Strut Tower Brace?

Twilightoptics · 06-16-2009, 10:05 PM

Anyone put on a strut tower brace and notice any benefits? I'm thinking about building one once I'm done painting. I know they help other cars, but the 7 is so stiff and feels rigid as it is.

Any experiance out there?

Rogue_Wulff · 06-17-2009, 12:38 AM

I made one for my car, and I can certainly tell it's there. I also have GC coilovers with 350lb/inch Eibach springs, but the effect was noticable even when I had the old saggy ST springs.
It just seems to firm up the front better. Since I run SCCA CSP, I am only allowed to cross connect the towers, but not tie into the firewall. I wish I were allowed to brace the towers fore/aft....

Twilightoptics · 06-17-2009, 09:33 AM

I triangulated brace is definitely the way to go.

rx4ur7 · 06-17-2009, 12:18 PM

Unless you race the car or plan on really hard driving you probably will not notice any difference. Looks cool but for most street vehicles not really needed. Does not hurt anything except add weight to the front of the car. Weight is the enemy. Good springs, Tokicos and good tyres will be money better spent for a stock or lightly modified platform. I have found that the stock factory SA/FB 12A platform will handle up to 200hp with out issues (SE 235HP). Beyond that I recommend some beefing up.

The strut brace allowed by SCCA solo does help, triangulated for road racing a must.

I should add that if you are going to do really serious street driving that entails hard cornering it isn't going to hurt, especially if you are running gumball tires.

Either one helps with getting you a better tire temperature pattern. Solo really important.

Kentetsu · 06-17-2009, 01:24 PM

This is another one of those items I've considered, but never got around to. The problem is, I can't really imagine the car handling any better than it already does, so I can't justify the expense in time/money/weight. My tri-link/panhard is still sitting on the shelf in my garage for this very reason...

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orion84gsl · 06-19-2009, 03:25 PM

I have an RE-Speed triangulated bar. To tell you the truth I couldn't really tell the difference, but this was after also installing full poly bushings and the car had sat for a while before I installed it so my feel for the car wasn't the same as if I had driven it the day before. When I jack the car up it doesn't seem to flex as much up front, so it's certainly doing something

rx7carl · 06-19-2009, 10:03 PM

I noticed a huge difference in steering response. My racecar had a non triangulated bar as per the rules but my road car has a RB trinagulated brace. It does make a difference, unless you drive like granny, then you probably wouldnt notice.

Rogue_Wulff · 06-20-2009, 11:56 AM

I not only noticed a sharper steering response, but the bumps are bit more noticable.
I built my own, and the way I designed it, I can easily add the triangulation later.

06-16-2009, 10:05 PM	#1
Twilightoptics Itchin' to Turbo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vancouver, WA iTrader: (0) Posts: 33 Rep Power: 0	Strut Tower Brace? Anyone put on a strut tower brace and notice any benefits? I'm thinking about building one once I'm done painting. I know they help other cars, but the 7 is so stiff and feels rigid as it is. Any experiance out there?

06-17-2009, 12:18 PM	#4
rx4ur7 Rotary since 1972 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tucson iTrader: (0) Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	Unless you race the car or plan on really hard driving you probably will not notice any difference. Looks cool but for most street vehicles not really needed. Does not hurt anything except add weight to the front of the car. Weight is the enemy. Good springs, Tokicos and good tyres will be money better spent for a stock or lightly modified platform. I have found that the stock factory SA/FB 12A platform will handle up to 200hp with out issues (SE 235HP). Beyond that I recommend some beefing up. The strut brace allowed by SCCA solo does help, triangulated for road racing a must. I should add that if you are going to do really serious street driving that entails hard cornering it isn't going to hurt, especially if you are running gumball tires. Either one helps with getting you a better tire temperature pattern. Solo really important. Last edited by rx4ur7; 06-26-2009 at 04:07 PM..

06-17-2009, 01:24 PM	#5
Kentetsu RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan iTrader: (1) Posts: 530 Rep Power: 17	This is another one of those items I've considered, but never got around to. The problem is, I can't really imagine the car handling any better than it already does, so I can't justify the expense in time/money/weight. My tri-link/panhard is still sitting on the shelf in my garage for this very reason... . __________________ "Learn from the past, or it will become your future...." '85 GS 12a + LSD/Sterling carb/Respeed coilovers/Respeed front swaybar/Respeed adj. rear spring perches/Illuminas/Bilsteins on rear AutoX vids @ http://www.youtube.com/user/Kentetsu1

06-19-2009, 10:03 PM	#7
rx7carl Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orlando, Fl iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 17	I noticed a huge difference in steering response. My racecar had a non triangulated bar as per the rules but my road car has a RB trinagulated brace. It does make a difference, unless you drive like granny, then you probably wouldnt notice. __________________ www.pbandjracing.com

06-17-2009, 12:38 AM	#2
Rogue_Wulff Non Member Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 310 Rep Power: 17	I made one for my car, and I can certainly tell it's there. I also have GC coilovers with 350lb/inch Eibach springs, but the effect was noticable even when I had the old saggy ST springs. It just seems to firm up the front better. Since I run SCCA CSP, I am only allowed to cross connect the towers, but not tie into the firewall. I wish I were allowed to brace the towers fore/aft....

06-17-2009, 09:33 AM	#3
Twilightoptics Itchin' to Turbo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vancouver, WA iTrader: (0) Posts: 33 Rep Power: 0	I triangulated brace is definitely the way to go.

06-19-2009, 03:25 PM	#6
orion84gsl Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 167 Rep Power: 17	I have an RE-Speed triangulated bar. To tell you the truth I couldn't really tell the difference, but this was after also installing full poly bushings and the car had sat for a while before I installed it so my feel for the car wasn't the same as if I had driven it the day before. When I jack the car up it doesn't seem to flex as much up front, so it's certainly doing something

06-20-2009, 11:56 AM	#8
Rogue_Wulff Non Member Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 310 Rep Power: 17	I not only noticed a sharper steering response, but the bumps are bit more noticable. I built my own, and the way I designed it, I can easily add the triangulation later.