Strut Braces... what do they actually do?

[KrissyBufton]

hey just been lookin at strut braces, and wondering what they actually do? im assuming its a handling thing, but how do they improve this?

 

[tommyboy]

just stiffen it up a tad son, lessening bodyroll I'd imagine. Never fitted one myself

 

[Matta_88]

yeah like he said stiffen up the area you put them on making the car handle better, by putting it there it makes sure there is no flex in the chassis or other areas,,, or so i was told

 

[garymac1]

hey just been lookin at strut braces, and wondering what they actually do? im assuming its a handling thing, but how do they improve this?

Hey up, i've put a new momo/k-tec strut brace on and it dose help. as below there spot on!!!!

 

[garymac1]

hey just been lookin at strut braces, and wondering what they actually do? im assuming its a handling thing, but how do they improve this?

Hey up, i've put a new momo/k-tec strut brace on and it dose help. as below there spot on!!!!

I mean as above the guys are spot on in what they said.:approve:

 

[Englebert]

Nothing to do with bodyroll, just equals load better across the strut towers, reducing flex. Any reduction is chassis flex is good...whether you can tell the difference is variable on whatever car you have.

 

[GordonD]

hey just been lookin at strut braces, and wondering what they actually do? im assuming its a handling thing, but how do they improve this?

Imagine a closed, taped up carboard box, one those boxes where the top is in two halves. Its pretty rigid and strong, right. Cut the packing tape and open the top of the box. Now the box is weak and easily deformed. That's what the front end of your car is like because the bonnet isn't welded closed all round. It just closed the top, it doesn't add any structural strength. It like the box with the lid open, or closed but not taped up. A strut brace goes across under the bonnet and rigidly joins the the two strut tops together. That's like closing one half the top of the box and taping it up. It makes the box more rigid. The best solution would be to close the bonnet and weld it all around. But that's make access to the engine pretty difficult.

A more rigid car body removes the flex and makes the handling tighter and more predictable.

 

[jprlaw]

how much are they and how easy are they to fit?

 

[jabba]

how much are they and how easy are they to fit?

easy to diy fit, dont get really cheap rubbish thou as they are really cheap rubbish, rear ones are worth a look in to as hot hatches do flex a tad.

 

[Neil G]

172/182 strut towers are pretty well braced anyway and are so near the bulkhead that a strut brace would make no difference.

 

[heathbrowning]

as above. they reduce flex in the chassis. ktec have some for about £90 each i think.

 

[Neil G]

Reduction in flex is so marginal you won't even notice

Look good for show cars though/engine bay detailing