Mason Chassis Braces

vorshlag's photo

2009-02-11T10:38:28Z

vorshlag

vorshlag's photo

2009-02-11T10:36:08Z

vorshlag

vorshlag's photo

2009-02-11T10:34:42Z

vorshlag

vorshlag's photo

2009-02-11T10:35:01Z

vorshlag

vorshlag's photo

2009-02-11T10:38:36Z

vorshlag

This begins the Mason rear shock tower brace installation instructions. The brace is pretty easy to install on a car with no interior (shown above) but a bit trickier if you want to keep the ...

2009-06-15T00:44:33Z

vorshlag
This begins the Mason rear shock tower brace installation instructions. The brace is pretty easy to install on a car with no interior (shown above) but a bit trickier if you want to keep the ...

Most of this stuff can stay in the car.

2009-06-10T22:07:31Z

vorshlag
Most of this stuff can stay in the car.

Step one - yank all of the rear trunk interior pieces shown above. Be careful with the plastic rivits. The trunk sound mat insulaiton just lays in place - no goo or heat gun required.

2009-02-17T04:00:06Z

vorshlag
Step one - yank all of the rear trunk interior pieces shown above. Be careful with the plastic rivits. The trunk sound mat insulaiton just lays in place - no goo or heat gun required.

All of the trunk interior bits removed.

2009-06-10T22:06:54Z

vorshlag
All of the trunk interior bits removed.

Here is the stripped interior. Note the rear shock mount protruding through the shock tower. That can stay in place and those two studs sticking upwards provide for some of the mounting loca ...

2009-06-10T22:16:32Z

vorshlag
Here is the stripped interior. Note the rear shock mount protruding through the shock tower. That can stay in place and those two studs sticking upwards provide for some of the mounting loca ...

The passenger/right side of the trunk has a plastic cover for the main battery cable. This is unbolted with 10mm socket that loosens the plastic nuts holding it in place. You will need to ei ...

2009-02-17T04:01:20Z

vorshlag
The passenger/right side of the trunk has a plastic cover for the main battery cable. This is unbolted with 10mm socket that loosens the plastic nuts holding it in place. You will need to ei ...

Disconnect cable, then remove the mat...

2009-02-17T04:01:46Z

vorshlag
Disconnect cable, then remove the mat...

Right side sound mat removed. Note the disconnected positive battery cable that was fished through the hole in that mat.

2009-06-10T22:06:06Z

vorshlag
Right side sound mat removed. Note the disconnected positive battery cable that was fished through the hole in that mat.

Remove the top nuts securing the rear shock mount. The mounts/studs and shocks can stay in place...

2009-06-15T00:31:52Z

vorshlag
Remove the top nuts securing the rear shock mount. The mounts/studs and shocks can stay in place...

Nuts removed.

2009-02-17T03:59:41Z

vorshlag
Nuts removed.

Here is the Mason E36 rear shock tower brace, in bare aluminum.

2009-02-09T23:14:36Z

vorshlag
Here is the Mason E36 rear shock tower brace, in bare aluminum.

vorshlag's photo

2009-02-17T04:00:06Z

vorshlag

Mounting hardware (included) for load spreader side plates.

2009-02-17T03:10:47Z

vorshlag
Mounting hardware (included) for load spreader side plates.

Here is the array of tools we used to install the rear shock tower brace. Electric drill will work fine.

2009-02-17T03:58:47Z

vorshlag
Here is the array of tools we used to install the rear shock tower brace. Electric drill will work fine.

This is the first of many mock-up fittings, this time with the interior removed. It doesn't seem to fit...

2009-02-17T03:58:51Z

vorshlag
This is the first of many mock-up fittings, this time with the interior removed. It doesn't seem to fit...

Right side doesn't fit due to a big glob of seam sealer blocking the side plate from sliding down...

2009-06-10T22:07:32Z

vorshlag
Right side doesn't fit due to a big glob of seam sealer blocking the side plate from sliding down...

Note the green grease pencil. This was used to trace the outline of the side mounting plates for removal of the seam sealer.

2009-02-17T04:01:45Z

vorshlag
Note the green grease pencil. This was used to trace the outline of the side mounting plates for removal of the seam sealer.

The seam sealer goo needs to be removed wherever the shock tower brace or load spreading plates will mount. Used a 1-1/2" putty knife to scrape it away. Came off fairly easily.

2009-02-17T03:57:51Z

vorshlag
The seam sealer goo needs to be removed wherever the shock tower brace or load spreading plates will mount. Used a 1-1/2" putty knife to scrape it away. Came off fairly easily.

Big glob of seam sealer scraped off. I cut the edges with a utility knife where the outline of the side spreader was marked.

2009-02-17T04:02:30Z

vorshlag
Big glob of seam sealer scraped off. I cut the edges with a utility knife where the outline of the side spreader was marked.

Drivers side had only a minimal amount of of seam sealer had to be removed. Now the brace slides right into place. It fits nice and tight, or as the kids say "tizzite".

2009-06-10T21:54:25Z

vorshlag
Drivers side had only a minimal amount of of seam sealer had to be removed. Now the brace slides right into place. It fits nice and tight, or as the kids say "tizzite".

