Just when I thought my steering couldn't be improved anymore, along came my TDS Wonderbar!

This thing is great. It was nothing to install, from drive up the ramps too back down again was like 20 mins tops. And what a positive difference too! The steering is absolutely silent now, not even any pump noise at all; and smoother too, there is zero steering slop. I highly reccomend this piece to anyone who has a thirdgen that didn't come with one from the factory, its so cheap and easy to do, if nothing else the piece of mind is worth it alone.

 

Looking good! I just received mine the other day

 

I got mine yesterday as well

he should start making SFC's too, I would love to get a nice boxed set that bolts in but can be welded in later.

 

Frik, did you have to relocate your lower radiator hose? I noticed from below, on the driver's side of the radiator near the wonderbar, you have the "cradle" for the lower hose.

I can't put one in my Firebird b/c it'll crush that lower hose; it loops down and then up again in that location. (The lower outlet on my v6 is on the driver's side, and instead of pointing straight back, it points down at an angle. )

 

got mine a few days ago, got the same color also, i cant wait to put it on..

 

man, i got mine last year, i wish it had that third mounting hole
oh well......

 

Just finished mounting my brace from TDS. I got the red powdercoat and it's nice and like you said about a half hour job and a little piece of mind. Kudos to Lon at TDS, nice product and a great price.........

 

I showed the bar to some local Members yesterday and got a suggestin that will make installation easier. I'll be updating the instructions to include this. Once you've got the 4 bolts holding the sway bar undone and the sway bar dropped out of the way, remove the outer two bolts also. Then mount the TDS steering brace using those outer two bolts. Leave the bolts a little loose. Then lift the sway bar back into place and install the remaining 4 bolts. This will keep you from having to also lift the Steering Brace at the same time as the sway bar.

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

That's the way I did mine when I put it in, having the other two bolts there is what made it SO easy.

 

lonsal don't bother man , it's a good enough design as it is.

I just put mine on few minutes ago and you can do what you described with 3 bolt holes on each side just fine , just use the one outer one on each side to hold up the bar and then jack up the swaybar so you don't have to hold it.

heh it's nice of you thaty ou want to make it easier but I honestly wouldn't bother , we own 3rdgens so anything we do just has to be a pain in the ***... otherwise it wouldn't be as much fun

btw thanks for quick shipping and great product.

and now I'm outta here for a test drive

 

 

Tom, I just crushed the radiator hose. I am about to find out though if it will make driving in the summer interesting or not.

 

my install pics.

 

2

 

3

 

Looking good jimmy, it didn't take to long to do that. :lala:

 

I just noticed the 3rd mounting hole?
Is there something there already or is it just an empty hole with threads there?

Oh, and I have the BMR bar. Would you believe 5 hours to get this sucker on!!!

My friend bought it for his 82 and it didn't line up at all so I traded him my GM one for the BMR. I had to drill out one of the holes after lying under the car for a few hours trying to get the bolts to line up.
I wish I had the TDS one.

The BMR one,

My old GM one

 

yeah Zepher the bolts are already there in the frame, and they do have threads, they are a tad shorter also.

i like it alot, went right in :hail:

 

Thanks to all of you that ordered a TDS 105021 Steering Brace. Also thanks for taking a moment and sharing your experience with the brace. I'm gratified to find that my effort to produce a quality product with "hassle-free" installation at a reasonable price has been so well received.

I just wanted to take a moment and let you all know that the brace is now also available in powder-coated Gloss Black. I am really keen on the Raw Steel color, (which is why I selected the finish in the first place). But I've recognized that some customers may prefer to keep the stock look of the brace in black. For those that don't want flashy red or the raw steel colors, you now have another alternative.

Thanks again!

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

I like the raw steel..

 

do those fit an 82 z28? becuz ive heard some cars u can mount them or any on and some u cant.

 

Yes it fits a 1982 F-Body. Read the product description for more info.

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

It fit my 82 z-28 no problems.

 

Thanks for posting all those pictures guys. I always like to see how things look installed and how the process is of installing.

Just finished ordereding my TDS "raw metal" wonderbar

 

i keep tryin to order mine and when i click to check out the page wont come up??? i tried on aol and enternet explorer both.

 

There is a glitch in the shopping cart. I've contacted my web guy, but he is our of town and can't fix it immediately. E-mail me, phone or fax and I'll process your order off-line. I'll create an invoice and e-mail it to you showing the order total. Don't send your credit card number by e-mail. You can phone or fax it to me. Or I can send a PayPal "request for payment".

Thanks,

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

PS: Ryn28, I'm not shipping them in "Raw Metal". Raw Steel powdercoat color perhaps?

 

ok ill do that

 

Oops, I meant raw metal color, guess I was typing to fast in excitement and left off the word color.

