GazTheHat

Hi All,

Seen a few strut braces floating around. Do they "really" make any difference? (04 Sti).

Also, the rear one, does it remove much boot space?

(The wife wanting a wagon and i battered her into submission and got an STi. She will kill me if the kiddos buggy wont fit in the boot if i fit the strut brace, she's already p!ssed that she has to take the wheels off for it to fit.)

Thanks for any advice.

Anders_WR1

iTrader: (8)

I was looking at options for braces. Looked through some previous posts on here and came to the conclusion it's not worth fitting the rear one. If you look in the boot, you can see a large metal structure that joins both sides of the car as standard.

Before fitting any braces, you want to visit Powerstation and fit uprated arb's and the anti-lift kit (see my Whiteline arb's and ALK comments post). Now that kit is fiited I will probably fit these:

STI style carbon brace

http://www.scoobyworld.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=0_39&products_id=256&osCsid =d7f5109ff544f5eff38a53aef811fa5e

Megan 4-point lower brace (at bottom of page)

http://x.ccsperformance.co.uk/?pid=products

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I have one of the Megan braces, but really do not have a clue where it is to be fitted, and if i need anything else to go with it.

Can anyone shed some light on this.

Thanks

Cookie

Anders_WR1

iTrader: (8)

Here's a picture from their web site. It might help.

http://www.meganracing.com/uploadIma...%20H-Brace.JPG

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Nice one mate, reduces clearence by quite a bit though.

Will fit tomorrow i think, will i need any other parts than supplied, im assuming you just undo a few bolts line it up and tighten all up again.

Anders_WR1

iTrader: (8)

I think all the bolts are already on the car. Let me know if your car buckles in the middle when you take em out

GazTheHat

Thanks for the links & info. I was thinking the strut brace would be more for cosmetic reasons, and cheap at around £40. I dont have £400 to the whileline arbs (whatever arbs are) etc work. (Just yet)

My mods are currently lOOking like:

Mudflaps - done
Front Strut Brace £40
Defi BFs £700
PPP £2000
Prodrive springs & geom £400 / maybe Eibach & geom, dunno price?
18's + tyres £1000

After that, i doubt i will want more done, but then again...

911

IMHO:
You have missed the most important parts off.
The anti roll bars (ARB's) from Whiteline simply replace the existing bars and will transform the car.
No re-alignment just a simple spanner job, takes about 1 lazy hour to do and changes the car totally.
About £400 i think, not sure, paying someone to do it included.

Graham

Anders_WR1

iTrader: (8)

Agreed. The gains to handling can't be over stated! You will probably make it faster down B roads with a set of Prodrive springs, the ARB's and anti-lift kit than you would by fitting the PPP.

If your looking for all-out performance, sacrifice the Defi's and fit the above. Expect to pay around £500 + VAT for the Whiteline stuff fitted by Powerstation (including geometry).

BTW the £40 Megan brace isn't going to do much for cosmetics, when it's under the car...

RemaL

Does anyone know what front strut will fit my W reg S Turbo Forester.

Would an inpreza of the same age fit?

cheers

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

When you say ARB's do you mean front and rear? Changing the rear to a 22mm and using the middle hole seems to be a favorite option but leaving the front standard? - I'm talking 03 STi here.
JohnD

911

Big debate on this one!
On my Sti v3 classic, I changed the front and rear to 22mm, and ended up with the rear on middle hole. I like it this way.

However, I should add that my car is a hill climb car, road driven only 3000 miles a year and has a lot of mods to suit hill climbing first and foremost.

The ARB Fr and Rr realy kill the roll of the car even with stock Sti suspension, but with AST's and 60/50 N/mm spring it is 'hard' and very little roll.
The understeer is gone, dialed out by the radical castor at the front and fine tuned by the rear bars hole changes.

For the road you will get a good effect with just the rear which is why so many have done just that.

Again, I like my set-up, but it is all a compromise.

Graham.

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

I have a Whiteline front strut brace fitted to my WRX, and I also have a STi intercooler and the bloddy strut brace keeps viberating of the intercooler, So if you have, or think about fitting a STi intercooler, make sure you get the STi one.

EddScott

One thing that put me off about strut braces is that you are supposed to declare it to the insurers. Classic STIs came with braces as standard which is fine. You fit one to a car that as standard does not have one the insurer could refuse to pay if you claim.

Same with whiteline stuff but links and ARBs are less noticeable.

Insurers really dont like braces. Apart from engine mods I think braces are a close 2nd to roll cages in the alarming insurance quote table.

911

Totally agree with EddScott.

Any shot at cheating the Insurers and you will be doomed.
Personally, I feel aftermarket struts are cosmetic and the insurers are scared as they SHOUT 'boyracer'.
My rollcage did not raise any questions other than why do you want one.
Honest, simple answer: I do track-days with the car. Response:

'Ok, thanks for telling us.'

(Footman James 3 years ago, Sti V3 grey import)

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

[QUOTE=911]Totally agree with EddScott.

Any shot at cheating the Insurers and you will be doomed.
Personally, I feel aftermarket struts are cosmetic and the insurers are scared as they SHOUT 'boyracer'.
)[/QUOTE

It's not so much boy racer as the fact that a shunt on one side will cause damage on the other side via the strut brace.
JohnD

911

That is very true.
Same with a roll cage that is welded into the shell, the impact is transfered to the rest of the body instead of keeping it (repairably) local.
Good point.

Graham