Strut braces- Are they worth it?

[GTiRlover]

As above really, what do people think? Do they make the car feel sharper on turn-in and what improvement can I expect in the handling department? Will I even notice a difference? Any feedback is appreciated!

Thanks

 

[Rishi]

They reduce the amount of flex you may get so in turn should help grip.. The Lower brace would be worth getting too..

 

[pulsarboby]

all depends on what the cars used for!
if its just a road car then other than the bling factor then its a total waste of money imo
if however your planning on using car on the track then every little helps, one strutbrace on its own wont really make a noticable difference but couple that up with other antiflex devices such as underbraces, polybushes etc etc and then you will notice the difference
the biggest improvement made will be with uprated suspension as that will make a huge difference to handling if set up correctly.

 

[Radleigh]

They are good if they are made right. Problem with some braces they are made just for the look and dont actually work!

 

[davey red.r]

As above really, what do people think? Do they make the car feel sharper on turn-in and what improvement can I expect in the handling department? Will I even notice a difference? Any feedback is appreciated!

Thanks

i got both fitted, and didnt really see any difference, tbh.


davey

 

[fubar andy]

all depends on what the cars used for!
if its just a road car then other than the bling factor then its a total waste of money imo
if however your planning on using car on the track then every little helps, one strutbrace on its own wont really make a noticable difference but couple that up with other antiflex devices such as underbraces, polybushes etc etc and then you will notice the difference
the biggest improvement made will be with uprated suspension as that will make a huge difference to handling if set up correctly.

I have to agree with Bobby here. When I added the (front, rear and under) braces to my car they have made a great difference to overall stiffness; add that with my motorsport bushes and coilovers the handling is much sharper and responsive.

Also being that mine is stripped out the with exception of two Sparco's and dash it has made more of an impact due to less weight and forces when thrown around on track.

I don’t feel it as much anymore, but many people who have been passengers on track commented on its stiffness and lack of flex; occasionally been told that when I go round corners it lifts the rear wheel.

 

[tomble]

Andy, do you have any pictures of your car, mate?



Tom

 

[PobodY]

I've got a picture of Andy's exterior:

He'd be the one at the front.

Probably not what you were after, but I can attest that it's pretty stripped-down.

 

[tomble]

Thanks, mate. Sorry to go off topic, but stripping out/lightening my next pulsar is the direction i'd like to go with it.


Tom

 

[GTiRlover]

Thanks for the replies. pulsarboby- I'm certainly not considering strut braces for the bling factor! Thats what my 22" chrome spinners are for ;P I know you say that one strut brace on its own won't really make much of a difference however if I was to add strut braces I would do so but one at a time so I can be sure of the difference they make individually rather than as a set (being a front upper, lower front brace and the rear upper). My car is already polybushed and has uprated suspension so I am only considering braces to build upon what I already have, so to speak. I am also looking at the difference anti-roll bars can make. Has anybody any experience of the effects of fitting new anti-roll bars, more precisely the Whiteline adjustable rear and Whiteline fixed fronts in both 20 and 27mm variants?

Radleigh- understandable. Which companies are to be trusted when buying strut braces?

davery red.r- thanks for the input. Was there no difference whatsoever? Did you make any other changes to the car whilst fitting the braces?

fubar andy- you say that the handling is much sharper and more responsive but has the stiffer front end led to more understeer? Is the stiffness due entirely to the strut braces or have any other chassis modifications contributed toward this? You mention that the inside rear wheel lifts around corners, do you by any chance have uprated anti-roll bars because I have read that this can have quite an effect on the cars' handling...

 

[fubar andy]

fubar andy- you say that the handling is much sharper and more responsive but has the stiffer front end led to more understeer? Is the stiffness due entirely to the strut braces or have any other chassis modifications contributed toward this? You mention that the inside rear wheel lifts around corners, do you by any chance have uprated anti-roll bars because I have read that this can have quite an effect on the cars' handling...

Noticeable stiffness I doubt will come from one strutbrace, but the combination of many changes will add to the rigidity of the car and help with understeer.

To date I’ve not made any additional strengthening modifications than that of the coilovers, bushes, rear adjustable ARB, and strutbraces (front rear and under).

When I added the rear ARB, the car had an interior and was set on the medium setting. Then I removed the interior and added the rear brace and changed ARB to a stiffer setting. Only when I had done these changes and I went on track was I commented about the rear wheel lifting up.
However I will say that fitting all the braces has made a difference but I can't rule out the help of the bushes, ARB and other bits I’ve done.

I guess if I added a cage that would seriously reduce flex and have the rear wheel up much easier.

One bit of information that would be of help is, do use your car for street application or for track/events?
When I’m on public road the car isn’t driven in a “sporty manner” so I doubt I’d really be able tell the difference with or without my braces.

 

[fubar andy]

but stripping out/lightening my next pulsar is the direction i'd like to go with it.

Go for it, but I’d keep your interior in the garage for a few months in case you change your mind, as its loud and tiresome after a while.
In a nut shell - great for track use, annoying as a daily driver.

I've got a picture of Andy's exterior

"With its massive profile tyres, it towers over the rest of the GTiRs" :lol:

 

[Radleigh]

GTiRLover, Couldn't tell you tbh for a GTiR, I'm newish to the sunny scene. Best of asking whose that have them if thats any help.

My cars getting a full weld in cage, so braces will be custom to my design

 

[pulsarboby]

cage is the most noticable difference, that really doeds tighten things up a lot.

but as andy has said it all depends on what you want the car for!!!
if for just street use then the addition of anything that stiffens the car will actually make the handling far worse on bumpy british roads (you would be better to leave things softer with flex)
however on the track its a different ball game altogether

 

[stumo]

sorry Bob but you want the stiffest chassis you can get and make the suspension work....... not have a flexy chassis and sort-of make the suspension work.....

 

[pulsarboby]

thats what im saying stuey, but only for a trackcar not for a road going car.
thats why i say the cage does make a noticable difference

 

[Radleigh]

Chassis bars are a good thing to, for road cars.

 

[stumo]

no, Bob, you want the stiffest chassis no matter where you are then adjust the suspension to suit.

 

[GTiRlover]

fubar andy- thanks for the reply. What difference did fitting the rear ARB make to the handling? I take it it is the Whiteline item, is it set to 'drift' or 'grip' and what is your opinion of it both on track and the road? My car is setup for road use and so I don't want it to be too stiff. I certainly noticed the additional stiffness of the car from fitting polybushes!

pulsarboby- as above my car is setup for road use and so I don't want it too stiff. I had considered the the flex in the chassis would give better grip but I also agree with what stumo says about getting the chassis as stiff as possible to make the suspension work better.

Radleigh- I take it you mean anti-roll bars?

stumo- so by fitting strut braces this would give me better grip all round? Or would it be more worthwhile investing in uprated anti-roll bars?

 

[bracpan]

If its a road car look at the Whiteline site and get everything you can afford for the Pulsar. It was all developed for a road car so is not to extreme. They also give you settings that are a great start.
Good luck
Phil