Rear strut brace?

[rookie]

Mmmm, to rear strut brace or not..

[felixR]

If this turns into another conversation, it will turn into a new thread as well lol

[rookie]

If this turns into another conversation, it will turn into a new thread as well lol

You're a thread making machine! Didn't think the question justified wasting a whole new thread on it so i posted it here

[knobosaurus]

Why buy? Just weld some thick steel together and presto, its your rear reinforcement

[rookie]

Why buy? Just weld some thick steel together and presto, its your rear reinforcement

Did consider this option although i couldn't justify the work, time and materials needed to make one that i would be happy with.
My question was more based on whether you guys think it's a useful modification, or just fo' bling.

[ChargeR]

Mmmm, to rear strut brace or not..

Don't do it. Buy me stuff instead, it will be an equally wasteful way to dispose of your money but at least you'll have the satisfaction of improving the quality of life a moderator on your favourite forum.

Seriously though strut braces are balls in terms of bang for buck, unless a slight perceived difference in chassis stiffness makes you moist.

[freakygeek]

a slight perceived difference in chassis stiffness makes you moist.

[rookie]

Don't do it. Buy me stuff instead, it will be an equally wasteful way to dispose of your money but at least you'll have the satisfaction of improving the quality of life a moderator on your favourite forum.

Seriously though strut braces are balls in terms of bang for buck, unless a slight perceived difference in chassis stiffness makes you moist.

Just the confirmation i was looking for. Heard lots of varying results. I thought considering my increase of rear sway and the installation of coilovers may make a rear strut bar more effective but i'll take your word for it!

On the other hand, chassis stiffness may or may not make me moist, no matter the magnitude.

[Karl]

Im running a Oem rear strut bar. I do reckon it makes a differance. One thing to avoid is any strut bars or braces that have pivoting points. They render them useless!

[gunpoons]

I'm running a mugen one in my dc5, and darn it looks pretty

[plAythiNG]

I reckon strut bars are purely bling bling for your ling ling.

I had a Cusco front strut, I felt NO noticable difference.

Personally I wouldnt bother with struts/c pillar bars etc.... IMO for FF the best bar is simply a rear sway bar.

[rookie]

Already have a large rear sway bar with subframe brace. So i guess i was just looking for other areas to improve on handling.
On the topic of what type of rear strut to get. I would only ever consider a solid bar (ex. No joints. welded everywhere). The only question about what type of brace to get would be whether to go steel or aluminium (6061-t4 or higher). For front bar, steel would be better as it has a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity (less expansion due to heat under hood) but for the rear i wasnt sure if there was any benefit of going steel or aluminium. The obvious tradeoff is weight; but is there really a big difference if the aluminium has to be thicker in order to maintain the same strength of the steel?

[tinkerbell]

you want a tube - not a solid bar.

and im not even going to touch the aluminium vs steel thing...

[rookie]

you want a tube - not a solid bar.

and im not even going to touch the aluminium vs steel thing...

By solid i mean no joints or hinges connecting the plates on top of the strut towers, not that the bar itself is solid.

If you don't want to start with it, would i be correct in saying that there is an obvious better material for this use? i would appreciate your knowledge on the subject in a brief PM if not here.

[Karl]

Alu vs steel. If i were to buy again id just get Ultra racing. They use steel. Good price also.

But in saying that the Genuine front and rear Dc2R strut bar are aluminum . " the center bit" And there very ridged. But there not completely hollow!