Strut braces

[McBunny]

right who makes the best strutbrace for the 172 front and rear or is anyone good with autocad and can make one up ?? if so can you do me the design or what ever and send it to me please as i might be able to get them made up cheap

 

[telford_mike]

Rear - k-tec. Front is in development.

http://homepages.tesco.net/~mmikee/rearbrace.jpg

 

[VX-Tony]

What do you think of the strut Mike? Last time I asked you hadnt really had it in the car, or are you waiting for tomorrow to tell?

 

[McBunny]

cool mike could you take some measurements and a closeup of the ends

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Front and rear strut braces from OMP, re-finished in Iceberg silver



http://www.fifegallery.co.uk/domains/cliosport/front_brace.jpg

http://www.fifegallery.co.uk/domains/cliosport/rear_brace.jpg

 

[BenR]

front doesnt look a very good fit!

 

[telford_mike]

Quote: Originally posted by TonyKL on 26 June 2003

What do you think of the strut Mike? Last time I asked you hadnt really had it in the car, or are you waiting for tomorrow to tell?

Still waiting for a trackday, and cant make it tomorrow . Convinced its made the rear a lot tauter though. Its also eliminated a rattle

 

[telford_mike]

Quote: Originally posted by dogmaul on 26 June 2003

cool mike could you take some measurements and a closeup of the ends

No probs Ill get some pics tomorrow - you going to make one yerself? They only cost about 70 quid!

Another pic:

http://www.k-tecracing.com/products/clio2/suspension/rear_strut_brace_2.jpg

 

[McBunny]

yeah but the metal is like £2 lol

 

[BenR]

not doing anything either located in those rubber mounts.

 

[McBunny]

thats why i was thinking of doing one that was mounted to the strut tower top thing if that would be better

 

[BenR]

without those little rubber bits, any true flex would quickly nip the top of the strus off..........they are weak as feck.

 

[McBunny]

yeah but whatif it was like bolted to the top of the tower not the actuall strut thread bit

 

[BenR]

then it would work

 

[McBunny]

coolio its easier like that too i would say

 

[telford_mike]

The k-tec brace uses the top of the towers to take the load - the circular ends mount over and around the tops of the towers.

 

[BenR]

so they rest on them and the torque is provided by the nut on top of the shocker shaft....?

 

[telford_mike]

yes, that and the towers themselves. If the towers or the shocker top try to move the brace is put under load.

 

[McBunny]

cool ben what would happen if i removed the exhaust and replaced it with a length of stainless steel of the same length and diameter ???

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Mike / Ben, the OMP rear brace works on the same principle as the K-Tec except that the ends are solid "inverted mushroom" ends that fit neatly over the top cups of the turrets. The shaft tops of the struts fit through central holes. The whole lot is clamped down with the top nuts. This setup does appear to work. When I first put it on it squeaked like buggery even over small irregularities on the road. On removal you could see where the top cup had been rubbing the inside of the brace end. I had to build it using Coppaslip to quieten it down. The ultmate way to do this would be to have brace cups that fit over the tops of the turrets, bolted down, independent from the strut top fixings, similat to a front brace.

 

[warrena]

Can you talk me through the fitting of the front brace?

 

[BenR]

doggy...........its would be LOUD! lol

rear brace......is till wouldnt spend my money on a half heated attempt......squeeking means movement.......the brake is already not doing its job.....its not like the chassis twists inches....maybe a mill or 2.

 

[McBunny]

so how bout a brace welded between the towers then is that the best

 

[BenR]

if u dont mind it being permanent

 

[McBunny]

i can cut it back out hehe no one would ever know lol unless they took up the carpet doh

 

[BenR]

huh?

your gonna follow the boot floor with the brace?

Your gonna get all sorts of leverages and need to use some HEAVY gauge steel to be stiff enough........might as well use lighter steel and triangulate from the strut TOPS

 

[McBunny]

nooo just between the strut towers but what do you call the material on the side of the boot ?? carpet aint it ?

 

[BenR]

lol.....i thought you were going to hide the whole thing under the carpet~ hehehehe

 

[McBunny]

nooo just the ends on like a metal plate then i could just cut the tube out if need be