Removing Export Brace to get to the brake booster

[jowens1126]

I will shortly be adding a brake booster to my brake system, and It would be alot easier to work on without the export brace in the way.  It seems pretty easy to remove, just a few bolts, but I wanted to ask about the shock tower bolts.  2 or the 3 shock tower bolts have to be removed to get it off.  Do I need to do anything to support the suspension?  Or just pull it off and dont worry about it?  I just want to be sure before I go and work on it.

Thanks in advance

 

[Bentworker]

I will shortly be adding a brake booster to my brake system, and It would be alot easier to work on without the export brace in the way.  It seems pretty easy to remove, just a few bolts, but I wanted to ask about the shock tower bolts.  2 or the 3 shock tower bolts have to be removed to get it off.  Do I need to do anything to support the suspension?  Or just pull it off and dont worry about it?  I just want to be sure before I go and work on it.

Thanks in advance

Just pull it off and don't worry about it.

Unless you have coilovers, then take a closer look before you pull it apart.  Some of the coilover retrofit kits hang the car from the shock tower, so if you pulled the bolts without supporting the car it would be bad.

 

[jowens1126]

it is all stock, so I think I am good.

 

[Ron Tanzi]

The plate is just the upper shock mount with a stock suspension. No worries removing 2 of the 3 nuts. I remove the brace when I do the drivers side spark plugs.

Ron

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

As stated you can remove and not worry but do put it back it is very important part to keep the flex of the body to minimum. You do know putting PB on car is more than just the booster? Do a search many things have to change when doing the switch.

Also the brace is just a shock tower brace. The term "Export Brace" applies to the early mustangs. When they were exported they received a one piece brace that went from one shock tower to the cowl and to the other shock tower and was one continuous piece. Carol Shelby used the part on his Shelby Mustang to add more strength. Most think it was a Shelby thing but it was actually a Ford part for cars going like to Germany for the T-5 models.

David

 

[Stanglover]

I will shortly be adding a brake booster to my brake system, and It would be alot easier to work on without the export brace in the way.  It seems pretty easy to remove, just a few bolts, but I wanted to ask about the shock tower bolts.  2 or the 3 shock tower bolts have to be removed to get it off.  Do I need to do anything to support the suspension?  Or just pull it off and dont worry about it?  I just want to be sure before I go and work on it.

Thanks in advance

 Shock tower brace, no worries removing it. The bigger question is have you done your research into adding the booster to your car? It's not as easy as you might think, but very doable. Do not even think about those so-called aftermarket one-size-fits-all 8" dual diaphragm things, they simply won't fit if you're just trying to place it where the non power master cylinder fits, ask me how I know!

There has been much posted on changing or adding a factory style booster and I think you have posted on "how-to" before. I'll add one tip though, remove the steering column first. It's way easier to get to the brake pedal as it will have to be removed for the new push rod pin location, which is 2" lower than on non-power brake pedal arms.

Geoff.

 

[luxstang]

You may wanna lift the car up a little near the torque boxes so that it can stretch a little. That way you take the weight off the braces and they come off easier.

Think of it that way: the braces get squeezed in between the shock towers and the firewall as is their purpose. Lifting the car up behind the wheels relieves some of that pressure.

 

[SVO2SCJ]

I saw this 6 month old thread replied to today and thought "should I point that out?" OR follow with DID YOU FIGURE OUT THAT you needed a different pedal to do this swap?

Now that you guys are replying "like facebook posters that don't read the original post" _ I guess I'm too late! LOL

Mark

P.S. The IMPORTANT thing is I now look at 71-73Mustangs.com LIKE I used to with sites like Ebay. Remember when we rose and went to sleep by the auction times !!

 

[Ed Raver]

I went with a hydroboost on my 71. It was a bit complicated but it sure does work great. Ed