I called GM today to get a price on the steering brace and the guy told me that it has been discontinued. He did describe it correctly from the drawing on his computer but I still think he may have been looking at a different part.

I've heard many people mention the GM wonder bar on this board, do they still make them?? Does anyone have the parts number for it??

 

I just called another GM Parts dealer and he told me that it was discontinued in 2001, here's the parts number he gave me for it #14079634 is this correct?

If it is true that it has been discontinued are there any other manufactures besides Global West that carry the steering brace?

 

Yes they were discontinued and I made my own sets for a while until I determined that I wasn't making any money off of them. I may still have one of those lying around if your interested in it for $40 shipped.

 

Thanks Brharris but I think I'll just wait untill Global West gets more in stock, they are only 15 min. from where I live. I liked the fact that the GM brace secured with 3 bolts on each end compared to GW's that only uses 2, plus the fact that I heard they were cheaper but oh well. I guess I could always weld on an extention for the third bolt.

 

I could give you the number, but it is pointless. GM discontinued it. Good news: Top-Down Solutions (aka me) has designed one and is in production. I am taking pre-orders at the price of $30 + $10 s&h. Once I've "officially" released the bar (approx 2 weeks) it will be $5 more. Details of this deal are below in the SoCal Area message board under "Steering Brace". I am running the special to help decide how many standard vs. the TTA version to run. The cross bar is .75" dia, jsut as GM's but mine is slightly heavier gage and the end mount pads are 10 gage rather than 11 gage GM used. The bar will be powder coated black. I am attaching linto to a picture comparing my version to GM's Wonder Bar.
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/topdownso...on.jpg&.src=ph

E-mail me to get on the list for the pre-order price.

Lon
Top-Down Solutions

 

... or you can probably find a used one from one of the supporters of this board, that are listed above. Mine cost me 25 bux from Hawks.

 

Honestly, I'd just get the GW version. I'm not sure what you're talking about with 3 bolt vs. 2 bolt attachment; I have the stocker and it only bolts on with two bolts...

 

I saw an install on sethirdgen.org where there wonder bar had 3 holes.

 

Yeah, it does have three holes. It beats the hell out of me what the third one on each side is for because there is no corresponding hole in the frame.

 

The large center slot on each side is to allow clearance for a protrusion that is on the bottom of the sway bar bushing to help retain it. There is no third bolt used on either side. The long angled slot on one side is to allow for a tang sticking out of the sway bar bushing retainer shell. I solve it by cutting a notch or an angle on the end of the mounting pad. Bottom line: The GM Steering Brace (aka Wonder Bar) mounts with the same 2 bolts per side that mount the sway bar bushing shell as does every other version, including mine. BTW Grafx, I'm local to you as well (San Gabriel Valley) which can save you on shipping cost. Lon

 

You can't go wrong with the Global West brace (or perhaps any of the other after market offerings)--it's a beefier and certainly stronger version of the wonderbar.

JamesC

 

Hell, if anyone is sold on the stocker, let me know. I'll go take mine off and sell it to you, because I want the GW piece.

 

I prefer the GM piece; if there was anything I could do easily to lighten it, I would. It's already way more material than necessary for what it's doing. IMHO making it any thicker than the factory did is self-gratification. It's much thicker than the parts it bolts to ( = waste). The less weight on the nose of the car the better.

 

I got mine from GM a mere 2 weeks before they discontinued it. If you want dealer parts, you better step on it. I've beaten and been beaten by discontinuation... Might wanna grab a hood insulator. hmm

 

Just an FYI, I have both a GM version and mine here in my office. Both tip the scales at exactly the same ammount, 3 lbs 1 oz. GM's unit has a wider mount area at each side which I felt unecessary. I did see the extra 2 bolt mounts that could be used on one side and may revise my version to incorporate them as well. But IMO, the stock mount using the 4 sway bar bushing retainer shells is fine. Lon