Mustang Ford Boss 302 Strut Tower Brace (2010-2013) Installation Instructions
This Boss 302 Strut Tower Brace from Ford will fit 2010-2013 GT and Boss 302 Mustangs.
This Strut Tower Brace is the original equipment part from the 2012-2013 Boss 302 and will allow you to stiffen the front end of any 2010-2013 Mustang V6/GT! It is available in a beautiful silver powder coated finish and looks great on any 2010-2013 Mustang. It will also clear the taller Boss 302 Intake Manifold that are available for 2010-2013 Mustang GTs!
Tools Required:
- Scissors
- 13mm Box Wrench
- Optional: 13mm Socket/Ratchet
- Optional: Torque Wrench
Install Difficulty:
- Easy Project
PLEASE NOTE: This guide covers the installation steps for both a 2006 V6 Mustang and a 2012 V6 Mustang. The Boss 302 Strut Tower Brace will fit 2005-2009 Mustangs, but rubs against the hood insulation and may cause damage.
1. To start the installation of your new Mustang Ford AR3Z-16A200-A Boss 302 Strut Tower Brace, inspect the product and verify that you have the correct part, before you unwrap it. This product has been carefully packed in protective wrapping and packing tape. As you begin to unwrap it, use your scissors to carefully cut the packing tape from the underside of the brace to protect the finish from marring.
2. Once it is unwrapped, please note that the height will allow the strut tower brace to clear the Mustang Boss 302R Intake Manifold that is standard on 2012-2013 Mustangs, and available for 2011-2013 GT Mustangs. Also note that the directional arrows on the ends of the brace point towards the front of your engine bay.
3. If you are curious about the weight of the Mustang Strut Tower Brace, it only weighs 7.914 lbs.
4. These instructions show the installation of the Boss 302 Strut Tower Brace on a 2006 V6 Mustang with a Mustang Maximum Motorsports Caster Camber Plates. These camber plates are highly recommended for any lowered Mustangs. The only difference from the installation of a strut tower brace on a Mustang with factory strut towers is that Maximum Motorsports Caster Camber Plates have nuts that are reusable, due to their nylon lock washer.
For owners installing the Boss 302 Strut Tower Brace on any Mustang with factory strut towers, Ford recommends that the four inside nuts on the strut tower, which will need to be removed for installation, are only used one time. To replace them, the Mustang Ford Upper Strut Mount Nut Set is a four pack of nuts (two will be needed on each side) that can be installed with the strut tower brace and torqued to factory specifications (25 ft./lbs. +/- 3 ft./lbs.). They're shown below on a 2012 V6 Mustang.
5. To begin installation of this Ford part, remove the two inner nuts, as indicated by the arrows on the photo below, from each strut tower using your box wrench, a socket wrench (optional), or a torque wrench (optional). If you don’t have a torque wench, get a good feel for the amount of torque that was necessary to remove the four nuts, as you will need to fasten the nuts back down with the same amount of torque that you removed them with.
6. In either of the configurations noted above, you will place the Mustang Strut Tower Brace over the four inner existing studs and align the bar so that the holes are evenly spaced around the studs. As mentioned, make sure the arrows are pointing towards the radiator.
7. Next, in a cross pattern, lightly tighten each of the four inner strut tower nuts until each is snug. Then, tighten each to the torque specified (25 ft-lbs +/- 3 ft-lbs). It should match the torque on the outside nuts if you don’t have the optional torque wrench.
Before you torque the nuts, make sure that the vehicle is on a level surface and not on a vehicle lift or on jack stands. This is to ensure that the strut towers and the Mustang tires are in the correct position, relative to each other, before you bridge them together with the strut tower brace.
8. The final step is to take a quick test drive to make sure everything is secured properly and there are no squeaks while under hard cornering, which would be caused by under-torqued nuts. You should notice a measurable reduction in lateral chassis flex and enhanced cornering ability. The Mustang Ford Boss 302 Strut Tower Brace also offers an updated styling alternative to the other great strut tower bar options and weighs in at less than 8 lbs., plus it gives you a little of that BOSS 302 DNA in your Mustang.
