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

[wootwoot]

It looks like you guys don't have a lot of threads left on those bolts...

Any interest in making it triangulated and replacing the stock bars? That would be my vote anyway.

[2point0]

Originally Posted by GrimmSpeed

What do you guys think about the brackets? What would you change?

Umm...well, first I would recommend making them out of METAL...

Any chance the little open triangle could be replaced with the cut out GS logo? Not sure if there's enough room, just an idea. Otherwise, I liked the look of that being a solid piece.

[mottor]

Originally Posted by wootwoot

It looks like you guys don't have a lot of threads left on those bolts...

Any interest in making it triangulated and replacing the stock bars? That would be my vote anyway.

It's already been discussed. IIRC, they're making a single bar for now and may offer bars to replace the stock ones if they think they can make a significant improvement and there's enough demand for it.

Originally Posted by 2point0

Umm...well, first I would recommend making them out of METAL...

Any chance the little open triangle could be replaced with the cut out GS logo? Not sure if there's enough room, just an idea. Otherwise, I liked the look of that being a solid piece.

^ This is a great idea, provided it doesn't compromise performance.

[GrimmSpeed]

Originally Posted by mottor

The previous prototype bracket had a solid support on the front side. Do you find that it is equally as strong with the cutout? Also, is there any benefit to be had by using this support on the face of the bracket instead of alongside it?

I actually have SEVERAL prototype brackets (I won't say exactly, but its > 10), because its nice to get them off of the computer and onto the car to see what it actually looks like. But the cutout mimics a "truss" design, and technically reduces weight (albeit not much) while not really having any effect on the strength of the part at all.

I think I'm confused about your second question though. The portion with the cutout is a gusset to the face of the bracket that connects to the round bar. I'm not sure where else you could move it without interfering with the bolt holes, or the triangulation bar. Let me know what you were thinking!

Originally Posted by wootwoot

It looks like you guys don't have a lot of threads left on those bolts...

Any interest in making it triangulated and replacing the stock bars? That would be my vote anyway.

You're right, the studs don't have any more thread left on them. However, these 3d printed brackets end up being thicker than intended, but even so, the thread engagement is more than enough. A good rule of thumb is that if the length of thread engagement is less than the diameter of the thread being engaged, then you're going to have a problem. However, that is not the case here.

There is interest in that, in fact that's what this thread is supposed to be about! The direction I see the thread leaning in is moving away from that though. The stock triangulation bars work, it lowers cost (helps us get to that target MSRP), is STX legal for SCCA AutoX, and is something that isn't already flooding the market.

I like a good conflicting vote though, keep it coming!

Originally Posted by 2point0

Umm...well, first I would recommend making them out of METAL...

Any chance the little open triangle could be replaced with the cut out GS logo? Not sure if there's enough room, just an idea. Otherwise, I liked the look of that being a solid piece.

Yeah right man, plastic is the new metal! Bahahahahaha

It certainly could, I doubt the triangle cutout will ever make it unless people REALLY want it, as it adds cost in laser cutting. The logo costs even more to cut unfortunately, but I really like the idea, and might even print one up.

Great ideas, comments, concerns, that's why I love this community. I'm not afraid to admit that I used to be part of other car forums when I was younger, but was just so turned off from the needless negativity from some users. This place is the opposite, people actually helping each other. That's a rare thing to find sometimes these days

Chase
Engineering

[s2d4]

Originally Posted by GrimmSpeed

It certainly could, I doubt the triangle cutout will ever make it unless people REALLY want it, as it adds cost in laser cutting.

For some reason, it looks less OEM spec with the cut out, some people may like it, some people may hate it.

Perhaps all the brackets starts off with no cut out but make it an option for the people that want it and then charge them for it?

[mottor]

Originally Posted by GrimmSpeed

I actually have SEVERAL prototype brackets (I won't say exactly, but its > 10), because its nice to get them off of the computer and onto the car to see what it actually looks like. But the cutout mimics a "truss" design, and technically reduces weight (albeit not much) while not really having any effect on the strength of the part at all.

I think I'm confused about your second question though. The portion with the cutout is a gusset to the face of the bracket that connects to the round bar. I'm not sure where else you could move it without interfering with the bolt holes, or the triangulation bar. Let me know what you were thinking!



You're right, the studs don't have any more thread left on them. However, these 3d printed brackets end up being thicker than intended, but even so, the thread engagement is more than enough. A good rule of thumb is that if the length of thread engagement is less than the diameter of the thread being engaged, then you're going to have a problem. However, that is not the case here.

