Strut Brace

[fil_b]

Hi All

Just quick question on fitting a strut brace

Do you tighten the brace up to

a - push the turrets out?
b - pull the turrets in?

Thanks

Feebs

 

[Neat]

I would have thought you'd want the car on level ground, probably on axle stands, so that the bodyshell is unstressed and the turrets are in exactly the position that they're supposed to be. And then add the strut brace in such a way that it holds them in exactly the same position - thereby keeping the shell more rigid and maintaining the manufacturers desired suspension geometry. But I've wondered before myself how people fit them. Anybody else?

 

[Soot1e]

If you are renewing/fitting other suspension parts and planning a suspension/wheel alignment, have it fitted then and the settings will be spot on.
If you want to fit it now I would bolt it on whilst the car is on level ground and no extra baggage in the car. I would not be forcing the turrets in or out.

 

[fil_b]

just when you put the brace on you tighten it up by either pulling it in or out.

 

[Neat]

I'd have thought you just adjust the brace to fit first (i.e. to be the correct length), and then attach it - without either pushing the turrets out, or pulling them in. These are just my own theoretical opinions though - hopefully someone who actually knows for sure will respond.

 

[st3ve]

I fitted mine like you said Neat, on level ground on axle stands with the wheels and suspension off and simply drilled and bolted it in without pulling either strut in or out.

 

[Icarus83]

I would assume (IMO and the way I fitted mine) that the strutbrace is in place to stop the movement upwards and inwards with respect to the engine bay as a centre point for reference.

The ends of the strut brace for mine (KTR chromed one) are half circles pointing outwards so I would logical assume that they are designed to resist forces trying to 'squash' the strutbrace, therefore when I fitted mine I 'tightened' the brace's adjustment to make it as 'wide' (pushing turrets out direction) as possible without applying significant force outwards, just enough to keep it from being loose. I then tightened the outer pair of nuts to stop it coming undone.