BRZ/FR-S Strut Tower Brace - Any Interest?

[whitefrs]

But but i want pretty ones

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

No I don't because it is the bolts that are anchoring the bar. If the mounting isn't strong enough the strongest bar in the world would be useless.

I was inferring was the bolts are providing the clamping force;the bolts themselves are not seeing any shear force but they are still doing the "anchoring".

Originally Posted by GrimmSpeed

In an application like this, the bolts are not being used in shear. They're used to clear a clamping load. Your wheels are held to your car just the same way. You're applying a clamping force and it's the force/friction between your hub and wheel that are actually interfacing. None of your studs/lug bolts should be experiencing any sort of shearing force. Make sense?

Makes sense, I understand that. What I don't get is how little clamping force is generated with just 12lb-ft of torque. As I mentioned earlier, this is just my unscientific gut feeling and I know gut feeling is something you get after eating too quickly.

[GrimmSpeed]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

I was inferring was the bolts are providing the clamping force;the bolts themselves are not seeing any shear force but they are still doing the "anchoring".

Makes sense, I understand that. What I don't get is how little clamping force is generated with just 12lb-ft of torque. As I mentioned earlier, this is just my unscientific gut feeling and I know gut feeling is something you get after eating too quickly.

Matt nailed it while I was away, but I think an easy way to convince yourself is simply by looking at the stock triangulation bars. They are trying to achieve the same goal as the strut tower bar, but have a compromise to achieve an additional goal (bracing to the firewall to prevent strut tower movement in the fore and aft directions). Our strut tower brace eliminates that compromise, directly linking the towers together. The input forces (forces from the road to your tire, all the way up to the strut tower) are still the same, so the output forces also have to be the same, but are directed or resolved in different directions.

But, just to convince ourselves that there is more than enough clamping force from only 12 ft-lbs, lets look at those stock triangulation bars. They are on your car right now, only torqued to 12ft-lbs (unless you've messed with them). You've driven your car, possibly thousands of miles, experienced plenty of driving conditions, road conditions, chassis flex, etc. Now go remove the bolts holding the triangulation bars to the strut towers. If there were not adequate clamping force they would be scratched up and rubbed raw from the flange of the nut. But I'm willing to bet you the price of a strut tower brace that they are still in perfect condition. This is because the bolt and the triangulation bar are not moving relative to each other, because there is more than adequate clamping load.

The same can be said for when you at the strut tower brace to the assembly. If you were to bolt it on, torque to 12 ft-lbs, and then go drive the car harder than you've ever driven it before, then come home and open your hood, you would notice if the bolts were not providing adequate clamping because you would easily see where the flange of the nuts had rubbed the bar, but I can assure that that isn't going to happen. There are 4 total nuts (4x the clamping force), each with a large flange (bearing area), providing over 1000lbs of clamping force EACH. I know this is all very counter-intuitive, but hopefully this puts some perspective on exactly how much force can be applied with a seemingly small amount of torque.

Originally Posted by whitefrs

But but i want pretty ones

They're both very pretty! In fact, you stated nearly three months ago:

Originally Posted by whitefrs

I want this in red or gold

way back when we were only making them in black, so we decided to add an extra color. I assure you, red is very pretty

Originally Posted by stratodyne

Recommend me a good starter torque wrench (for this install, as well as torquing lugs) and then add me to this list for a black one, thanks!

I hate to even admit it, but back in the day I had a torque wrench from Harbor Freight. I think it was around 15-25 bucks. Then I picked up a cheap craftsman from Sears. For my "big boy stuff" I use a Matco. I would stay away from the HF, and probably run over to Sears and pick up a 3/8th in torque wrench that fits your budget. I'll add you to the list, now go pick up a torque wrench!

REMEMBER FOLKS, THE GROUP BUY IS OVER THIS FRIDAY!!! IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY ON THE LIST, YOU NEED TO DO SO BY THIS FRIDAY 8/16/13. We'll then start sending out PMs Monday, start taking payment, and then start shipping!

