STRUT TOWER REINFORCEMENTS
 

whats going on guys, currently trying to figure out what is the best bracing i can purchase for the car, ive read a few reviews and cant get the answer i want really....

so with that said, im building the car more towards time attack/grip runs. anyone wanna give me some insight

If you're talking about the front strut bar, there's not a whole lot of point until you've done nearly everything else you can do. They're already close to the firewall and they're already braced, so they're pretty sturdy. You'll see much more improvement per dollar with bushings, suspension, and alignment bits.


That said, all the strut tower bars do the same job, so it's not like one is significantly better than another.

This.

And stop using "grip"

Grip










:scared0016:

dont like the word grip?

Megan Front and Rear Strut Tower Bars
 

I got a good deal on a set of front and rear Megan Racing Bars. They are easy to install. Don't see any improvement in my times. If I leave them on it puts into STX if I take them off I can run CS. It's a good thing they can be removed in 10 minutes but like I said nothing to get excited about they look good.

GRIP!

Okie is probably gripping his keyboard really hard right now. :lol:

But yeah, strut bars are pretty far down the list in terms of worthwhile mods.

Start with alignment, tires, brake pads, and fluid. And driving instruction.

- Andrew

You can put strut bars on if you feel that it makes you faster.

-alex

:bellyroll:

It just sounds ridiculous.

At least it easily identifies the figure skaters. :cheers:

Lolol I just burst out laughing in a library-silent office

Pj, why do you make your thread titles in capital letters?

If someone prefers feeling like they're going faster instead of actually going faster, I've got an overpriced stance setup I'd like to sell them. Strut bar included.

sorry my caps lock was on and didnt feel like changing it, haha. but im just trying to get the car planted to the ground as best as i can, they probably would be one of the last things id do honestly.

Have you done any suspension work? There's a big difference in requirements between being slammed and tucked and having a racetrack worthy suspension.

So you want time attack and grip, and want the car planted to the ground.

Don't forget this is not a Formula One chassis.

-alex

Go to an autocross ASAP. You'll learn a lot about what your car can or can't do.

- Andrew

^ relevant recent thread:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106009

Nothing will put you in your place faster than putting a hotshot in the car who's never touched it before blowing your best time of the day away by seconds. Lots of people think they are hot shit, few actually are.

Some ppl replace the stock bars with some really strong material that wont flex compare to oem one. Don't forget that thing is being held on by 3 spot wield & might go if no flex is allowed.

going to need to melt down capt'n America's shield to make you a nice strong strut tower :D

yea bc im a hot shot. never once did i say i was super mario playing mario kart, ive pushed my car pretty damn far on stock suspension

I love the kids who have never seen a track and think they know what driving fast is.

Go to your next Autocross or HPDE in your area. You will be severely humbled, just like all of us were.

bc going around cones is so fun, you act like ive never participated in road course or autox

Strut bars really work especially if you put harder springs/suspension. Many guys don't really understand the car physics and it is a sad thing that they don't even feel the car.

You can check a video from Cusco that explains how strut bars work and how much help provide to the suspension:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4KgS8ertHU"]CUSCO "efficiency of Strut bar / Lower arm bar" - YouTube[/ame]


Overall, Cusco strut bars are a good choice for track use. There is also another option from STI with a flexible joint, but this is more for street use.

Btw., I like the world grip. Grip driving is the opposite of drifting ;)

We don't know your specific history...we just see a lot of people throwing parts on thinking they're going to be able to take turns faster when really the number one thing holding them back is driving skill. Autocross is a good/cheap/easy learning experience or wake up call for these people. Not saying you're one of those people...

I've seen some really terrible drivers that think they're fast (and I say that with zero amount of cockiness...I'm not a pro).

- Andrew

If you set everything up I will attend an event with you.

works for me, your gonna blow me out the water with that FI doe... haha, i need to get me some good suspension and quit wasting time on stupid shit

You dont need anything to do a track day..just your self..and just cause my cars faster doesnt mean ill be faster. lets go!

You are correct.

I made a basic assumption that you hadn't based on the idea that you wanted a "strut bar" to make the car "planted" vs alignment/tires/suspension.

I once though I was hot shit. I was relatively fast in a local club (HPDE or "lapping"). The I entered the regional time attack championship. Oh my god was I put in my place. Some people, same car, same tires, (stock car basically) were turning a whole 10 seconds faster than me. I was a slug in class.

I stopped working on "go faster" mods, worked on reliable mods (cooling, braking, fluids) and driver mod (driving schools, video and book study, understanding how it all works, and carting).

This year, im actually second in my class (no chance at the top guy, he's a rocket), Im ashamed of myself when I think back on the things I did and said thinking I was good. Im still not good, but im better and keep on improving.

Yep, I was lucky enough to have this person as an instructor one day:

http://kristintreagerracing.com/

Uhhh, yeah. By the end of the weekend I was like 5 seconds a lap faster. Watching her obliterate the course with one hand on the wheel as she is guiding my eyes through where to look with the other and chatting me up the whole way.

Beyond impressive.

I still think I'm hot shit. I just stay away from tracks and instructors so I don't learn any different about myself.

Ignorant question there! Everybody knows Caps have more grip! :)

sorry i used the wrong terminology, shouldve said chassis reinformancement

Practice is the way for anything, but "go faster" mods also help. They can give you more confidence to push a bit harder or offer you a safety net or the bit extra power. It is a combination of things that can send you to the top. If it was only a driver issue, most teams would not need their precious engineers. Either we like it or not, it is basically a team work.

We are talking about HPDE drivers here chief, not professional race teams run with millions of dollars per year.

Modifying the car to be faster when you don't have the skills to control it actually REDUCES your safety net.

Perhaps you would have caught the car at 50mph on street tires with the tail stepping out. Now at 65+ because you're on a better suspension and Hoosiers with more grip and much less "forgiving" breakaway characteristics (ie don't progressively squeal as you get close to the limit, need more slip angle to generate max Lateral grip, etc), you can't and off into the weeds you go.

I'd run one of these on the dash if I wanted my car to be "planted"
http://www.stepbystep.com/wp-content...a-Chia-Pet.jpg

Do you need millions of dollars per year to race a car? Even an amateur race driver can have a mechanic in a garage which can trust him. From there he can learn the basics about correct maintenance and basic upgrades.

I agree that you have to start from low and go up gradually. I am just saying that it doesn't make sense trying to be only a better driver and not doing anything to your car.