Strut braces
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From: East Midlands Swamp
Strut braces
Not wishing to revive a discussion on the merits etc I know has been ongoing for a while I would like to know if anyone has fitted a brace recently and if they noticed any immediate difference as I have - just fitted a Carbing Front brace and have immediately noticed the steering is very much more responsive into bends.
Am told by a friend who is a racing driving that I have removed some of the 'neutrality' inherent in road going cars that flex and removed the soft element of understeer, to a simpleton like me means I don't have to steer as much into the corner and have to be careful about how much I do steer in as the back end feels like it going to slide away if I do, but ultimately means I carry far more speed through the bends.
I tested this out on a stectch of road I regularly drive into bends I am very familiar with and was able to get into and out of the really bad hairpins much quicker - thoughts? Am I just imagining things? One thing to bear in mind my car is a late 02 so will have had some of the reputed harshness of the orignal cars smoothed out - and maybe this is putting some back in?
Am told by a friend who is a racing driving that I have removed some of the 'neutrality' inherent in road going cars that flex and removed the soft element of understeer, to a simpleton like me means I don't have to steer as much into the corner and have to be careful about how much I do steer in as the back end feels like it going to slide away if I do, but ultimately means I carry far more speed through the bends.
I tested this out on a stectch of road I regularly drive into bends I am very familiar with and was able to get into and out of the really bad hairpins much quicker - thoughts? Am I just imagining things? One thing to bear in mind my car is a late 02 so will have had some of the reputed harshness of the orignal cars smoothed out - and maybe this is putting some back in?
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STBs do work and work well. The difference is very noticeable on lesser cars, somewhat less noticeable on ours but still a marked improvement IMO. Others claim not to notice any difference in driving 'feel'.
My observations are slightly increased steering responsiveness which I noticed in particular on off-camber surfaces, roundabouts and very sharp turns.
Steering responsiveness is improved even more dramatically by fitting a lower control arm brace (x-brace as it's known). Once you fit one of these you can reduce your steering inputs even more to get the same effect.
IMO the best way to make a personal assessment of the effectiveness of alignment mods is to remove them after a period of some months driving with them and see how your car feels without them. My car feels 'loose' in the steering and tends to 'wander' on the road surface more when I remove mine (x-brace in particular).
My observations are slightly increased steering responsiveness which I noticed in particular on off-camber surfaces, roundabouts and very sharp turns.
Steering responsiveness is improved even more dramatically by fitting a lower control arm brace (x-brace as it's known). Once you fit one of these you can reduce your steering inputs even more to get the same effect.
IMO the best way to make a personal assessment of the effectiveness of alignment mods is to remove them after a period of some months driving with them and see how your car feels without them. My car feels 'loose' in the steering and tends to 'wander' on the road surface more when I remove mine (x-brace in particular).
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From: South
Rigidity is an important part of your cars handling.
When you ask it to change directions any play in the suspension or chassis will be taken up before the car adjusts its course.
Conversely if the car hits a bump or bit of road camber then the play in the chassis and suspension will be taken up before this interaction is communicated to the driver.
As a result soft suspension and a chassis that lacks rigidity will dampen the cars responsiveness as well as the feedback it gives to the driver.
By stiffening the chassis you also prevent the suspension geometry from changing under load (as the chassis flexes) and improve the overall cornering and grip characteristics of the car.
...well, you did ask !!
When you ask it to change directions any play in the suspension or chassis will be taken up before the car adjusts its course.
Conversely if the car hits a bump or bit of road camber then the play in the chassis and suspension will be taken up before this interaction is communicated to the driver.
As a result soft suspension and a chassis that lacks rigidity will dampen the cars responsiveness as well as the feedback it gives to the driver.
By stiffening the chassis you also prevent the suspension geometry from changing under load (as the chassis flexes) and improve the overall cornering and grip characteristics of the car.
...well, you did ask !!
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From: South Staffordshire
if you are able to hold a spanner..yes you can do a diy job. Front one is easy, replacing Honda's back one for a stiffer one as I did is a bit more tricky as you need to reach behind the fuel filling pipe.
disadvantage of the braces is that it tends to make the car less compliant on bumps..i.e. the shock felt on one side of the car is transmitted more strongly to the other side of the car.
disadvantage of the braces is that it tends to make the car less compliant on bumps..i.e. the shock felt on one side of the car is transmitted more strongly to the other side of the car.
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Originally posted by zero_to60
where's the best place to get one and can this be fitted DIY at home?
where's the best place to get one and can this be fitted DIY at home?
Link to some feedback here...
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...threadid=110725
Install instructions here..
http://www.australia-goldcoast.com/instruc...ace_Install.pdf
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Edenbridge
Just to further sell Muz's products. I just fitted the Whiteline Strut Tower Brace and the Lower Brace. Took 30 mins for both. Need a socket set with large allen key sockets, trolley jack or some way of lifting front up more than the jack can and also need a torque wrench.
Fantastic handling. Only problem is the front is now as solid as a brick wall but it's too easy to hang the back out (my second favourite pasttime after VTEC).
Del.
Fantastic handling. Only problem is the front is now as solid as a brick wall but it's too easy to hang the back out (my second favourite pasttime after VTEC).
Del.