strut brace help?

[chrishesketh]

managed to get my hands on an omp front upper strut brace off here, just arrived today!

n00b question but is there special bolts to use or do I drill and use nuts and bolts?

cheers, chris

 

[chrishesketh]

anyone??

 

[DaveDreads]

No special nuts and bolts, just ones that are the correct size for the holes.

 

[sonny172cup]

I have drilled the holes bigger and an extra 3rd hole between the original 2 on the mounting plates using M8 8.8HT bolts, this will guarantee no/less movement than the supplied screws.

 

[chrishesketh]

I have drilled the holes bigger and an extra 3rd hole between the original 2 on the mounting plates using M8 8.8HT bolts, this will guarantee no/less movement than the supplied screws.

thanks a lot this sounds a good improvement! I will get some bolts ordered and get it in place cheers

 

[sonny172cup]

Middle bolt needs to be longer as the strut body slops downwards and away from the mounting plate of the strut.

Make sure you put some sealant on the arch side of bolts and have nuts facing upwards, bit tricky, would advise someone else holding the bolt with a spanner while you use both hands to tighten up the bolts, one hand will make the socket most likely slip and ruin the nut head.

Again its not the greatest strut brace in the world but choice is very limited and your making best with what you have at hand

 

[chrishesketh]

thanks a lot great help this will get it installed as soon as I can hopefully this weekend! any chance you know the lent hag or did you cut them down yourself? cheers

 

[sonny172cup]

Length of the bolts? Think the outer 2 was 20mm and the inner one was 25mm, both M8s

 

[chrishesketh]

thanks a lot really do appreciate it!

 

[sonny172cup]

Also worth putting some rust inhibiter around the drill holes as well. You're welcome

 

[sonny172cup]

Just realised my other half of my post hadnt posted (bloody tapatalk)

I mentioned, about putting washers on the underside of the bolts that go in the wheel arch, this will stop the bolt heads pulling through or tearing the sheet metal and allow you to tighten up the bolts.

I haven't done it yet, but i'm going to add a further bolt on each side by the outer 2, so they work in pairs this will add sheering strength. Remember on these types of suspension when cornering the outside wheel is pulling the outer strut tower outwards, so in effect the strut brace is under tension and the strut towered gets pulled apart rather than pushed (during corning) so the bolts are under stress. A strut brace is only as strong as its weakest part, normally the self tappets screws, the mounting bolts( in our case) or seam welds.

The tension set on the omp brace wants to be natural, obviously taking up some of the slack.

If this cures lets say 50% of the movement, then that is better than nothing.

fyi The PMS or cup racer style front brace is the best as this mounts to solid top mounts and sits on the lug ridge and is 100% solid.

Are you running oem suspension or coilovers?

Sonny

 

[chrishesketh]

I bought the car with konis suspension, springs and shocks. this being 30mm lower all around, handles great but I couldn't compare it to standard or coilovers! i love the ride it's gives! I think I will stick with 3 holes, with 4, the holes would be closer giving them less distance between each other and may actually weaken the metal? I'm currently looking into solid top mounts but unsure which to go with

 

[chrishesketh]

once again thanks for the help

 

[bozothenutter]

i'd have used washers, and some stainless acornnuts.....makes it look better