There is interest in that, in fact that's what this thread is supposed to be about! The direction I see the thread leaning in is moving away from that though. The stock triangulation bars work, it lowers cost (helps us get to that target MSRP), is STX legal for SCCA AutoX, and is something that isn't already flooding the market.

I like a good conflicting vote though, keep it coming!



Yeah right man, plastic is the new metal! Bahahahahaha

It certainly could, I doubt the triangle cutout will ever make it unless people REALLY want it, as it adds cost in laser cutting. The logo costs even more to cut unfortunately, but I really like the idea, and might even print one up.

Great ideas, comments, concerns, that's why I love this community. I'm not afraid to admit that I used to be part of other car forums when I was younger, but was just so turned off from the needless negativity from some users. This place is the opposite, people actually helping each other. That's a rare thing to find sometimes these days

Chase
Engineering

Here's the best I could do to mock up what I meant in a few minutes at my desk. Apologies for the poor drawing but I'm no artist. Lol. Incorporated the logo cutout though.

Could you place the gussets in the crease of the bracket, or as part of it instead of alongside it? It might make it a bit more difficult to access, but a socket could still easily get to it. Just a thought. Either way the logo looks good. Perhaps just one one side to reduce cost of cutting it out of both.

[GrimmSpeed]

I am not 100% sure what you mean still. Do you mean so the overhangs are aligned with the bottom of the bracket? I tried to mock up something quick (with logo, honestly I dunno if its going to be possible!).

Only issue I have with this is where the weld bead is going to go now. On this edge there is enough room to go "inside" the bracket, but then you're left with that small visible gap. On the other gusset it still has to go on the outside as the room back there needs to be occupied by the flanged nut.

Am I even close?

Chase
Engineering

[mottor]

I'll try to get one of my buddies who is skilled in CAD to mock it up. Essentially, if you could make the top piece (where the bar would attach) equally as wide as the lower (where it attaches to the car), you could set the triangle support on the inside of this right angle and weld it on the inside making a perfect corner.

You could do the same on the opposite side if you made both the upper and lower a bit wider and angled the other triangle brace parallel to the one with the logo. Not sure if you have the other brace at an angle to improve rigidity.

What I had in mind might look something like this:


Anyway, this may be the wrong direction entirely, just thought that the gusset design would only be as strong as the welding points where it attaches whereas the inset triangle would be as strong as your steel. Again, my apologies for not being able to explain myself better.

[Captain Snooze]

Uh-oh. Rant coming up.

What happened to Function>Form? Sure, why not get some gold inlay with pearl beading and laser etched titanium (because titanium!) wings? But please keep the cost less than $30.

[mottor]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

Uh-oh. Rant coming up.

What happened to Function>Form? Sure, why not get some gold inlay with pearl beading and laser etched titanium (because titanium!) wings? But please keep the cost less than $30.

No no, trust me I don't want this to be something done purely for aesthetic purposes. As I said at the bottom of that post:

"this may be the wrong direction entirely, just thought that the gusset design would only be as strong as the welding points where it attaches whereas the inset triangle would be as strong as your steel."

I am all for function over form on this part. If they come back and say the design I was suggesting would simply cost too much or not provide any or enough benefit, then that's great too. I only suggested it for strength purposes, and only because I didn't think it'd be a big deal to cut the steel a little bigger and place one piece inside another rather than alongside it.

[Captain Snooze]

Sorry mottor, that wasn't aimed at you. It was this:

Originally Posted by 2point0

Any chance the little open triangle could be replaced with the cut out GS logo?

[mottor]

No worries!

:happy0180:

[GrimmSpeed]

There are no wrong answers in brainstorming!

Mottor, that's exactly what I did in that CAD model i whipped up quick. It would force me to make the bracket wider in order to add extra room for the weld bead due to it occupying space that the flanged nut needs. No need to have your buddy whip one up, because there it is! And the area that would be welded is substantially stronger than you'd initially think. I see the train of thought and I've definitely been down those tracks myself!

Chase
Engineering

[mottor]

Originally Posted by GrimmSpeed

There are no wrong answers in brainstorming!

Mottor, that's exactly what I did in that CAD model i whipped up quick. It would force me to make the bracket wider in order to add extra room for the weld bead due to it occupying space that the flanged nut needs. No need to have your buddy whip one up, because there it is! And the area that would be welded is substantially stronger than you'd initially think. I see the train of thought and I've definitely been down those tracks myself!

Chase
Engineering

Thanks Chase, I figured you had already looked into the idea, I just wanted to make sure. Thanks for taking the time to humor me anyway. Carry on guys, you know what you're doing much better than I do. I just play with computers for a living.