Stiffening Plate

Yellow Tub · 03-28-2011, 03:03 PM

Last Tuesday was a great day for the Tub!

The Tub recieved Mike's new Stiffening Plate (yeah, I know... I'm not the first)

On my way to Colorado with a loaded trailer, I stopped by to see Mike and get it installed as we were not able to get it done at the Phx tech session a couple of weeks earlier. As many of you know , I have been the self proclaimed KING of buying the GY "take-offs"

What does this have to do with it? ALOT !!! There have been alot of people trying to figure out what to do about tires for a long time. Alot of people have started to run different brands at the front and rear. I am one of those people as I just bought a set of Generals for the rear before the AZ tech session (cause I finally ran out of GY rears)

. While I LOVE the Generals (cause they STICK !), it created a issue of the front getting squirmy (more than normal). I discovered this on the ride over to Phx. It felt like I was driving two different trucks. The front would do one thing and the back would do another. Now, you can have those two different tires and have the control you want and need as this plate tightens the front end so much you will not be able to tell that you have different tires front and rear.Before with a trailer attached, it was like the Mad Hatter Ride at Disneyland...

After getting the plate installed (thank you Mike and Bill C.), I noticed an instant difference in the front end... actually the difference is noticed with the WHOLE truck! The turning is MUCH tighter, more responsive and the tires no longer track in the "road grooves".
Driving the Tub now is like driving a sports cars but with horsepower that you can put to the ground AND control it!! Turns are much more positive and predictable. It is though it is riding on a rail. The windshield "rattle/shake" is GONE. The responsiveness is REMARKABLE ! When I headed over to Phx to get it installed, the trailer would "trail" but not predictably as it was getting two different messages from the Tub. Now, with the plate installed, the Tub is sending one message to the trailer and it not only trails better.. it TRACKS ! It tracks so much better I actually had to slow down on turns as I was concerned about flipping the trailer.

If you are one of the many people (like most of us) who "budget" the next addition to your SSR, I strongly recommend you put this to the top of the list. You will be amazed in the difference that you will feel in the handling of your truck. If you like what the TB crossmember did for the handling, you will LOVE what this does! Once again, Mike has brought something to us that is a premium product, well thoughtout and designed... designed to make us fall in love with our trucks even more and keep us safer at the same time. It may not be all about performance but it sure doesn't hurt to have it

RUN ROD RUN · 03-28-2011, 03:53 PM

OK Bruce, dig deeper into your "budget" as you now need to get Joe's LC32 Engine Crossmember Kit.

KRUISSR · 03-28-2011, 05:03 PM

I was skeptical about how much of a difference the Trail Blazer 4 bolt bar could possibly make over the single bar. I replaced the single with the 4 bolt bar. Sure enough, the "R" felt a little more solid in turns, with a little less shake and shudder over bumps. I started to hear things about Mike's Stiffening Plate. I was skeptical about how much possible difference that could make. Well it took me several months to decide to go for it. I ordered the plate about two weeks ago and installed it a few days ago. I can attest to the fact that it does make a huge difference in the handling feel. Hard to describe adequately, but the "R" feels even more solid and controlled in turns. As well as rock steady straight down the road. A pesky rattle I had, seems to have disappeared. It's more like point and shoot now, instead of point and scoot. Handling is more precise. Giving a much more confident feeling when pushing all that weight around a tight turn. So ...... yes, the thing works for me! I highly recommend spending your hard earned $ on it. Like the other products I have used from Mike, including his airdam and replacement fan, I'm completely satisfied. I'm hoping Mike will continue to develop new products for the SSR's.

turnheadz · 03-28-2011, 06:53 PM

after the installation of the stiffening plate do you need to do an alignment? Or is that the crossmember ?

RUN ROD RUN · 03-28-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turnheadz

after the installation of the stiffening plate do you need to do an alignment? Or is that the crossmember ?

Only if you got the LC32 Engine Crossmember Kit.

yellow bear · 03-28-2011, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUN ROD RUN

Only if you got the LC32 Engine Crossmember Kit.

If you only install Mike's, you should be OK, but it couldn't "hoit" to have it checked..... just cause it's cheaper for a re-check than a pair of new boots...