FT-86 SpeedFactory Strut Tower Brace Review
 

Today we are looking at a strut tower brace from @FT-86 SpeedFactory. As always the transaction was effortless.

Initial Thoughts

Our cars use a MacPherson strut system (spring and damper are combined) in the front, so there is inherent flex in the strut towers. Usually speaking this contributes to body roll in high speed cornering. I believe that any upset in the chassis could make you slower, simply because the car has to correct itself coming out of corners. A brace, if designed properly will transfer weight laterally and reduce flex.

To be effective, you have to tie the two strut towers and firewall together and the brace must be rigid. This bar, although two pieces, is rigid, unlike some braces which have pivot points. Ideally you'd want this to be one piece, but I believe it was two simply because of the darn AC hose.

Looking at the OEM brace vs this, I can visually see an improvement. The FT-86 SpeedFactory bar is greater in diameter. It is also hollow like the OEM brace. The brace is steel and all joints are TIG welded in the USA. The finish is great; it's powder coated and doesn't "Bling" out the engine. Overall it doesn't add much weight, but I like how force can be transferred laterally through the horizontal bar and name plate. I think it's priced reasonably to the competition given the materials, finish, and country of origin.

Installation was fairly easy. I didn't have to jack up the car and a few hand tools were required. The AC line still runs fairly close to the horizontal bar. I took precautionary measures with some pipe insulation.

Check out the DIY here
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20862

Driving Feedback
I put a few hundred miles driving under various situations. When doing high speed manuevers the car simply feels flat. Already driving fairly aggressive, I didn't want to find the new limit where body roll is introduced. Keep in mind my car is not stock (understatement), yet I can feel the difference.

During daily driving, you'll be hard pressed to notice anything. I think it does help with response time accelerating out of rolling right hand turns; the car doesn't have to do much to balance itself. That's still daily driving, haha. I believe the purpose of this is for aggressive situations, and it's good to know your car is ready for it when you need/want it.

I'll update this when I can test out the fitment with the @GrimmSpeed Master Cylinder Brace

Summary and Photos
Overall I'm happy
+ Hella functional - Solid brace, larger than OEM, connects the strut towers and firewall together
+ construction in USA
+ Aligns with my character and goals - Not blingy at all
+ It does improve handling at high speeds
- Still two parts (darn AC hose)
- It might be better if it went around the three strut bolts.
- Fit of certain catch Oil catch cans maybe difficult
? Does it fit with master cylinder braces,. we'll find out soon!

Sea of photos ahead
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8...be860a8c_c.jpg
20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-01 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Welds
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8...a243e7f2_c.jpg
20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-02 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Finish
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8...4d466553_c.jpg
20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-03 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Rear
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8195/8...fddc567a_c.jpg
20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-04 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Joints are welded/ mounting brackets
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8...d963e077_c.jpg
20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-05 by VictorN07, on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8474/8...255cb07d_c.jpg
20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-06 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Horizontal Bar Joint
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8...f44840ec_c.jpg
20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-07 by VictorN07, on Flickr


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8...0b617d1e_c.jpg
20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-08 by VictorN07, on Flickr



Comparison to OEM
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8...0b715277_c.jpg
20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-09 by VictorN07, on Flickr

The OEM brace is thinner, but the OEM brace is one piece
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8333/8...8e260089_c.jpg
20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-10 by VictorN07, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8...af61f2c3_c.jpg
20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-11 by VictorN07, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8...c7bd2042_c.jpg
20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-12 by VictorN07, on Flickr




Horizontal brace on car. The holes are slightly larger.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8...346288ed_c.jpg
20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-14 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Firewall brace on car. Note the hole sizes. We reuse OEM hardware
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8...eccfc343_c.jpg
20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-15 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Firewall mount. There is a bolt and a nut on each side
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8...e5399138_c.jpg
20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-16 by VictorN07, on Flickr


Installed. Took this before I added the insulation tape to the AC hose
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8...ae3489bb_c.jpg
20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-17 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Closeup
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8185/8...87c8035d_c.jpg
20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-18 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Nice post. How thick is the nameplate metal? You bring up an interesting point that an advantage of this system vs. another (e.g. Cusco) is the additional lateral force that might be transferred through that nameplate.

