What is the best bang for the buck strut bar

[TylerLieberman]

Stitch weld engine bay.

Done

[Symmetrical]

Originally Posted by d1ck

While I don't doubt that you noticed no difference, I highly doubt Subaru / Toyota would spend the money to put them on the car if they served no function.

I would also imagine it is not really to serve as something to improve handling, but rather something to maintain chassis rigidity over time. And I'm sure they know that there will be a lot of people that will be tracking those cars too which does take a toll on the chassis whether people notice it or not.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Stitch weld whole car.

Done

Slight correction

[86_Insider]

I would first spend the money on under-bracing and other suspension goodies that will make a bigger difference in improving the chassis rigidity and response.

Cusco, Whiteline, GTSPEC and other brands all make somewhat inexpensive items that do make a noticeable improvement.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by 86_Insider

I would first spend the money on under-bracing and other suspension goodies that will make a bigger difference in improving the chassis rigidity and response.

Cusco, Whiteline, GTSPEC and other brands all make somewhat inexpensive items that do make a noticeable improvement.

Do you have any empirical evidence showing this?

While we offer these items to the forum members that ask for them, we don't believe bracing make any significant difference for the masses, and maintain that stance.

[mid_life_crisis]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

While we offer these items to the forum members that ask for them, we don't believe bracing make any significant difference for the masses, and maintain that stance.

I'm thinking bracing would be more beneficial in terms of standing up to a significantly increased torque curve and preventing all that extra power from racking the body than improving handling. Unless you think the car is designed to handle enough power to spin the tires in every gear...

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by mid_life_crisis

I'm thinking bracing would be more beneficial in terms of standing up to a significantly increased torque curve and preventing all that extra power from racking the body than improving handling. Unless you think the car is designed to handle enough power to spin the tires in every gear...

If you spin the tires, then the energy is being dissipated as heat and smoke through the tires; the chassis isn't seeing a whole lot of load

[ayau]

Originally Posted by mid_life_crisis

I'm thinking bracing would be more beneficial in terms of standing up to a significantly increased torque curve and preventing all that extra power from racking the body than improving handling. Unless you think the car is designed to handle enough power to spin the tires in every gear...

Are you on summer extreme tires? The car barely spins the tires past 1st gear, lol.

[86_Insider]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Do you have any empirical evidence showing this?

While we offer these items to the forum members that ask for them, we don't believe bracing make any significant difference for the masses, and maintain that stance.

For the masses, no. For a tuned track day car running large, low tread-wear tires and stiffer spring rates, control arms with heims, yes there is a noticeable change in the cars feeling & response. For those who dont want a weld in cage, or to seam weld the chassis; this is a removable and non-permanent way to firm up the chassis.

I used to work for a company that built several chassis for drifting / track racing. One year when we were competing in the D1GP we had two cars run straight into a wall at Irwindale. The damage was significant but was limited to areas not supported by powerbraces. The front collapsed up until it met our fender braces, saving the expensive race motor from more damage. I get that is was not a FR-S, but same concept.

Track testing our products - lol




The front strut tower is one weaker spot on the FRS - for those building dedicated track cars this is some of the bracing that top competition frs / brz have


Speedhunters

[defylogik]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Precisely!

We don't use one on our car. Neither does Robispec. Or Evasive (on their street BRZ).

Amen. I don't know when this trend started, but for a new car model this is almost always the first part to come out. I guess it's an easy way to take people's money without complaints.

[86_Insider]

I am not referring to a strut bar specifically but chassis bracing in general

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by defylogik

Amen. I don't know when this trend started, but for a new car model this is almost always the first part to come out. I guess it's an easy way to take people's money without complaints.

i dont think a trend ever started. i think there was a time when it was needed (like how my interior light used to flicker on when i would corner in my old ae86) and now they are not needed since cars are an order of magnitude more rigid.

i always thought it was weird how this area of performance mods has never really had an objective value associated with them.

[bkblitzed]

i just got the cusco one cus it had a built in brace stopper. And that makes a difference.

[ramiram1984]

I wont be purchasing a strut tower brace bar...