Bracing the rear struts
 

allegedly a very weak point of the gc8, apart from a top strut bar what (if) has anyone else done?

do them 3 point rear braces make a lot of difference?

anyone done any custom bracing?

X brace?
welded in a bit of bar? :lol1:

All good ideas, over in the USofA they do like their multi-point rear end braces, but overkill on a road car ?

IMHO

dunx

Yes dunx, the guys over in the USofA really know their stuff when it comes to the gc8's

i dont think its overkill, just want it to handle like a mofo and corner flat :D

Have a look at the summit racing range in the UK.:thumb: ABW supply them autobodyworks Subaru Bodywork

Fitted a rear bar to mine, like a feckin RSJ ! Very similar to the GT Spec Range.

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...GC/summit4.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...GC/summit3.jpg


They do GC8 etc...

http://www.invoauto.co.uk/images/Pro...-CAR-6-LRG.jpg

http://www.invoauto.co.uk/images/Pro...-CAR-5-LRG.jpg

£330 is steep for that! could mod my brace thats on now for less i rekon

Yep :thumb:

Make friends with an ally welder and I reckon it's easy to copy what been done before:)

watch this space

That boot trunk stiffener is a complete waste of time and money, it won't brace anything the stock brace isn't in any meningful way.

If you have a wagon the three point braces are a good mod, if you have a saloon, even the stock braces are probably not worthwile until running track level spring rates, the stiffness of the cross piece is of little relevance to a 'standard' brace as the weakness is in the mountings and the bolting (which allows articulating).

Wrighty, you seem confused, a strut brace won't help it 'corner flat' but it will maintain suspension geometry (for better or worse) under load.

Simon

rookie, i just want my car to handle sweet as a nut. thats why im trying ideas to cover all bases - and iv heard the rear struts are a weak point so stiffening must help.

Yes but 'heard' from who, people who sell strut braces or people who wanted to justify buying them? Peole who've actually calculated the stiffness or measured it? Besides I think you mean they said the rear strut mounts were a weak point, if its the rear struts themselves, you've already replaced them?

Also the simple lateral braces are not stiff enough to make a meaningfull addition to the saloons where the parcel shelf already reinforces the rear strut tops very effectively with welded in gussets and cross beam as can be seen in 53WRX's photo's, on a wagon it will certainly help though. Fit one by all means, don't expect to notice the difference, and as I say even if it stiffened the body by 50% (impossible) the car would corner no flatter.

I'm an engineer by trade and I like to look at and analyse things and do things that make sense not just because 'everyone' says its the thing to do - we've had 10 years of people saying the Whiteline ALK reduces nose lift under power despite the incontrevertable evidence saying it does the exact opposite after all!

Simon

the guys on rs25, in america, who are mad fo chassis stifness in their coupes rekon the strut mounts are a weak/flexy point so it got me thinking.

iv had a top strut brace ages, the struts are ohlins but i was wondering if bracing the strut mounts, about half way down them would make a difference.

the gc8 saloon chassis is quite flexible, as an engineer then what would you suggest to stiffen the chassis up? i wouldnt buy an ALK, i cant see how giving more caster can help at all....the affect is probably placebo (sp)

If you want to stiffen the rear strut tops, you need a fully bolt in cross brace triangulated to the boot floor, I think Cusco make one, not sure who else, but even that won't stop the main body flex which is through the main body from A to C-pillar.

The ALK is a good addition actually, it increases castor (which increases erffective camber when the wheels are turned) and also, by inducing front end lift, effectively softens the front end which improves traction in through corners and reduces understeer.

Simon

Seems they flex quite a lot looking at the youtube clip.

Homebrew X brace in a GC chassis - Page 10 - RS25.com: Subaru Impreza GC8 & RS Forum & Community

Good find, and kind of validates my point about the normal strut bars not really doing much....