Strut braces - worth it?

[Barx325i]

mines the version below, what's the history with these e30topless?

[e30topless]

the bottom one is for a right hand drive (for my car)
the top one is a left hand drive (bought from germany)

I think

[Barx325i]

is your battery in the rear? just the only problem I forsee is the negative battery terminal is where the cutout isn't with the lower version

[e30topless]

yes battery in boot

[Dave_M3]

neither..! twin tubage is the way to go about things imo, but variations like tire pressures, eccentric bushings spring rates, damper rates, moreso driving style! Either could be better.

I prefer the feel of the twin tube, the spacco scaffold type is too harsh especialy on the road & definately increases tendancy to understeer

Interesting...

I have an OMP single tube one at the moment but was going to make a Sparco type...

The thought about making a RD type brace as all they are simple to make.

[fastdiablo]

you can have a hartge brace for under £160. Not sure that billet ie. virtually no lateral damping is right for the chassis, but saying that I've never used one. Sparco is well worth it at £60 and £5 for a can of halfords black

they eiminate tower shake on the limit of turn in and do make a difference, but as said, the rest of your system need to be tip top before considering a brace to improve stuff

Thats what I did . . . a couple of coats of matt black Hammerite

[Jhonno]

neither..! twin tubage is the way to go about things imo, but variations like tire pressures, eccentric bushings spring rates, damper rates, moreso driving style! Either could be better.

I prefer the feel of the twin tube, the spacco scaffold type is too harsh especialy on the road & definately increases tendancy to understeer

My 'sparco style' one isn't too harsh neither does it make the car understeer.. A strut brace isn't going to make a car understeer, unless the shell was flexing so much without the suspension geometry was changing

[Barx325i]

I think that's where I was leaning towards, I do knacker cars

[BEERBOY123]

Right!!! strut braces...


Which ones do people think is best?

Strong sparco single tube
Or something like the RD hinged brace straight across the engine

one of these

mmmmm.......very nice.

Great, where do I get one of these, how much and can I fit it myself without any special tools? For a 1990 318is.
Ta

[Jhonno]

You need a 13mm socket and a ratchet..

[Barx325i]

all that, a cross head screwdriver and the will to lower/delete your loom casing

[XRMike]

If they arn't so good I guess manufactures wouldn't put them on vehicles as standard equipment . I guess different vehicles have different needs, some may benefit from using a strut brace more than others. Also the qaulity of the brace is another factor.