TreeFiddy

They are more about crack prevention, rather than cure. That said, once I had my cracked frame welded up, I added a beefy home-made bar and noticed an immediate difference even after the welding fix.

91 1LE

iTrader: (1)

I agreed with what you said the first time. I just assume they forgot to install it at the factory. Maybe they had strike related supply issues like they did with the rear disc brakes that year.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

That would really be a shame! I think it's such an important part, without it the frame would crack from hard cornering.

I'm curious, with a rack and pinion, I guess the wonderbar is no longer needed then? You could remove the wonderbar to remove weight, and also have the benefit of rack and pinion which is also lighter and better feeling than a steering box (I think it's lighter?) I assume the frame wouldn't crack because the stress from hard cornering steering is now put on the k-member instead?

Time2Fly

Ditto. My 91 1LE has never seen a wonder bar either.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

OK, Top-Down Solutions new and improved web site is FINALLY up and running. Thanks everyone for your patience. Plenty of stock of the TDS 105021 Steering Brace (aka wonderbar).

Lon

The Project

iTrader: (6)

Anyone got a pic of how/where this thing mounts up?

I'm installing mine in a few weeks.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

it sandwiches between the sway bar mounts and the body

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

Front sway bar mounts, under the radiator.....I know //<86TA>\\ knows, but I have little doubt that SOMEBODY would end asking. 1

Camatruder

I'm still wondering (pun intended) what this wonderbar is really for. It connects the front subframe rails together, but aren't they already connected by the front crossmember?
Also, if handling improves "night and day" like some guys claim, then there's a problem with the frame in the first place. How do you reair something like that. Cracks can be welded but what about a weakend frame or one that suffers from fatique?

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

Well I just learned something here .

Course , the name "wonderbar" , In my younger days , referred to the signal seeking radios in cadillacs back in the 50s and 60s . You pushed the wonderbar , and the radio tuned to the next station automatically , without having to fine tune the tuning **** .

Wonderful !!!!!

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

The improvement is felt because the front subframes flex with Steering Box movement & the Wonderbar reinforces the steering box mount location of the subframe.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

not just caddies! my 58 impala has one

RBob

iTrader: (1)

The frame rail does flex a lot due to the steering box. Try this: open the hood, roll down drivers window, start the engine and while standing outside of the car reach in the drivers window and rock the steering wheel back and forth while watching the steering box.

It will move quite a bit. That was enough to convince me to get and install a wonder bar.

RBob.

knightrider5000

I just bought a wonderbar off Lon. My 91 Firebird convertable has alot of flex so Im just tring to getthe chassis to feel solid, also bought alston subframe connectors off Lon And I can not wait to have them welded in. Oh an fo my sagging doors I got Lons Door hinge Allignment Tool and it fixed my sagging passenger door, I had bee slamming that door for years and in 5min its fixed with the power of a breaker bar! Thanks to LON