What do you think of your strut bar?

[sierra]

Originally Posted by Boxer486

Ditto. I got the Hotchkis and the difference is obvious versus stock. I won't be going back and will be tidying up the rear now. I've used bracing to good effect on older cars but was skeptical about this chassis w/ high tensile steel and a basic firewall brace stock. It is readily apparent and beneficial.

The Hotchkis is a good looking brace that will clearly do the job 110%.
If that turned up under my Xmas tree I would be very happy.

[sierra]

Originally Posted by Mikepage

I don't think hinged strut bar can be a problem if a good manufacturers like Cusco and Whiteline do it the right way.

Look the video I posted from Cusco. Look until the end

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Someone got a mate to change their Grimmspeed brace at random 5 times. 3 with and 2 without I think? The owner drove it each time without knowing and got it right all 5 times.

You could try that and let us know the result?

[Mikepage]

I will got my Whiteline on Friday and I will surely try it and let you know

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by BlackyRose

I think what a lot of us want to hear is how will our cars feel if we drive in large metropolitan cities (ones without elevation. curves, nice roads) with a lot of big roadways and highways. My commute to work has a few turns but nothing serious. Will I feel the difference on simple things like making a sharp fast right onto a new highway and traveling into and out of strip malls and subdivisions and what not. Its really hard for me to believe that stock tire and suspension guys would feel a difference unless they were driving in upstate georgia or north carolina, etc. I live in Florida where most of the roads are straight with some small oppurtunities to punch it on an entrance/exit ramp or into and out of some small highway curves

I live in the Houston area...a flat and sea level metropolitan area akin to east coast of Florida. The car is fun to drive no matter where you are - fun to take quick, tight 90 degree intersection turns at speed limit (40-45 mph) even in a grided metropolitan layout, the chassis dynamics just makes it fun balancing through the turn in "plain, boring" normal roads... I can't think of a single turn I've done with the FR-S that hasn't been fun or had that special feel...especially with the more responsive and better behaved nature shown by the strut bar and solid aluminum steering rack bushing addition. I run with traction control off and fully rotate the car to where the rear differential is just slipping throughout low speed turns with the tires just barely audibly chirping. Love my drive to and from work, taking the longest route to spend more time in the car. Like I've said before, going back to stock would be a disappointment...

I like rotating vehicles through turns, it's the 'funnest' thing to do with a vehicle...

[Mikepage]

Vracer111 have you realign your car after installing the rack and pinion bushing?

We don't have the choice or we can do it without if we take care.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by Mikepage

Vracer111 have you realign your car after installing the rack and pinion bushing?

We don't have the choice or we can do it without if we take care.

Didn't bother with getting it realigned: installed it and test drove it and saw no need to get it aligned - it tracks perfectly centered. As long as you don't mess with the tie rods there should be no reason needed for an alignment. Visually it appears a tad more negative camber was added and tire wear has been great with no abnormalities.

[Mikepage]

Discussion with Whiteline (by mail) :

Question #1 :
I want to know more details about why you made your bar with hinged and not in one piece? And if an hinged bar will do the same job compare to an one piece bar?

Reply :
We hinge our braces for practicality - it is easy to remove the brace from this point if the engine needs removing or you require access to spark plugs etc.

This system is just as effective as a solid situation.

Once the plates are bolted down on the strut tower they will never move.

Our 86 brace is very robust and works well on the Toyota platform.

Question #2 :
Can you tell me more? About research and tests?

Reply :
Experience from track work over the years helps us with decisions regarding chassis/body stiffening.
Whiteline is all about offering product that improves vehicle characteristics - we prove this on the track prior to sale.

Some vehicles will not benefit as well as others with bracing and we acknowledge this whilst reviewing the car on our hoists.

[Mikepage]

I finally installed my Whiteline strut bar on Friday last week, 10 minutes or less I install (if you don't drop an bolt into the plate under the engine like me ), and after testing it around a lot of good curves, I will never go back to stock.

Maybe she introduce a little bite more oversteer but the car handle better now, at least from my opinion.

You can always go sideways anyway if you push it.

Next step will be the rack and pinion bushing installation.

If you are in questioning about doing it or not, just do it, you will enjoy it am pretty sure.

The Whiteline bar is a good quality bar for the price but maybe the powder coated paint on each top mount is a little bit cheap.

I like also the look of the engine bay now, the mat polish of the aluminum bar is perfect.

[subwaynm]

Originally Posted by u/Josh

I don't think I am a good enough driver to see the difference from this mod in time.

I have to agree with you in that under normal DD driving conditions the difference or gain is not significant enough to warrant the purchase, but under racing conditions would stand to make a difference.

[Mikepage]

Try it, am pretty sure you will see a difference even on DD or on race track. I have seen a difference on the street into good curves.

It's sure, the difference is more apparent with a normal car...but like I say she do the job on an FR-S also.

[Mikepage]

I have question to Cusco front strut bar owner, does it flex when you press on it when the bar is installed? I mean not too much but just a little bit?

I just want to know if this is normal for a strut bar to flex...depending of the model.

Thanks!

[NYCsubaruBRZ]

Originally Posted by boredom.is.me

My logic tells me that the ones that are hinged are just for show and do not actually do anything. I don't have any personal data to prove this, but like I said, my logic.

your logic is wrong this time... i have a front and rear strut bar installed and its a big difference... not that bumpy sloppyness like before it feels right and tight. i would never go back to stock.

think about it this way.... a bar is a bar... if it was never standard on the car and you can add it (not replace) to connect the suspension then it should always stiffen up the car. yea, non hinged is probably better but the hinged works very well(on this car atleast).

Megan front chassis brace works nice
Megan front and rear strut tower bars

the car handles and feels better than ever

im sure the other bars work just as good. some maybe a bit better (non hinged)

[Mikepage]

Thanks for this good reply mate, it's the same form me I will never go to stock and I feel the bare directly after the installation.

I have the Whiteline... So my question is about, I know she do the job and I like it, but just want to know if this is the only bar who flex? Does your Megan flex too?

[NYCsubaruBRZ]

i can grab it with 2 hands and shake or pull it wont flex. but im not sure if it flexes when im flying around a turn at 70