Help:Making Custom Strut Bars

[E30_pilot]

$100 for the Sparco front.

I think a range of $70-85 +shipping for our front bars might be possible.
I might do a feeler for a gb on our bars so be on the lookout.

[1991 318is]

Rear strut bars.

Rear strut bars are the tits-on a boar hog!
Cornering force enters the suspension through the rear hub to the control arm to the rear crossmember. The bottom of the shock has a bushing. The top of the shock carries no cornering force at all into the unibody. Only the resistance of the shock itself is carried to the upper mount! They sure look cool though.
Question: Why does this factory BMW M3 Group A car have no strut bar?

[john318isau]

Question: Why does this factory BMW M3 Group A car have no strut bar?

It may not have a strut brace but it has additional reinforcement in the form of a roll cage mounted through the firewall to the strut towers.

[E30_pilot]

what guage steel is the end plating for the sparco bar? 16 gauge?

and how thick would you say the bar was for the bracket?

[Digitalwave]

You could always invest in one yourself so you could copy it.

[E30_pilot]

I have consider buying one,but that might make the price of our bars more.
Maybe someone can loan me theirs?

[1991 318is]

Group a car with no strut brace.

It may not have a strut brace but it has additional reinforcement in the form of a roll cage mounted through the firewall to the strut towers.

That through the firewall bracing is in the longitudinal direction, not cross bracing the strut towers. Cornering force pushes outward on the outside strut tower and inward on the inside strut tower. Bump forces tend to bring them closer together. The reason there is no brace from strut to strut is that the BMW engineers didn't think it needed one. I still maintain that strut bars do not improve cornering. They tie two components together that are trying to move in the same direction. They are boy racer stuff! Eye candy! Most serious race cars do not have struts but those that do triangulate to the center of the bar that crosses between the roll cage uprights. They are braced to the cage, not to each other.

[IS]

e30 pilot, use .095" wall thickness.

[nando]

That through the firewall bracing is in the longitudinal direction, not cross bracing the strut towers. Cornering force pushes outward on the outside strut tower and inward on the inside strut tower. Bump forces tend to bring them closer together. The reason there is no brace from strut to strut is that the BMW engineers didn't think it needed one. I still maintain that strut bars do not improve cornering. They tie two components together that are trying to move in the same direction. They are boy racer stuff! Eye candy! Most serious race cars do not have struts but those that do triangulate to the center of the bar that crosses between the roll cage uprights. They are braced to the cage, not to each other.

then why do all new ///M cars have them? ;)

[PiercedE30]

Just try and make the strut bar atleast be able to bolt to the firewall to help to triangulate it some. Without it being triangulated it is just for looks.

[KenC]

Any plans on making one for the M10?

[IS]

Just try and make the strut bar atleast be able to bolt to the firewall to help to triangulate it some. Without it being triangulated it is just for looks.

No, it still keeps the distance between strut towers relatively constant during braking and turning.

But a strut bar should nevertheless be at the very end of your list if you're interested in improving handling.