rfowler

sorry chaps but i got a stupid question. what is the point of a strut brace

RB5_245

To stiffen across the struts, lessening movement under loading.

In reality I doubt anyone would notice the difference between having one and not on a road car as there is so much give in other areas.

Dave

Jap Import

Depending on how you drive, ie into corners, you will notice a difference.

rfowler

are they easy to install or do i need to take it to a garage

GREGGYG

iTrader: (2)

You can fit it yourself in around 20 mins. Just undo the nuts either side, on top of the struts under the bonnet, think its 3 either side, then fit the strutbrace, and refit and tighten the nuts! All JDM STi's have them fitted as standard from the factory. Another kick in the teeth for Type UK owners.

RB5_245

All you need is a 12mm spanner. 6 nuts in total, all easy to get to.

20mins includes the cup of tea afterwards

Rear one is slightly more time consuming.

RB5_245

Actually, for the cost of a strut brace you can get some mods that actually will make a difference, like droplinks.. or rear ARB

Better do that..

corradoboy

^^^ Wot 'e said

The chassis on new-age Scoobs is so stiff that you have to have significantly modified many other parts before chassis flex will become noticeable. Do the rear ARB and links and get a good geo set-up for the best initial results for little expenditure.

rfowler

so another stupid question what are droplinks or rear ARB.. pics might help

corradoboy

The bright silver bar you can see is the ARB, which transfers load from one side of the car to the other through torsional force. The thicker it is, the less susceptable to the rotational torsion applied by the cornering weight transfer of the vehicle, and thus the car stays flatter through the corner. This minimises centrefugal weight transfer and maintains better tyre to surface alignment to give greater grip. The bar illustrated is also adjustable. If you look closely at the end where it is bolted there are 3 holes. Working on leverage, the hole closest you will have less leverage on the bar and make it stiffer in operation. The hole furthest away increases leverage thus making it easier to apply torsion. The pic shows a car with it on the middle setting. In truth the majority of people whom have fitted these have never adjusted them later. I did and found that the stiffer setting suited my driving still significantly more.

Gold coloured "C" shaped thing is the droplink. The OE ones fitted to a Scoob are plastic and prone to flexing, reducing the amount of force they transfer to the ARB. The have also been known to break, hence the use of stronger alloy or steel versions.

EOEUMC

iTrader: (5)

I'm going to ask a stupid question now
What if a drop link snaps! What would/could happen and what sort of damage could you expect?

corradoboy

The car will get more roly and will understeer more. You can drive without a rear ARB and links (some non-turbo classics don't) but it won't handle very well at all.

GC8

A non-braced (triangulated to the firewall/bulkhead) strut-brace is of virtually no use anyway.

BVM

You beat me to it! Non triangulated strut braces are pretty much useless.

BVM

Did you install these yourself? That evap canister location makes it such a PITA!

RB5_245

It's simple to get the ARB's on, do it on ramps or on the ground though as it's easyer with weight on the wheels.

Shouldn't take longer than 30mins if your spanners have been out the packet a few times before.

Dave

BVM

The ARB is easy, its installing the uprated ARB mounting bracket on the drivers side thats a PITA.

sirscooby

so my wrx already has a rear arb, it is just not as good as the uprated ones... likewise with the droplinks. Where is the best place to buy these and how much are they to install? Any tips and tricks on installing the drivers side if it si a pain?
Rob

silent running

Best use I found for a strut brace was on my old Clio 16v - brilliant for when you're working on a hot engine and you need something safe to lean on. No doubt there is some benefit to be had, but it does vary a lot from car to car. From what I've heard so far, Scoobies don't really need one. If you think about it, the strut tops are so close to the bulkhead anyway, they can't add much rigidity. In some cars the struts are halfway down the wing, where a brace would add some lateral rigidity, although without being triangulated, there's still movement there.

Harvez

Noticed alot off difference in handling after installing one of my 3 strut braces, no doubt. Also have whiteline drop links, poly bushes, whiteline anti roll bar, upper and lower front strut brace, and lower rear. And the car handles like a dream. That and some proxe's

RB5_245

That's an aftermarket mounting point that's an extra.

Don't bother imo unless you want to race the car. the bar it's self is easy to fit, as are droplinks.

Demon tweeks or mocom racing would be a couple of places to start.. Ebay..

GC8

For strut braces to work properly they need to be fitted top and bottm and triangulated against the firewall/bulkhead. Of more use is the seldom seen (or known about; for that read: seldom has bull**** perpetuated about on BBSs by people who donbt really understand what theyre repeating) inner wing brace, thats fitted to the outside of the inner wing; bracing it against firewall. They make a real difference on both Classics and New Age cars but they take a good deal of fitting and you cant show them off in McDonalds carpark!

Simon

Leeroy

Other than making the car weigh more and reduce power/weight ratio!

Oh, and showing off to m8's!

Robocop

An interesting Q&A session with Damian Harty from Prodrive here. https://www.scoobynet.com/suspension...ons-forum.html

Have a look at post #9.

bob r

iTrader: (46)

its somewhere to put more stickers

Fuzz

Or to attach the remote reservoirs of your AST race dampers.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Nice thinking!

Dazza01

My UK Turbo had got one fitted when i brought it so no kick in the teeth for me

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

quick question on the strut brace thing. my old classic wrx had one fitted that looked standard with all the jap writing on a label around it. was it just sti or was it wrx models too which had them standard...

andy

RB5_245

Good thread

Thanks for sticking it up here.

Dave