Chase
Engineering

[xwd]

Put me on the list for a black one.

[2point0]

Hot damn, this is happening! I've been checking the forum so infrequently lately that I keep thinking I'll miss this. I'll just trust you guys. I know you won't let me miss out!

[Nardi330]

Please add me on the GB list. Thx

[Iamthebatman]

Sign me up!

[GrimmSpeed]

Originally Posted by dwx

Put me on the list for a black one.

Will do, got you added right now!

Originally Posted by 2point0

Hot damn, this is happening! I've been checking the forum so infrequently lately that I keep thinking I'll miss this. I'll just trust you guys. I know you won't let me miss out!

Have no fear, you're absolutely right! We will even make it super easy on you folks by sending YOU a PM when it's time to start sending these out.

Originally Posted by Nardi330

Please add me on the GB list. Thx

No problem, I have you added to the list right now!

Originally Posted by Iamthebatman

Sign me up!

You are signed up (and also batman)!

Chase
Engineering

[Nardi330]

oh btw, just wondering what is the actual weight of the bar.

sorry i haven't read through 40 pages as i am busy at the moment. i'm only on page 5....

[Captain Snooze]

.

Originally Posted by Nardi330

oh btw, just wondering what is the actual weight of the bar.

Originally Posted by GrimmSpeed

Just weighed a finished bar: 3.95lbs

[whitefrs]

Originally Posted by GrimmSpeed

Matt nailed it while I was away, but I think an easy way to convince yourself is simply by looking at the stock triangulation bars. They are trying to achieve the same goal as the strut tower bar, but have a compromise to achieve an additional goal (bracing to the firewall to prevent strut tower movement in the fore and aft directions). Our strut tower brace eliminates that compromise, directly linking the towers together. The input forces (forces from the road to your tire, all the way up to the strut tower) are still the same, so the output forces also have to be the same, but are directed or resolved in different directions.

But, just to convince ourselves that there is more than enough clamping force from only 12 ft-lbs, lets look at those stock triangulation bars. They are on your car right now, only torqued to 12ft-lbs (unless you've messed with them). You've driven your car, possibly thousands of miles, experienced plenty of driving conditions, road conditions, chassis flex, etc. Now go remove the bolts holding the triangulation bars to the strut towers. If there were not adequate clamping force they would be scratched up and rubbed raw from the flange of the nut. But I'm willing to bet you the price of a strut tower brace that they are still in perfect condition. This is because the bolt and the triangulation bar are not moving relative to each other, because there is more than adequate clamping load.

The same can be said for when you at the strut tower brace to the assembly. If you were to bolt it on, torque to 12 ft-lbs, and then go drive the car harder than you've ever driven it before, then come home and open your hood, you would notice if the bolts were not providing adequate clamping because you would easily see where the flange of the nuts had rubbed the bar, but I can assure that that isn't going to happen. There are 4 total nuts (4x the clamping force), each with a large flange (bearing area), providing over 1000lbs of clamping force EACH. I know this is all very counter-intuitive, but hopefully this puts some perspective on exactly how much force can be applied with a seemingly small amount of torque.



They're both very pretty! In fact, you stated nearly three months ago:



way back when we were only making them in black, so we decided to add an extra color. I assure you, red is very pretty



I hate to even admit it, but back in the day I had a torque wrench from Harbor Freight. I think it was around 15-25 bucks. Then I picked up a cheap craftsman from Sears. For my "big boy stuff" I use a Matco. I would stay away from the HF, and probably run over to Sears and pick up a 3/8th in torque wrench that fits your budget. I'll add you to the list, now go pick up a torque wrench!

REMEMBER FOLKS, THE GROUP BUY IS OVER THIS FRIDAY!!! IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY ON THE LIST, YOU NEED TO DO SO BY THIS FRIDAY 8/16/13. We'll then start sending out PMs Monday, start taking payment, and then start shipping!

Chase
Engineering

yea lol

[Lee358]

Finally!

[joel86]

Put me on the list, black one.

[Symmetrical]

Sign me up for a black one!