strut brace on caged car

All the info you need to race E30's

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
JCB
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 356
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Lincoln
Contact:

Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:42 pm

anyone got any experience / advice on whether a strut brace makes mcuh difference on a car with a fully welded cage (cage goes through bulkhead onto turrets). I am running a 325 with M3 suspension/brakes.
User avatar
ste
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 1173
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: West Sussex

Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:05 pm

Which cage?

Has the cage got a dash brace and where you triangulate to the turrets at the front has the cage got a cross brace between the triangulation?

If no to those things a strut brace won't hurt.
Dan318-is
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 8006
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Surrey/London

Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:11 pm

Better of investing in some roll bars mate
jonbuoy
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2092
Joined: Wed May 04, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Basildon, Essex

Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:19 pm

ste wrote:Which cage?

Has the cage got a dash brace and where you triangulate to the turrets at the front has the cage got a cross brace between the triangulation?

If no to those things a strut brace won't hurt.
You took the word's right out of my mouth :wink:

There might be a roll cage to stop the flex in the body but it does'nt mean it will stop the flex of the front wing's so it won't hurt to chuck one on mate as you are takin it round the track anyway's winkeye :D
Image
User avatar
agent006
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 701
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cheltenham

Fri Feb 17, 2006 3:27 pm

You can never be too stiff.

Please note this advice also applies to track cars.
JimmyC
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1537
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Southend ESSEX
Contact:

Fri Feb 17, 2006 4:26 pm

If you've got a fully welded cage which goes to the turrets you'll be wasting your money

I have Custom Cages cage, with bars behind dash then triangulated to the turets so a brace will do nought for me
User avatar
JCB
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 356
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Lincoln
Contact:

Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:45 pm

mmm - now im really confused !!! mixed bag of opinions. I dont know what cage as it came in the car (my car was fully race prepared when i bought it) . i suspect it is a pretty good one as it was used in the kuhmo championship. I honestly dont know if i have a dash brace etc - i will investigate in more detail when i can next get to the car (i dont store it at home as i already have 3 cars here !)
User avatar
JCB
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 356
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Lincoln
Contact:

Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:51 pm

what about rear strut braces ?? i have had some advice that they are a waste of time and often used for "cosmetic" effect ?? any comments .....
Taffy
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 321
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cardiff
Contact:

Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:20 pm

Depends on the cage, I think yours is a Custom Cages cage jonathan so it should have a dash bar and triangulate to the front and rear turrets, a welded in bar is the better way to go than a strut brace. We used to run one and have alsod driven without it and there's not alot in it, costs bugger all to get some 44x1.6mm tube and get it welded in, certainly can't do any harm
please contact admin with regard to sig
Ceeman
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:00 pm

Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:25 pm

agent006 wrote:You can never be too stiff.

Please note this advice also applies to track cars.
lol...........
User avatar
JCB
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 356
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Lincoln
Contact:

Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:52 pm

Dom - sorry i wasnt ignoring your advice from earlier in the week about getting a bar welded in !! just wanted some other opinions. I am beginning to think there is very little to be gained on this one , especially as i am not racing. think i will be better spending the time and effort on tyre selection, corner weighting and getting the ledas serviced.

how much is it for a leda service , do you know ?? i have emailed leda but they have not got back to me yet. I presume they are oil filled and what they do is to refill them ??
JimmyC
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1537
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Southend ESSEX
Contact:

Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:32 am

JCB wrote: how much is it for a leda service , do you know ?? i have emailed leda but they have not got back to me yet. I presume they are oil filled and what they do is to refill them ??
think Leda are Ԛ£50 per corner, GAZ will service Ledas for Ԛ£30 a corner (I think)

if you have a cc cage then rear brace again will do nothing
Taffy
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 321
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cardiff
Contact:

Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:32 am

there's not alot in it, as you mentioned i'd spend the money elsewhere. Never used Gaz, heard they're ok but personally i'd get Leda to rebuild the Ledas, they won't help you out if something goes wrong! Rebuild varies depending on what's needed, usually Ԛ£50-Ԛ£80 / corner. I would highly recommend if you're going to do that to also have them upgraded to gas , much better than oil by a long way, Ԛ£35 / corner extra but worth every penny. Speak to John at Leda
please contact admin with regard to sig
M5pilot
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4968
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Luton
Contact:

Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:44 am

Borrow one from someone before buying it. It makes a noticable difference on a road car without cage - may or may not make a difference on a caged car. You'll only know if you try it.
User avatar
M3BOB
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 158
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:17 pm

Just fit one!!!
Post Reply