How Much Of A Difference Does The Strut Bar Make?

[AYW550]

well obviously im wondering how much of a difference in handling the front strut bar makes

ive lowered my car and taken out the entire a/c system and shifted the batter to the rear of the car and already it handles about a thousand times better

i almost got one put on the car when i lowered it, but the shop that installed my new shocks and lowered the car reckoned that because of the suspension design on the front of skylines, a strut bar doesnt make much difference, but obviously it must make a difference if a gtr gets one.... right?

what do you guys/girls think?

thanks!

Edited October 16, 2009 by AYW550

[BeEnAr]

Find a new suspension shop. Strut bar is, IMO, a great benefit. Tying the strut tops together helps to stiffen the car up and stops a lot of body flex whic saps performance through the twisty stuff. Just go and get one you know you want to.

[_Ryan_]

less of a difference compared to a macpherson strut car, agree'd

[Duncan]

I agree with rb ryan!

the top of the strut/shock takes sfa force in a double wishbone setup like skyline compared to say a silvia with strut front suspension. the force is on the inner end of the upper and lower control arm which are not really braced by a strut brace.

btw also gtrs did not come with a strut bar, except n1.

[_Ryan_]

btw also gtrs did not come with a strut bar, except n1.

Yet stagea's do for some reason

[Duncan]

goddamn volvos. I wonder if my strut brace fits over the rb30

[Pezhead]

btw also gtrs did not come with a strut bar, except n1.

Really? I thought they did. Mine does and I only wish it were an N1 (although no rear wiper like an N1). Pretty much every GTR I've ever seen has them.

An the extra bracing on the GTR is amazing - there are "extra" bits all over under the car.

[AYW550]

yeah seems like a split descision really, id want one for looks just as much as for handling benefits, (but doesnt seem like there are many) any one driven their car before and after a strut brace?

also, how much do they get in the way of working on your car? like in the way of the intake and stuff, would be a pain to tkae it off and on whenever i was under the hood

Edited October 21, 2009 by AYW550

[stolen-gtr]

not sure about the technical suspension setups, but having installed a cusco front brace on my s2 33 just on the weekend, i can tell you GET ONE!!!

I only have shocks, not coilovers - and ive heard that with coilovers the difference is minimal but shocks is definitely recommended.

the difference is actually amazing. Maybe its just my driving style or the way the car is set up but i find now the steering feels much lighter, and the front grip has increased dramatically. For $150 - 200 for a decent one i would not think twice - my opinion now is that they are quite underrated.

As for working on the engine, it seems they are easy to remove (4 nuts) so personally i wouldn't worry about it too much.

Hope that helps

[skylinecouple]

One of the first changes I made to my 33 and noticed the difference straight away. Car was more responsive on turn in at normal road speeds let alone track. Get one and you will see.

Edited October 21, 2009 by skylinecouple

[iseekool]

I agree with rb ryan!

the top of the strut/shock takes sfa force in a double wishbone setup like skyline compared to say a silvia with strut front suspension. the force is on the inner end of the upper and lower control arm which are not really braced by a strut brace.

btw also gtrs did not come with a strut bar, except n1.

My R34 sedan got a stock strut brace...

And there are alot of R34s out there that has it stock.

[GTS4WD]

I too noticed a tighter and more direct front end.

She is a little bulky with the front diff and half shafts etc though.

The only thing a rear one did was add a little weight to the car.

[ARTZ]

Another benefit you will hopefully not have to find out, is that it does supply extra body rigidity in in an accident..my friend found out the hard way..but was told the car would have been alot worse off had the brace not been there after he put his the front corner of his car into a wall

[GODZ1LLA]

My car has coilovers and front and rear strut braces and it feels mega tight more like a smaller more nimble car thru the corners,

on saying that i aint drove a std skyline without one, so cant really compare but if mine is anything to go buy they go nice and tight

[Tony de Wonderful]

Another benefit you will hopefully not have to find out, is that it does supply extra body rigidity in in an accident..my friend found out the hard way..but was told the car would have been alot worse off had the brace not been there after he put his the front corner of his car into a wall

Do you want more rigidity at the front though?

What you want in a crash is for the driver compartment to stay intact but for everything else to deform/yield and absorb the energy. i.e crumble zones etc. That way the rate of deceleration on the driver/passengers is less.

If you're adding rigidity/strength to the front it's the opposite effect surely?

[stolen-gtr]

Tony i think what doozooby was referring to may have been a side impact crash...

i agree with you that a head on crash increasing the rigity may not necesarilly be a good thing, but then again i suppose its not front-back rigidity, its side to side...but im no crash tester expert lol.

Either way i think the question has been answered - handling is improved

Do you want more rigidity at the front though?

What you want in a crash is for the driver compartment to stay intact but for everything else to deform/yield and absorb the energy. i.e crumble zones etc. That way the rate of deceleration on the driver/passengers is less.

If you're adding rigidity/strength to the front it's the opposite effect surely?

[nisskid]

front = decent amount

rear = not a lot

the strut brace holds not too far away from the upper link at the front, stopping this sideways distortion helps a lot, especially mid corner understeer.

rear does f**k all as all ur links are connected to the subframe, which ur strut brace is no where near. u can add bracing to the subframe, which is the equivilent of a strut brace on the front, but ur talking about nowhere near the amount of flex.

[AYW550]

thanks for the replies, deffinately sounds like a future up-grade!

[Kramotax]

Personally I felt the difference straight away after I installed them on the front when cornering and turning.

[Equinox]

Adz's car has a nice custom brace that ties the upper arm mounting points together and to the firewall. Probably the best design I've seen.