FT-86 SpeedFactory Strut Tower Brace Review

[F1point4]

Today we are looking at a strut tower brace from @FT-86 SpeedFactory. As always the transaction was effortless.

Initial Thoughts

Our cars use a MacPherson strut system (spring and damper are combined) in the front, so there is inherent flex in the strut towers. Usually speaking this contributes to body roll in high speed cornering. I believe that any upset in the chassis could make you slower, simply because the car has to correct itself coming out of corners. A brace, if designed properly will transfer weight laterally and reduce flex.

To be effective, you have to tie the two strut towers and firewall together and the brace must be rigid. This bar, although two pieces, is rigid, unlike some braces which have pivot points. Ideally you'd want this to be one piece, but I believe it was two simply because of the darn AC hose.

Looking at the OEM brace vs this, I can visually see an improvement. The FT-86 SpeedFactory bar is greater in diameter. It is also hollow like the OEM brace. The brace is steel and all joints are TIG welded in the USA. The finish is great; it's powder coated and doesn't "Bling" out the engine. Overall it doesn't add much weight, but I like how force can be transferred laterally through the horizontal bar and name plate. I think it's priced reasonably to the competition given the materials, finish, and country of origin.

Installation was fairly easy. I didn't have to jack up the car and a few hand tools were required. The AC line still runs fairly close to the horizontal bar. I took precautionary measures with some pipe insulation.

Check out the DIY here
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20862

Driving Feedback
I put a few hundred miles driving under various situations. When doing high speed manuevers the car simply feels flat. Already driving fairly aggressive, I didn't want to find the new limit where body roll is introduced. Keep in mind my car is not stock (understatement), yet I can feel the difference.

During daily driving, you'll be hard pressed to notice anything. I think it does help with response time accelerating out of rolling right hand turns; the car doesn't have to do much to balance itself. That's still daily driving, haha. I believe the purpose of this is for aggressive situations, and it's good to know your car is ready for it when you need/want it.

I'll update this when I can test out the fitment with the @GrimmSpeed Master Cylinder Brace

Summary and Photos
Overall I'm happy
+ Hella functional - Solid brace, larger than OEM, connects the strut towers and firewall together
+ construction in USA
+ Aligns with my character and goals - Not blingy at all
+ It does improve handling at high speeds
- Still two parts (darn AC hose)
- It might be better if it went around the three strut bolts.
- Fit of certain catch Oil catch cans maybe difficult
? Does it fit with master cylinder braces,. we'll find out soon!

Sea of photos ahead

20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-01 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Welds

20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-02 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Finish

20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-03 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Rear

20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-04 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Joints are welded/ mounting brackets

20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-05 by VictorN07, on Flickr

20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-06 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Horizontal Bar Joint

20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-07 by VictorN07, on Flickr



20121022-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-08 by VictorN07, on Flickr



Comparison to OEM

20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-09 by VictorN07, on Flickr

The OEM brace is thinner, but the OEM brace is one piece

20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-10 by VictorN07, on Flickr


20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-11 by VictorN07, on Flickr


20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-12 by VictorN07, on Flickr




Horizontal brace on car. The holes are slightly larger.

20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-14 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Firewall brace on car. Note the hole sizes. We reuse OEM hardware

20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-15 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Firewall mount. There is a bolt and a nut on each side

20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-16 by VictorN07, on Flickr


Installed. Took this before I added the insulation tape to the AC hose

20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-17 by VictorN07, on Flickr

Closeup

20121025-FT86SpeedFactoryStrutTowerBrace-18 by VictorN07, on Flickr

[vubaru]

Nice post. How thick is the nameplate metal? You bring up an interesting point that an advantage of this system vs. another (e.g. Cusco) is the additional lateral force that might be transferred through that nameplate.

Another advantage vs. Cusco would be the price, too... those "Engine Power Braces" are like $400 alone, lol.

Would a standard strut tower bar like the Cusco OS fit over top of this?

Also given the placement of the nameplate it looks like this won't fit if you have something like a Crawford AOS (bolts on on the firewall right behind where the nameplate is iirc), which I have sitting in a box next to me

[YoKeutla]

Fantastic photos, as always, Victor! Thanks for the write up!

[Ash]

Looks great! i cant wait to see the attempt for the master cylinder braces. Ide love to thank this post but i have no idea how to.. haha

*edit* actually, i just got the thanks button

[FT-86 SpeedFactory]

Originally Posted by vubaru

Also given the placement of the nameplate it looks like this won't fit if you have something like a Crawford AOS (bolts on on the firewall right behind where the nameplate is iirc), which I have sitting in a box next to me

These can be purchased without the name plate as well.

Thanks again to Victor for the photos and write up.

[TTGT]

custom name plates???

[JoeBoxer]

There is a group buy going for a MC brace on turninconcepts website if you haven't ordered the grimmspeed already.

[F1point4]

Got to install the Grimmspeed master cylinder brace. It works perfectly with this strut tower brace!


20121101-GrimmspeedMCB_SpeedFactoryBrace-02 by VictorN07, on Flickr


20121101-GrimmspeedMCB_SpeedFactoryBrace-01 by VictorN07, on Flickr

[jstans84]

I would be interested in it if it said GT86 instead of FT86.

[AJ PwR]

Nice piece. Do you sel the triangle portion separately ? Will that work with Cusco STB ?

[gmookher]

nice pictures-you must be shooting with a nice setup or good glass for that color in that lighting...ED nikon>?

[F1point4]

Originally Posted by gmookher

nice pictures-you must be shooting with a nice setup or good glass for that color in that lighting...ED nikon>?

Thanks, I try to shoot in good lighting or heavily diffuse any flash used. I throw everything through Lightroom for final effects. My kit right now is

Nikon D700
Nikon 24 1.4G, 35 1.4G, and 70-200 2.8 VRII
Nikon SB600 (lol)

Cars aren't my only focus, but it happens to be currently

[FT-86 SpeedFactory]

Originally Posted by AJ PwR

Nice piece. Do you sel the triangle portion separately ? Will that work with Cusco STB ?

We do sell it separately. Will clear the Cusco STB.

[xcelir8brz]

sub'd.