What do you think of your strut bar?

[u/Josh]

Originally Posted by fatoni

the amount of effective stiffness gained in the suspension is next to immeasurable. the reduction in deflection would be measured by microns while suspension movements happen in inches. there is a far larger variance in springs coming off of any manufacturing line. you would notice that every single frs you ever drive had different levels of understeer before you notice any gain in understeer from a reduction in chassis deflection via strut tower bar. any stiffness outside of the suspension is going to allow the suspension to work more effectively.

I totally agree.

I would say though, that since the chassis acts mostly as a spring (with little damping), and since your damper causes the suspension to be much stiffer when the tire is trying to deflect at high speeds, under high speed bump the portion of total suspension deflection taken by the chassis would be much greater than you would estimate by steady state calculations. Now of course, under these conditions, tire deflection would be magnitudes greater than either spring or chassis deflection, but I am just trying to come up with some explanation for why people can feel an improvement from a strut brace. Personally, I will probably never buy one for this car.

[husker741]

Originally Posted by u/Josh

I totally agree.

I would say though, that since the chassis acts mostly as a spring (with little damping), and since your damper causes the suspension to be much stiffer when the tire is trying to deflect at high speeds, under high speed bump the portion of total suspension deflection taken by the chassis would be much greater than you would estimate by steady state calculations. Now of course, under these conditions, tire deflection would be magnitudes greater than either spring or chassis deflection, but I am just trying to come up with some explanation for why people can feel an improvement from a strut brace. Personally, I will probably never buy one for this car.

So you think it's not worth it or you think the car is stiff enough?

[u/Josh]

Originally Posted by husker741

So you think it's not worth it or you think the car is stiff enough?

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

[sierra]

I have the Grimmspeed strut bar and notice the difference when changing direction.
A roundabout is one of the best examples, especially if the camber is a bit off on the exit.
Before the strut, at the point of transition, when changing lock to exit, the car would be slightly unsettled until it was loaded again, in the opposite direction. I didn't appreciate quite how much until I fitted the Grimmspeed strut brace and it locked it up tight. Now the transition is solid and very reassuring, no matter how hard you push it.
I was hesitant to buy it because it's not the prettiest and it's 2kg of steel instead of the shiny aluminium I craved but they got it right. It needs to be low and straight so it can't flex like a convex version would.

This works, no doubt about it.

[husker741]

Originally Posted by sierra

I have the Grimmspeed strut bar and notice the difference when changing direction.
A roundabout is one of the best examples, especially if the camber is a bit off on the exit.
Before the strut, at the point of transition, when changing lock to exit, the car would be slightly unsettled until it was loaded again, in the opposite direction. I didn't appreciate quite how much until I fitted the Grimmspeed strut brace and it locked it up tight. Now the transition is solid and very reassuring, no matter how hard you push it.
I was hesitant to buy it because it's not the prettiest and it's 2kg of steel instead of the shiny aluminium I craved but they got it right. It needs to be low and straight so it can't flex like a convex version would.

This works, no doubt about it.

Thanks for the review. I guess I never thought about the difference between one straight bar or ones that have bends. Is your car lowered at all? How easy was installation? I know some go around the entire strut but this looks like it's just one bolt. Does it feel the same during daily driving or is it more stiff/bumpy? That's my one concern with it. Thanks!

[Clipdat]

If anything it really smoothed out some of the bumps and made them feel less jarring and harsh on the stock suspension.

Originally Posted by husker741

Does it feel the same during daily driving or is it more stiff/bumpy?

[The359]

What about opinions of buying just a front strut bar versus putting bars on both ends? I know the front strut will help with turn in, but how much of a difference does the rear strut make? I'd imagine both bars would leave the car more neutral in feel, but how much of a difference is it?

I ask because I'm debating if the rear strut is even worth it since it takes away some trunk space and usability from the car.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by The359

What about opinions of buying just a front strut bar versus putting bars on both ends? I know the front strut will help with turn in, but how much of a difference does the rear strut make? I'd imagine both bars would leave the car more neutral in feel, but how much of a difference is it?

I ask because I'm debating if the rear strut is even worth it since it takes away some trunk space and usability from the car.

i really dont think the bars are going to make the car under/over steer. the rear uses shocks instead of struts so they arent even load bearing. i dont think it would do much other than impose on your trunkspace.

[sierra]

Originally Posted by husker741

Thanks for the review. I guess I never thought about the difference between one straight bar or ones that have bends. Is your car lowered at all? How easy was installation? I know some go around the entire strut but this looks like it's just one bolt. Does it feel the same during daily driving or is it more stiff/bumpy? That's my one concern with it. Thanks!

My car is stock ride height, wheels and tyres.
Installation was so easy it was disappointing because it was all over in a few minutes. Just the 2 nuts either side to remove, put the brace over the studs and torque the nuts back up to 12ft/lbs. As a consolation prize the A/C hose needs to be tied down a bit to clear the bar with the kit they supply. You can drag that out for another 5min.

It doesn't stiffen up the ride, it stiffens up the body.
Grimmspeed found the movement by setting up a gauge between the strut tops and measuring it during a slalom course. They found[by removing them] that the 2 stock bars do a good job but there was still movement. A strong straight centre bar, to complete the triangulation, locked it up nice and tight.
Any movement in those front towers alters and spoils the steering geometery. That's what you feel in the transition, a looseness that is unsettling and getting rid of that improves the feel and handling way above the cost. They did a very good job.

[Mikepage]

Bump

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Mikepage

Bump

You've hit a bump?
Many of us on this forum have hit bumps; it sort of comes with driving a car.

[Mikepage]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

You've hit a bump?
Many of us on this forum have hit bumps; it sort of comes with driving a car.

No lol I just want to have more review about strut bar because I don't know if I will do it...

[mla163]

Vendors love strut bars because they are relatively easy to fabricate

Buyers love strut bars because they relatively cheap, easy to install and dress up the engine bay

Does it have a place in a suspension set up? Yes, maybe. But it's not a good first modification. After you have done wheels, tires, alignment, swaybars, coilovers, AND gotten the whole thing tuned in, then maybe a strut bar will stiffen up the car a little more.

[Mikepage]

And i will add, people modify to modify and sometime without any reason or just to have stuff on their car to be different compare to the others.

And strut bar is also like you say, cheap to product and company can make good profit on on it.