Do any of you road racers or time trial guys use a strut tower bar?

[stevesnj]

Here's an explanation from Toyota on what their strut bar does. I think they may have the ability to verify/measure what happens to the strut towers during turn in.

http://www.trdparts.jp/english/86_pe...s_chassis.html

Carbon shafted for optimal rigidity and weight reduction.
Brings out the suspension’s full performance by controlling flex in the upper part of the suspension tower. You can feel the boost in body rigidity even customer whom chooses not to replace their suspension . Install together with the member brace set and door stabilizers to take that body rigidity even further.
* Performance rods (the two diagonal shafts) are standard equipped parts on the vehicle.
* A rear strut tower bar is not in the line-up due to vehicle balance.

[stevesnj]

Also here's some Horizontal Dampers to replace the solid stock ones. I believe these will help with the extra rear horizontal forces on the strut tower to prevent the solid top bar from shear forces.

[Sleepless]

I use one. On the street, it definitely has a noticeable effect which I like. It actually makes the front feel smoother. Someone posted an explanation which made sense but I don't have the link.

I put it on to minimize flex given I put on a stiffer suspension and a rollbar. The rollbar is significant because it stiffens the rear of the car and from past experience it leaves the front to take up more flexing so the brace was very noticeable on previous cars and it makes general sense to me.

So, I use it based on past experience and basic chassis flex theory. Given its small percentage of the cost of the other modifications like the suspension and rollbar, the strut brace is a no-brainer for me.

[Wayno]

It will increase NVH on stock spring rates and decrease NVH on higher spring rates.
That's the only reason I have one.

[Brzzee]

Originally Posted by jasonojordan

I have the Grimmspeed one. Noticed a difference even in daily use on round about and other tight corners.

My experience with the GS bar as well. I also have the Megan bar and i can report similar results. For track use a rear bar might have similar benefit. But i can not speak from personal experience, even though i have a new, uninstalled Megan Rear bar which came with the front bar in a parts buyout.

If you can get to Dallas u are welcome to try either of my front bars and make your own assessment.

[zdr93523]

Our BRZ does not use strut bars.

In my 20+ years of experience modifying, building, and racing cars, I have never encountered a strut bar that has a measurable effect on a car's handling. Take the $ for the strut bar and put it into something that will make an improvement. <--- note that I didn't say "make a difference." Or sign up for another track day with that money. Driver mod > car mod. Or take your significant other out to dinner as an investment for forgiveness the next time you need a supercharger or perhaps an OS Giken Super Lock LSD.

[Northwest86]

I don't have one. Out of the 35 other cars that I tracked with in the last month I would of seen less than 3 and none of them were our fastest guys. Josh from MCA (arguably the most experienced person setup and suspension wise in an 86 on planet earth especially with Murrays experience) doesn't run one. You can buy one if you want but there are other places that the money could be better spent. Say the Project Mu Club Racers over a HC800 or the next step on tyre compounds etc.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by Northwest86

Josh from MCA (arguably the most experienced person setup and suspension wise in an 86 on planet earth especially with Murrays experience) doesn't run one.

Good to know. I appreciate the input.

[nikitopo]

Many people avoid to install a strut bar, because it simply doesn't fit after installing a supercharger. This doesn't mean that it is useless. In fact you need a strut bar more if you have a stiffer suspension. Cusco did sometime ago a test of how the strut bar works. Check here:

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

[Packofcrows]

I want the TRD one. Brag rights. Like Toyota emblems.

[FRS Justin]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Also here's some Horizontal Dampers to replace the solid stock ones. I believe these will help with the extra rear horizontal forces on the strut tower to prevent the solid top bar from shear forces.

This is a bad example to compare a Typical style bar too.. The TRD uses different mounting points and brackets that are a lot stronger than what a typical bar uses......

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

Many people avoid to install a strut bar, because it simply doesn't fit after installing a supercharger. This doesn't mean that it is useless. In fact you need a strut bar more if you have a stiffer suspension. Cusco did sometime ago a test of how the strut bar works. Check here:

Cusco's catalog is literally like 50% bracing of some sort.

I think there's a little confirmation bias there.

[nikitopo]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Cusco's catalog is literally like 50% bracing of some sort.

I think there's a little confirmation bias there.

There are numerous examples. If you don't like/trust Cusco, check the GT86 CS-V3 car we have here. It has a MASSIVE strut bar:

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by nikitopo

There are numerous examples. If you don't like/trust Cusco, check the GT86 CS-V3 car we have here. It has a MASSIVE strut bar:

If you want a brace, get a brace! I'm just saying that I don't use one.