
FAQ
Will this fit a V6 Camaro or Firebird?No. UMI publishes the brace as not fitting V6 models, so it is a V8 F-body part.
Does it clear a FAST 102 intake?No. UMI lists the FAST 102 intake manifold as an interference, alongside the V6 restriction.
Do I need to buy extra hardware?No. UMI ships the brace without hardware because the procedure reuses the four factory shock tower nuts and their washers.
What is the torque on the tower nuts?UMI's sheet calls for all four nuts at 32 ft-lbs.
Will the air conditioning need to be discharged?No. On older F-bodies the sheet has you remove a passenger-side A/C sensor that has a release valve, so no Freon is lost, and it goes back in at the end.
My car has an extra nut holding an A/C line bracket. Is that normal?Yes. UMI notes that newer F-body cars can have an additional nut on the passenger-side inner shock bolt retaining an A/C line bracket, and that nut has to come off during the install.
How heavy is the brace?UMI states the mild steel brace weighs less than five pounds. The chromoly version, part number 2006, is listed at four pounds.
What is the difference between this and the chromoly brace?Dimensions are the same. The 2006 chromoly version uses thin-wall 4130 tubing TIG welded to the same quarter-inch laser-cut brackets and saves about a pound.
Is any drilling or cutting required?No. UMI publishes this as a bolt-on using the existing shock tower studs, with no drilling, cutting or welding.
Anything to watch out for during the fit?Yes. The sheet warns to push the two brake lines slightly aside with caution when lowering the brace onto the second tower.
Installation Instructions
- Open the hood and locate the two shock tower nuts on each side, four in total.
- Remove all four nuts with a 15mm socket or wrench and save the nuts and washers for reuse.
- On newer F-body cars, remove the extra nut on the passenger-side inner shock bolt that retains the A/C line bracket.
- On older F-body cars, remove the passenger-side A/C sensor; it has a release valve, so no Freon escapes.
- Set the brace over the studs on one side, then lower it onto the other side, pushing the two brake lines slightly aside with caution.
- Reinstall the saved washers and nuts on all four studs.
- Torque all four nuts to 32 ft-lbs.
- Reinstall the A/C sensor if it was removed, and close the hood.
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