Spec Twin?

[Jshreiner]

Originally Posted by ApexEight

Quick DS questions: why does it seem like people either love or hate their Strano front bars? Also, is it ok to use one with stock end links? I have a used one ready to install and may want to stay in DS but am second guessing installing it if it's not a good front bar.

My co driver and I both like my strano bar and koni ds setup with re71 tires. He drove another locals brz with konis whiteline bar and re71 and said it was horrible and pushed no matter what he did. Might have some to do with alignment as well.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Jshreiner

My co driver and I both like my strano bar and koni ds setup with re71 tires. He drove another locals brz with konis whiteline bar and re71 and said it was horrible and pushed no matter what he did. Might have some to do with alignment as well.

It's just so easy to over-drive the front end of this car with stock-ish camber, I think too much front bar would just make it waaay easier to overdrive the front. The only reason I would criticize the current SSC setup is because even with (supposedly) two camber bolts (small SPC bottom hole, OE crash bolt top hole, maybe no Koni washer to mimic OE struts if we're optimistic) is that at best you'll be getting around -2.5 degrees which still isn't enough to make full use of the front tire imho. Everything else about it looks like a pretty sweet deal with adjustable shocks and sways and (most) alignment so you can get some hands on experience developing a car without jumping into the more complicated and expensive ST* pool.

With the bigger whiteline it probably gains a bit in transitions over the strano, improving one of the big weaknesses of a DS car (soft springs) but it requires patient smooth turn-in to not create a glaring weakness.

Hence why I said it comes down to style earlier. Someone super smooth on entry who wants a car that can be quick on transitions probably doesn't like the Strano bar as it's too stock-like. The eibach bars are pretty stiff (25mm tube vs. strano 22mm tube) so it'll be interesting to see where people end up and if they're allowed one aftermarket bar like the rest of street class (I hope so...)

[Shark_Bait88]

Originally Posted by ApexEight

Quick DS questions: why does it seem like people either love or hate their Strano front bars? Also, is it ok to use one with stock end links? I have a used one ready to install and may want to stay in DS but am second guessing installing it if it's not a good front bar.

Let me rephrase: I really like the handling improvement of the Strano bar. It really improved transition on the car, slaloms felt great. I hate the fitment. It's apparently worked for some people without issues, even using OE endlinks. I couldn't get it to not make super loud clunk with the OE links. Thought about switching to adjustable Whiteline links, but saw enough people who had issues with those too that I decided not to waste my money/time on a gamble.

Removed the bar yesterday, put stock back on, no more clunks. Gonna sell the Strano bar, do the last 3 events of the season on stock, and either put on a new FSB next year or go SSC. I really wish the Strano bar didn't have fitment issues, because it performs very well. It just makes daily driving almost intolerable.

[Shark_Bait88]

Originally Posted by Jshreiner

My co driver and I both like my strano bar and koni ds setup with re71 tires. He drove another locals brz with konis whiteline bar and re71 and said it was horrible and pushed no matter what he did. Might have some to do with alignment as well.

Did the other BRZ have the 20mm or 22mm WL bar?

[Jshreiner]

Brz was on the 22mm whiteline. We both have the whiteline endlinks as well.

On another note I had trouble with my endlinks constantly coming loose with my strano bar so I ended up putting lock washers on to keep them tight. It also took a few tries to get it adjusted to not clunk every bump.

[brewdad16]

really excited to see this concept migrate over from road racing

really excited to see a newer and inexpensive car selected for it

Have a '13 FRS being freebie transferred to a CarMax near me to test fit kiddo seat, see how it is, etc. If it'll work I'll be shopping in earnest and submitting an order to TireRack for the suspension kit the next day.

[ApexEight]

Anyone know if the SUR4G is dailyable? Seems like it'll be the Spec tire. And do they run wide?

[Locust]

Originally Posted by Jshreiner

Brz was on the 22mm whiteline. We both have the whiteline endlinks as well.

On another note I had trouble with my endlinks constantly coming loose with my strano bar so I ended up putting lock washers on to keep them tight. It also took a few tries to get it adjusted to not clunk every bump.

I chased swaybar clunk for over a year with my Whiteline endlinks. That noise drove me nuts! I've had less issues running the Perrin non-adjustable links after I snapped a seized Whiteline one at the start of this season.

[Shark_Bait88]

Took my Strano bar off and put stock back on, clunk is almost completely gone. It will happen still at full lock over large bumps, but it's much quieter. I'm guessing the nuts likely just need to be tightened a little.

Now the debate of whether I'll be running SSC Eibach bars next year, or staying in DS and going with a different FSB...

[ryan t]

i guess i got lucky, my cusco bar with stock links has never made any noise

[Shark_Bait88]

Originally Posted by ryan t

i guess i got lucky, my cusco bar with stock links has never made any noise

I've really only heard of there being issues with the Strano bar. It's a shame, because I liked the way the car felt with it. But being primarily a DD, the clunk was unbearable.

[Biggins]

Originally Posted by brewdad16

really excited to see this concept migrate over from road racing

really excited to see a newer and inexpensive car selected for it

Have a '13 FRS being freebie transferred to a CarMax near me to test fit kiddo seat, see how it is, etc. If it'll work I'll be shopping in earnest and submitting an order to TireRack for the suspension kit the next day.

Welcome, I suspect there will be many more joining the class.

Originally Posted by ApexEight

Anyone know if the SUR4G is dailyable? Seems like it'll be the Spec tire. And do they run wide?

Where did you hear this? The sample car was on Hankook RS4s. I have heard the Nexen is good but very loud on the street.

[Jshreiner]

Everyone thinks it will be the SUR4G because price but it will most likely come down to availability and who gives tire rack the beast deal. The RS4 may have been chosen due to Chris Harvey's like of the tire. I'm not sure he still feels the same about it as he did during the tire rack test but when we talked to him he seemed to really like the RS4.

[ApexEight]

@Biggins Just from rumors I've read. How arr thr RS4s for dual duty? Do they wear poorly and also run loud?