years ago i made my own "wonderbar" after being unable to find any for sale online. I made mine with a bit thicker round stock than the ones i had seen for sale, but ever since installing it, my turning radius has dropped and the car understeers a bit now it would seem. I was considering removing it, and using a strut tower brace for the added rigidity of the front suspension. I was just wondering if anyone had any other thoughts on the use of a wonderbar. I will add though, the car is 1987 and (knock on wood) has the original steering box with no cracks in it.

 

I added one with no fear, since it was a bolt on item. Didn't notice any difference, but do like the peace of mind it gives. But I'm not out trying to take hairpin curves or doing any sort of racing. simply pleasure cruising. It does make getting to the radiator fan wiring clips a bit more of a challenge.

 

I don't see any way your turning radius could have been affected by installing one. They are a must have on these cars. I run the TDS bar and a QA1 3 point strut bar. If you run without the bar you are just asking for a cracked frame. If you want to see how much it helps just put your front end up on jack stands and turn from lock to lock, watch the frame rail on the steering box side with and without the bar while the car is running. You won't believe the flex at that point when the steering hits full lock.

 

maybe that is what he is noticing on the turning tightness......

 

Detroit Speed steering brace is 10x better than a Wander Bar.

 

When I had my '83, I put a factory Wonderbar from an '86 IROC on it. I felt better steering response immediately.

 

Most thirdgens have cracks were the powers steering gearbox mounts on the frame. I need a wonderbar atm.

 

Doesn't look like you can buy it separately. It comes with their sway bars and front suspension kits but is not listed separately on their website.

 

I know. That's when you pick up the phone and ask very nicely....

 

Unless somehow you made it so that it runs into the steering linkage and restricts it's motion there is no way a wonderbar is going to change your turning radius

How's that? It just looks like a wonder bar with a different set of brackets. The bar or the brackets don't look as beefy as many of the other aftermarket ones, but I would argue that many of the aftermarket ones are overbuilt.

Most? I've been messing with these cars since the early 90's, have owned 4 of them, worked on dozens, used to competitively autox them and never seen the cracks in person. I have one aftermarket "wonderbar" that has been swapped from car to car, but the 2 that have seen the most serious autox time (my '83 Crossfire car which I autoxed almost weekly in season back then, and my '87 Formula that I bought from a national level competitive autoxer and road racer) I have never had one on them and having had the steering box in and out of my '87 Formula 350 and my '87 TA multiple times I'm not sure I see why if that area cracked people treat it as irreparable.

 

Detroit Speed puts the support in a different location. It literally spans from steering box to idler arm, exactly where you want it. Pretty sweet setup. And it doesn't get in the way of anything like the Wander Bar does.

 

Agreed. The only interference I ran into was it limited my lower radiator hose options (summit LS swap radiator with AN lines). This isn't the case with other set-ups necessarily.

 

I misread the title, I thought we were discussing the Wonderbra.

Brought back memories of happier times, anyways