Benefit of a strut brace?

[DannyR]

Because the pure ones mount to the top mount. Standard strut braces mount with screws to the chassis.

 

[Jamie86]

But the top mounts are bolted into the chassis.. thus the same no?!

Not trying to cause an argument btw just how I'm looking at it..

 

[Sam@NP]

The benefit is in the design of the pure strutbrace, it bolts to the top mounts through the chassis rather then to the side of the chassis top mount area.

 

[Jamie86]

Yes I know that but doesn't the top mount bolt to the same area as the other braces, well ok about 40mm away.. does that make all the difference?

 

[Sam@NP]

Well the forces will be acting directly on the strut brace rather then going through the chassis then acting on the brace, no idea how much of a difference it will make in terms of feel but solid top mount are ridiculous on the road and if lap times were my priority Id plum for the pure strut because of its design.

 

[Keith185]

The Pure Motorsport one is fixed to the top mount directly and through the strut tower. The mounts are solid as oppose to standard which will have some flex under loading. Other braces will in effect only stiffen the strut towers up and not the actual struts directly.

 

[Jamie86]

I can see that but also see that the stresses are going through the same strut tower.. or am I just looking at it all wrong?

Anyway I have solid top mounts and a strut brace that I've not fitted and tbh not bothered either way.

But just wondering if there really will be that much difference between the two setups.

 

[Danith]

Well the forces will be acting directly on the strut brace rather then going through the chassis then acting on the brace, no idea how much of a difference it will make in terms of feel but solid top mount are ridiculous on the road and if lap times were my priority Id plum for the pure strut because of its design.

As in, for a daily driver (whizzing round B roads) it's gonna be far too harsh?

 

[Sam@NP]

If I were to draw a free body diagram of the forces involved it will be easier to visualise. Sod that though.

 

[DannyR]

You already have a massive bulkhead connecting each strut tower, the strut towers don't flex.

The struts/shocks do flex so connecting to them stops flex, connecting to the towers doesn't as they don't flex!

 

[Sam@NP]

As in, for a daily driver (whizzing round B roads) it's gonna be far too harsh?

Yep.

 

[Danith]

Bugger. Ok cheers dude. Saved me £210 then!? My car doesn't go near tracks........yet.

Are Whiteline ARB's and these top mount/brace setups pretty useless on a road car then?

 

[Sam@NP]

Whiteline ARB is epic, get one, we sell them

Solid top mounts, id advise against them there is nothing wrong with the standard ones.

 

[Adamm.]

Whiteline ARB is epic, get one, we sell them

Solid top mounts, id advise against them there is nothing wrong with the standard ones.

Interesting statement that being as I was thinking about buying some for my 172. Will take that from the top of my to do list then lol.

How much do you guys supply to whiteline for? Jam sport do them for £177

 

[Danith]

Whiteline ARB is epic, get one, we sell them

Solid top mounts, id advise against them there is nothing wrong with the standard ones.

I like what you did there! And yes I'm with Adamm, top mounts were top of my list too as one of mine is knackered, plus I need new cup shocks.

Whiteline ARB sharpens up the general steering response then? Want it as 'go kart' like as possible, without having to smash my back in with coilovers, just got cup shocks and eibachs at the mo. (Oh and a nice OMP strut brace that I know all you guys love to pieces! Came with the car!)

 

[Danith]

Camskill do em for £161 apparently, unless I've got the wrong one.

 

[tomph1]

the only time ive seen strut braced become useful . is a engine that has limited mounts like a fiat uno ? if a bracket is made you can proved another engine mount to limit engine movement

 

[Adamm.]

Camskill do em for £161 apparently, unless I've got the wrong one.

Not bad I'll probs go to Jam Sport being as I could get them to pop it on and there just up the road.

 

[Sam@NP]

Interesting statement that being as I was thinking about buying some for my 172. Will take that from the top of my to do list then lol.

How much do you guys supply to whiteline for? Jam sport do them for £177

£175 + free delivery.

 

[Adamm.]

Ah cheers mate .

