rear strut brace worth the $$??

[richardkeith97]

is anyone using a rear strut brace and do they make a difference?

[JGood]

The general consensus from guys who actually drive their cars to the point where this would be noticed (on a track) is that no, it does not make a difference.

The general consensus from retailers selling the bars, or kids who drive on the street and know nothing about suspension geometry or loads is that yes, they do help. They should chime in shortly with stories of how their car drives straighter and handles better.

There is a thread floating around here somewhere, where someone put a bar between the rear shock towers, marked it's position, and drove the car hard. At the end of the drive, the bar remained exactly where it was, showing that there wasn't even enough force to spread the towers to the point where the bar could move (probably only 1-2mm).


Personally, If I got a rear shock tower bar for free, I wouldn't install it. It's not even worth the extra weight. To spend money on one just sounds crazy...

[StereoInstaller1]

Personally, If I got a rear shock tower bar for free, I wouldn't install it.

Plus, where the hell else is the subwoofer gonna go?

[newman]

Plus, where the hell else is the subwoofer gonna go?

the trash?

[scforeigncar]

the trash?

+1

[Dirtbleed]

looks cool, anything to stiffen the chassis.

[vr2jetta]

looks cool, anything to stiffen the chassis.

Thats a real good place for the fire extinguisher.

[Kingb]

Well maybe DCColegrove can chime in. Oh I forgot someone banned him. I couldn't find his link he is the one that put a piece of string across the rear strut tower then tracked it while taping the string and there was quite a but of movement. I couldn't find the link to his website either

[z31maniac]

The general consensus from guys who actually drive their cars to the point where this would be noticed (on a track) is that no, it does not make a difference.

The general consensus from retailers selling the bars, or kids who drive on the street and know nothing about suspension geometry or loads is that yes, they do help. They should chime in shortly with stories of how their car drives straighter and handles better.

There is a thread floating around here somewhere, where someone put a bar between the rear shock towers, marked it's position, and drove the car hard. At the end of the drive, the bar remained exactly where it was, showing that there wasn't even enough force to spread the towers to the point where the bar could move (probably only 1-2mm).


Personally, If I got a rear shock tower bar for free, I wouldn't install it. It's not even worth the extra weight. To spend money on one just sounds crazy...

I was thinking it would be a good idea just because it reinforces the shock mount area.

[thundering02]

I was thinking it would be a good idea just because it reinforces the shock mount area.

Considering all the places that sell the shock mounts I would go for this also,
I have dealt with a c pillar bar in a hatch back and most people wouldn't be able to pick out the difference but the slight difference (by its self at least) was just enough to notice.
So in turn Yes I probably would purchase one.

[JGood]

That picture is hilarious. I'm loving the fire extinguisher.

Well maybe DCColegrove can chime in. Oh I forgot someone banned him. I couldn't find his link he is the one that put a piece of string across the rear strut tower then tracked it while taping the string and there was quite a but of movement. I couldn't find the link to his website either

DCColegrove also said he had specially made hollow m42 cams, lightweight fender rivets, and titanium seat frames. Don't believe everything you hear.

I was thinking it would be a good idea just because it reinforces the shock mount area.

I would reinforce the area if I had a true rear coilover that actually put load on the upper shock mount, but since most setups don't, I wouldn't worry about it. And I think reinforcing the area by welding a stiffer steel boxed tower would be the way to go, I don't think a shock tower brace would do much.