Another advantage vs. Cusco would be the price, too... those "Engine Power Braces" are like $400 alone, lol.

Would a standard strut tower bar like the Cusco OS fit over top of this?

Also given the placement of the nameplate it looks like this won't fit if you have something like a Crawford AOS (bolts on on the firewall right behind where the nameplate is iirc), which I have sitting in a box next to me :(

Fantastic photos, as always, Victor! Thanks for the write up!

Looks great! i cant wait to see the attempt for the master cylinder braces. Ide love to thank this post but i have no idea how to.. haha

*edit* actually, i just got the thanks button :)

These can be purchased without the name plate as well. ;)

Thanks again to Victor for the photos and write up.

custom name plates???

There is a group buy going for a MC brace on turninconcepts website if you haven't ordered the grimmspeed already.

Got to install the Grimmspeed master cylinder brace. It works perfectly with this strut tower brace!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8...31676061_c.jpg
20121101-GrimmspeedMCB_SpeedFactoryBrace-02 by VictorN07, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8...5328d69b_c.jpg
20121101-GrimmspeedMCB_SpeedFactoryBrace-01 by VictorN07, on Flickr

I would be interested in it if it said GT86 instead of FT86.

Nice piece. Do you sel the triangle portion separately ? Will that work with Cusco STB ?

nice pictures-you must be shooting with a nice setup or good glass for that color in that lighting...ED nikon>?

Thanks, I try to shoot in good lighting or heavily diffuse any flash used. I throw everything through Lightroom for final effects. My kit right now is

Nikon D700
Nikon 24 1.4G, 35 1.4G, and 70-200 2.8 VRII
Nikon SB600 (lol)

Cars aren't my only focus, but it happens to be currently

We do sell it separately. Will clear the Cusco STB. :)

sub'd.

Really? You're looking at the wrong parts for the wrong reasons then. Let me redirect your attention, please -> http://ft86speedfactory.com/exterior-36/body-kits-128/

:mad0259:pfft.. GT-86....

Here's a thought, fu*k off.

You are looking for style so @Jared0934 made perfect sense. Telling him to f*** off makes you seem like a complete jerk/asshole. I hope that's not the case, but seriously...:respekt:

Actually I look for function and form. Having it say FT-86 is like having it say Hyundai Genesis it makes no f'ing sense. Also his comment was completey out of f'ing line so you can piss off too.

one of the nicest pieces I have seen for this location. simple direct fuctional but still looks nice.

Having it say FT86 because FT86 Speedfactory made it makes perfect sense. Its like the Nike Logo on a Nike product. In this case, it says FT86 because its a product form FT86 Speedfactory.

No need to be so hostile. :iono:

No need for them to be complete douche bags about it either.

I understand, but take everything on the forums with a grain of salt. I took it as sarcasm (which I don't mind), but it's easy to get completely misunderstood online.

Can't we just all get along? ):

Looks to be a decent product even if it did come out of Iowa.

Does anybody know if this will fit or has anybody fitted the TiC / Motiv Autowerks MCB with this yet? Assume it fits, but just wanted to be sure.

Yes it will fit. :)

Any possibility of having BRZ with Subaru below it?

Sure, still working to get the new cnc plasma up and running but should be no problem.

Mine should be arriving Tuesday!

Looking at this, the end plates, the install and the function overall and I can say this is a very nice piece. Quite a bit of attention went into the end plates and how to make them rigid without screwing up fitment. Nicely done guys! My hat is off to you.

Thank you. Wanted to do something simple, yet functional.

masters,
i'm looking for a nice roll cage
please, tell me a nice roll cage or a brand to get

Damn forum bots!!!

Not 100% sure that's a bot.. while off topic here he posted another post which was on-topic in the HKS supercharger thread... no URLs in sig or profile, etc..

Buy U.S over JDM =)
looks like a good product and i love the finish

my bad, could not find a right place.
my english is terrible :thumbdown:

sorry, what do you mean by 'URLs in sig or profile' :bonk: