Does a strut brace make any difference

[E30BeemerLad]

Hi, as the wish list of mods to be done to my motor continues to grow, I am trying to put some sort of priority order together.

I like the look a strut brace gives to an engine bay and want to know if anybody who has fitted one has noticed any actual alteration to the behaviour of the car. I won't bother if the difference is purely cosmetic. Also is there any particular brand of brace that seems to be more suited to the E30? or anything to be avoided?

I probably am unlikely to track the car as it is my daily driver so want to know if there's any point diverting funds for this, rather than spending the equivalent on/towards BBTB, LSD, Sport 'box etc etc etc

[Jos]

hmm, read something about Strut Braces last night.. *goes diging though history*..


http://e30m3performance.com/myths/Strut ... theory.htm

Some real world experience would also be helpful although I should think they would help.

[Wilson]

Thats interesting.... everyone buy a strut brace!!!!

[Karan]

yeh get one.....

[dazleeds]

mmmmm now thats got me thinking

[Templ8e30]

I have a front and a rear strut brace on my 2.7, the rear brace sharpened up the feel from the back end, the front brace stopped the crashiness over bumps and potholes and also gave more feel from the steering.

I can't comment on which make to go for as I made my own from stainless tube ! (quiet night shifts )

Cheers,

Iain T

[gazm3]

Just bought another for my other convertible. I think they make a huge difference espically on convertibles.

[orangecurry]

Gazza325cab - which type/make have you on your E30 conv please?

[gazm3]

Orangecurry,

A link to one thats forsale on E-bay now.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... eName=WDVW

Here's mine
http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... highlight=

The one, Iv'e just bought is the same as the one Bootyman has on his convertible in the Modified section of Members cars. We did a group buy with CA Automotive. I think there is a link to the site here on the zone.

Hartge Ian, is selling a Hartge one on E-bay as we speak also.

Cheers Gareth.

[JungleGus]

big difference, especially if you have fairly stiff shocks.......ive used a RD one, and a no name brand JDM thing.....trying to get my hands on a sparco though

makes the handling a lot more predictable under braking and doesnt jump aroun as much

[Chaos]

if your bodyshell was totally stiff and never flexed at all then strut braces wud not be necessary.

However in the real world a bodyshell (esp an older one) will flex.

The strutbrace stops some of this flexing and allows the suspension to do its job correctly.

[astondg]

I have a front strut brace and it didn't make any difference to my car. I imagine it would depend on the type of strut brace though, maybe mine is not very good. I also have lower stiffer springs, Koni adjustable sports dampers, M3 offset polyurethane control arm bushes and adjutable camber & castor kit.

Aston

[Wilson]

I dont know how much they cost normally, but there is one here, Looks Nice!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... %3AIT&rd=1

[AlpineCab]

I put a spacro front strutbrace on my cab - massive improvement in handling. The car feels rock solid now, got to be best mod for benefit/Ԛ£ ratio on a cab (Although the blue silicon hosing in my engine bay looks well sassy.)