Right side fits snugly once the seam sealer is removed.

2009-06-10T22:16:35Z

vorshlag
Right side fits snugly once the seam sealer is removed.

Once the brace is fitting snugly, install the top nuts and tighten; It should sit flush. Now re-trace the outline for the side plates and center punch the side mounting holes.

2009-02-17T04:00:15Z

vorshlag
Once the brace is fitting snugly, install the top nuts and tighten; It should sit flush. Now re-trace the outline for the side plates and center punch the side mounting holes.

Remove the shock tower brace once the holes are marked. The hole locations are now marked, center punched and ready to drill.

2009-02-17T03:09:04Z

vorshlag
Remove the shock tower brace once the holes are marked. The hole locations are now marked, center punched and ready to drill.

Holes drilled, a little seam sealer removed. Don't drill into your rear shocks... remove the shocks before drilling if you are especially clumsy.

2009-06-10T21:59:50Z

vorshlag
Holes drilled, a little seam sealer removed. Don't drill into your rear shocks... remove the shocks before drilling if you are especially clumsy.

Holes drilled on passenger side, too.

2009-06-10T21:47:50Z

vorshlag
Holes drilled on passenger side, too.

Reinstall trunk mat sound insulation (if desired). Cut small segments away and look for outline of the brace that you marked onto the shock tower underneath. Trim insulation to that line.

2009-02-17T04:01:58Z

vorshlag
Reinstall trunk mat sound insulation (if desired). Cut small segments away and look for outline of the brace that you marked onto the shock tower underneath. Trim insulation to that line.

Insulation trimmed to outline. This leaves plenty of room for the brace to be reinstalled and for access to the top and side mounting bolts.

2009-06-10T21:59:28Z

vorshlag
Insulation trimmed to outline. This leaves plenty of room for the brace to be reinstalled and for access to the top and side mounting bolts.

Right side trunk sound mat trimmed.

2009-06-15T00:32:21Z

vorshlag
Right side trunk sound mat trimmed.

Trunk mat insulation trimmed to outline of the brace, with brace reinstalled.

2009-02-17T04:04:47Z

vorshlag
Trunk mat insulation trimmed to outline of the brace, with brace reinstalled.

Trunk mat insulation trimmed to outline of the brace on right side, with brace reinstalled.

2009-06-10T21:55:44Z

vorshlag
Trunk mat insulation trimmed to outline of the brace on right side, with brace reinstalled.

Make sure to fish the positive battery cable back through the trunk sound mat and reinstall the plastic cover for the cable.

2009-06-10T22:08:28Z

vorshlag
Make sure to fish the positive battery cable back through the trunk sound mat and reinstall the plastic cover for the cable.

After the sound mat is cut you need to cut the inner trunk liner "carpet". This is tricky and final installation involves the jackassery shown above. All this to keep the interior intact? Ye ...

2009-06-15T00:31:03Z

vorshlag
After the sound mat is cut you need to cut the inner trunk liner "carpet". This is tricky and final installation involves the jackassery shown above. All this to keep the interior intact? Ye ...

Your level of patience and desired finished look will determine how much time you spend trimming the trunk liner material. You need to allow for access to all of the bolts, side and top moun ...

2009-02-17T04:00:55Z

vorshlag
Your level of patience and desired finished look will determine how much time you spend trimming the trunk liner material. You need to allow for access to all of the bolts, side and top moun ...

Once the trunk interior panels have the flaps cut, partaially remove them and complete final install of the brace's nuts and bolts...

2009-06-10T21:52:47Z

vorshlag
Once the trunk interior panels have the flaps cut, partaially remove them and complete final install of the brace's nuts and bolts...

Top nuts and side bolts installed.

2009-06-10T22:04:48Z

vorshlag
Top nuts and side bolts installed.

View from inside shock tower (wheel well side). Holes are drilled and bolts are installed loose.

2009-02-17T04:01:24Z

vorshlag
View from inside shock tower (wheel well side). Holes are drilled and bolts are installed loose.

And nuts installed. Use the supplied washers on both sides!

2009-06-10T22:01:07Z

vorshlag
And nuts installed. Use the supplied washers on both sides!

Do the same on the passenger side, too.

2009-06-15T00:34:13Z

vorshlag
Do the same on the passenger side, too.

Final product installed and interior back in. Total time spent: about 90 minutes.

2009-06-10T22:02:45Z

vorshlag
Final product installed and interior back in. Total time spent: about 90 minutes.

vorshlag's photo

2009-02-17T03:59:48Z

vorshlag

And trunk carpet in. This has now been in place for about a year and its still working great.

2009-06-10T22:09:25Z

vorshlag
And trunk carpet in. This has now been in place for about a year and its still working great.

Mason Engineering rear strut brace (Doug Wirth's M3). So much easier to do if the interior is left out!

2009-06-15T01:24:46Z

vorshlag
Mason Engineering rear strut brace (Doug Wirth's M3). So much easier to do if the interior is left out!

Mason Engineering rear strut brace (Doug Wirth's M3)

2009-06-15T01:30:09Z

vorshlag
Mason Engineering rear strut brace (Doug Wirth's M3)

vorshlag's photo

2009-08-20T06:16:15Z

vorshlag