 

Sorry, I didn't coin the word. Let's try again, Now repeat after me; "Raw Steel". Now you try.

Lon

 

thats freakin hillarious...make the same mistake twice. o well everyone has their days...

 

 

Not to be a dumba$$, but the raw steel brace is coated right? It's a raw steel colored powdercoat or paint, or just steel that is clear coated?

 

The color is called "Raw Steel". It is a powder-coat paint that resembles new cast steel (silver-gray with black specks).

Lon

 

Just got mine today and installed it i love it. I noticed alot of the play in the wheel was gone and as soon as u make a sudden move or somethin on the road its instant response. Im sure ill feel alot better about makin a sharp turn into a parkin spot or wherever also.

 

Just thought i'd add i have the stock one that came on these cars. I got it off an old IROC. took me 10 min to put on. I use air tools though. but the stock one only has 2 bolts on each side one side has holes which are longated for differences. if this makes any sense. well good luck all

Nick

 

I fabricate some of my own stuff, but when I saw the TDS piece for such a low price I realized I'd spend at least as much fabricating something and end up with lower quality if I tried to make it myself. So, I ordered 2. This is definitely one component that I would highly recommend; the quality is spectacular (especially when you consider some of the substandard garbage being sold by some companies).

Thanks Lon for your fast service, excellent product, and cost leadership.

Next up--door hinges!!

 

I installed mine today and MAN WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

Fast lane changes? Huge improvement!

Tossin the 3500 pound beast into a 20 mph turn at 40+ ? No problem!

Westbound Route 50 offramp to southbound 495 at speed? Childs play!

I love it. I was considering making my RS into an all track car. NOT NOW! I thought my GTP handled! This thing puts the GTP to shame! Now I have to get all the other suspension stuff...

 

A fourth finish (yellow zinc plated) is now available. Also powder-coated Gloss Black is back in stock.

Lon

 

lonsal

do you have a shop in so cal? (hacienda heights... ?) + any meets/gatherings you normally go to?

if so - do you sell wonderbars in person? sounds like an awesome $50 suspension mod!

(in the Torrance area)

 

You can pick up a Steering Brace or anything else I have directly or I can drop it off at a meeting or gathering. Call ahead to schedule an appointment if you want to pick up something at Will Call.

I attend the meetings of the So. Cal. ThirdGenners which are held the first Saturday of every even month at Powers Chevrolet (formerly Valencia Chevrolet) in Valencia Ca (near Magic Mountain). Unfortunately you just missed the June Meeting. We start gathering at the dealership around 5PM outside of the Service Department then head inside for our Meeting around 6PM. Check out the posts on the Southern California section of this web site for further details and directions.

Thanks,

Lon Salgren

 

called Lon at TDS last week, ordered the wonder bar for my 84 Z-28 - it arrived Monday, I put it on this noon - truly a fifteen minute job, everything lines up and fits!! Thanks, Lon. Nice part, good design and workmanship, great finish. The directions say to use a 15mm socket, but my 19/32 socket worked just fine. Tomorrow morning I am going for a drive through windy twisty roads to check it out.

 

didnt the wonderbar used to be 42 dollars?

 

Yes. The price went up. I was selling nearly as many for $52 on eBay as I was selling through the web site. I gave everyone fair warning by putting it on SALE at the old price for a few weeks and also announced the price increase and SALE through a TDS newsletter. Some took advantage of the sale price. I'm trying to be fair to everone (including myself). I run sales on many of the items I sell from time to time. This will more than likely go on sale at some point again.

Thanks,

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

im not really worried about the price increse. im still going to get one eventually. from the reviews ive read you probably could sell the wonder bar for 100 dollars. Ill probably pick one up from you place of business in a couple of weeks.

 

Just installed my "yellow zinc plated" Wonderbar in yesterday. Took me about 5 minutes on a lift using a compressor. Six bolts off - six bolts on. Too easy!

My Alston SFC's are going to be installed on Monday. Can't wait to see what it does for me.

BTW - thanks Lon! Please give me a call if you still have my number cause I've got a question for you about the SFC's.

-Pete

 

the wonderbar went in today in about 25mins, it being the first suspension mod i installed myself (sfcs were pro welded)... even i was able to install this thing without breaking something

the Review: great relatively inexpensive mod - the steering (turn-in and throughout the curves) is much sharper and gives better feedback to the wheel, something that brings our stock steering a step closer to the German/Japanese sports cars

thanks Lon

 

I'm kinda confused after reading this post. Is the TDS wonderbar Better than the original stock on the came with the car? I have an 86 iroc & kow I have one.

 

well... the wonderbar came stock on some IROCs and on none of the firebirds... hence my positive reaction

 

.

 

if anything the wonderbar is only for the street, otherwise you are adding weight. second, lon always has deals like group purchases for the wonder bar and subframe conectors.