Strut Braces

[DanEdser]

what is the advantages of a front strut brace that goes over the engine from the top mounts?

are they recommendable?

 

[Stefan.]

omp ones no

pure motorsport ones yes

 

[Russ_16v]

No improvement at all unless you have the Pure motorsport top mount and strut brace kit.

Normal strut braces bolt to the strut towers by 2 puny little bolts - as the suspension moves inside the turrets on the standard rubber top mounts under pressure anyway it does didly squat.

The PM kit is different as the brace attaches to the top mounts, which will give an increase in redigity(sp?)

 

[DanEdser]

No improvement at all unless you have the Pure motorsport top mount and strutt brace kit.

Normal strutt braces bolt to the strutt towers by 2 puny little bolts - as the suspension moves inside the turrets under pressure anyway it does didly quat.

The PM kit is different as the brace attaches to the top mounts, which will give an increase in redigity(sp?)

but as do the OMP braces, they also attach to the top mounts

 

[Russ_16v]

How mate? The standard top mounts are rubber, no way of attaching to them, unless OMP do a solid top mount kit? Im not sure if they do or not - do you have a link I can see?

 

[McGherkin]

On a 1.2? Unnecessary. Unless you're rallying/racing.

 

[DanEdser]

On a 1.2? Unnecessary. Unless you're rallying/racing.

I know dude i'm just wondering

your computer fixed yet? D:

 

[McGherkin]

Nope. Deader than Elvis.

 

[DanEdser]

How mate? The standard top mounts are rubber, no way of attaching to them, unless OMP do a solid top mount kit? Im not sure if they do or not - do you have a link I can see?

maybe not, i saw a pic and thought they were held onto the top mount lool

it just sits around it and is bolted in

 

[DanEdser]

Nope. Deader than Elvis.

ouch..

 

[Russ_16v]

but as do the OMP braces, they also attach to the top mounts

Im probably being thick, but all the OMP ones I can find bolt to the struts not the top mounts mate? Could you find me an example and il have a look

EDIT: just saw your post above lol

 

[DanEdser]

Im probably being thick, but all the OMP ones I can find bolt to the struts not the top mounts mate? Could you find me an example and il have a look

look at what i last replied to you saying

 

[DanEdser]

so the OMP ones are useless?

 

[DanEdser]

what about rear strut braces? even though i cant get one cos of my sub haha!

 

[Russ_16v]

Yup lol.

Rears are also pointless, as most bolt to the inner rear wings, which such thin metal that in an accident it could rip out easily - some people tie their harnesses to them! Scary

 

[DanEdser]

what do they actually do? just improve handling?

 

[Stefan.]

so the OMP ones are useless?

what about rear strut braces? even though i cant get one cos of my sub haha!

as useless as the omp ones to give you an answer, people buy them because they look cool thats it, the pure motorsport top mount/strut brace combo is the only one worth buying

 

[John Gordon]

They are not pointless. They will reduce chassis flex marginally.

 

[Fred@BTM]

^not held to the chassis with self tapping bolts they won't! plus the rear isn't even attached to the shell

 

[DannyR]

The front struts have a massive piece of metal connecting them as it is called the bulkhead! They ain't twisting anywhere!

 

[John Gordon]

Never fitted an omp to a Clio so can't comment. But a strut brace and solid topmounts have two different jobs. Most of the omp braces I have used are bolted in.using the original bolts that hold the strut in.

 

[DanEdser]

Never fitted an omp to a Clio so can't comment. But a strut brace and solid topmounts have two different jobs. Most of the omp braces I have used are bolted in.using the original bolts that hold the strut in.

So im a bit of a newb here... what is the job of a solid top mount? :L

what is the difference between standard and say KTec top mounts? whats the difference to the drive?

 

[John Gordon]

The front struts have a massive piece of metal connecting them as it is called the bulkhead! They ain't twisting anywhere!

Will still flex especially on track, I see in your profile pic you have a cage, I'm guessing you noticed less "flex" once you fitted that?

 

[Fred@BTM]

not on the clio's John, you have to drill 2 holes each strut and use M8 self tapping bolts - pointless

this however - http://www.pure-motorsport.co.uk/details.php?itemid=152 amazing

 

[John Gordon]

Guess I'm going to have to eat humble pie then and agree the omp brace is pointless, unless you welded it in of course

 

[DannyR]

No it still wouldn't, the chassis on the Clio for the front is a great design. The amount of flex in that area is minimal.

Having a massive piece of metal attaching the struts together from top to bottom as from the factory is better than one bar on top.

As said you need to be directly on top of the shock.

Strut braces only really work with cars with longer bonnets where the strut towers are further down and only part of the inner wing not the bulkhead as they are with clios.

 

[DannyR]

Will still flex especially on track, I see in your profile pic you have a cage, I'm guessing you noticed less "flex" once you fitted that?

Yes but the shell of a car is flexible due to no cross joins anywhere, the strut towers are joined very well

 

[DanEdser]

so would solid top mounts be a better upgrade than strut braces?

 

[DannyR]

Yes even better if your bought the pure solid top mounts combined with the strut brace

 

[st3ve]

I'd buy that if I didn't already have the k-tec ones.

 

[DanEdser]

Yes even better if your bought the pure solid top mounts combined with the strut brace

so that would improve the handling of the car dramatically?

 

[DanEdser]

I'd buy that if I didn't already have the k-tec ones.

is there a noticeable difference than standard top mounts?

 

[Russ_16v]

It would make the front end stiffer, but remember the stiffer you make something, the more stress is inserted onto other parts, ie worn wishbones bushes, track rod ends etc

 

[DanEdser]

It would make the front end stiffer, but remember the stiffer you make something, the more stress is inserted onto other parts, ie worn wishbones bushes, track rod ends etc

can those parts be uprated though? so they can undergo more stress?

 

[st3ve]

is there a noticeable difference than standard top mounts?

I bought them because my standard ones were knocking, I guess you could say it gives a slightly better feel but nothing dramatically different.

 

[DannyR]

can those parts be uprated though? so they can undergo more stress?

Yes but a new standard setup is amazing in all honesty. Not many people have driven a Clio in that spec though unfortunately and think stiffer and lower is the way to go.

 

[DanEdser]

Yes but a new standard setup is amazing in all honesty. Not many people have driven a Clio in that spec though unfortunately and think stiffer and lower is the way to go.

what do you mean by a new standard setup?

 

[Fred@BTM]

saying that though Danny there must be a reason why renault welded a bar in on the V6 and used a MONSTER of a subframe, the front will flex to an extent, not like R5 levels but still

 

[DannyR]

Probably due to not having an engine in the front, the engine mounts would take up a bit of that flex I'd imagine!

I've never seen under the bonnet on a V6 though in all honesty.

Dan, a new setup that has brand new suspension components is a brilliant setup, 99% of Clio's will be running on old perished 10 year old rubbers by now.

 

[st3ve]

what do you mean by a new standard setup?

He means new genuine Renault parts, most people tend to buy aftermarket and assume their worn out parts are an indication of what they are like as new.