 

[scoop172]

My experience of strut braces contradicts a lot of what is written here. I put front and rear on a car I had a few years ago which were both bolted to the tower and not the strut and the difference was huge. The way it stiffened the chassis up was amazing and they remain to this day the best mod i have ever done to a car.

 

[Sam@NP]

My experience of strut braces contradicts a lot of what is written here. I put front and rear on a car I had a few years ago which were both bolted to the tower and not the strut and the difference was huge. The way it stiffened the chassis up was amazing and they remain to this day the best mod i have ever done to a car.

What car was it out of interest?

 

[scoop172]

A mk IV Escort RS Turbo. An amazing car. Had all sorts since but still miss it

 

[Sam@NP]

A mk IV Escort RS Turbo. An amazing car. Had all sorts since but still miss it

Strut braces work well on Saxos as well, all depends on the chassis really.

 

[theduck]

Can't compare chassis mods on one car to another. The Clio chassis is stiff already, the escorts clearly wasn't.

 

[scoop172]

Now the juices are flowing and I'm swinging the lamp I put one on a MK VI Escort Gti, front only, which was a Ford part from the cabriolet that bolted to the tower and that was fab as well.

 

[scoop172]

Can't compare chassis mods on one car to another. The Clio chassis is stiff already, the escorts clearly wasn't.

You say that but others have generalised as if it were true of all. If putting braces in that don't connect with the top of the shock dont do anything why do roll cages that aren't increase torsional regidity by such big margins?

 

[Sam@NP]

no need to mention we are talking about clios in ever post surely? The second bit makes it sound like you have been drinking.

 

[theduck]

What I said is correct though, tbh I don't give a s**t what other people said.

It all depends on the car, what works on x won't necessarily work on y.

 

[tobeski]

I've recently installed the pure motorsport ones along with the strut brace. I use my car daily on a mixture of roads and would say they are fine for everyday use.

They are a definite improvement!

 

[scoop172]

no need to mention we are talking about clios in ever post surely? The second bit makes it sound like you have been drinking.

Am I using words that are too long for you. You asked what car they were fitted to.

 

[Sam@NP]

Have I upset you? The second part of post 67 doesn't make sense.

 

[mark smith87]

I use a rear brace in my car on track and it does stiffen the rear suspension. If its creaking at the back it's because you haven't greased the inside of the cup where it fits over the shock absorber tower. Just smear a bit of grease around the inside edge where it sits on the top and the creaking will go away. Easy fix.

 

[JackJack]

Have I upset you? The second part of post 67 doesn't make sense.

+1 I was going to reply to it but couldn't work out what he meant.

 

[Adamm.]

Look like he is referring to the comment where the main reason the Pure Motorsport is effective is because its connected to the strut itself.

I think he is trying to prove a point that ones that don't attach to the strut are still effective as a roll cage only bolts to the chassis and not the struts but still does a job of stiffening the chassis.

 

[scoop172]

Look like he is referring to the comment where the main reason the Pure Motorsport is effective is because its connected to the strut itself.

I think he is trying to prove a point that ones that don't attach to the strut are still effective as a roll cage only bolts to the chassis and not the struts but still does a job of stiffening the chassis.

Exactly.

 

[Adam G]

I can confirm the Whiteline ARB is outstanding. But the BTM one is by far the best.

 

[Adam G]

Also you could stick a blob of blutack on a mk4 escort and it would feel stiffer.:rasp:

 

[theduck]

Look like he is referring to the comment where the main reason the Pure Motorsport is effective is because its connected to the strut itself.

I think he is trying to prove a point that ones that don't attach to the strut are still effective as a roll cage only bolts to the chassis and not the struts but still does a job of stiffening the chassis.

On some cars, not all. They are not effective on a clio.

The main reason the pure Motorsport one is effective on a clip is because it connects to the strut.

Really don't see why this needs spelling out when it's a conversation on a clio forum about strut braces on a clio.

 

[JackJack]

On some cars, not all. They are not effective on a clio.

The main reason the pure Motorsport one is effective on a clip is because it connects to the strut.

Really don't see why this needs spelling out when it's a conversation on a clio forum about strut braces on a clio.

+1

Also lol at comparing a strut brace to a roll cage.