What do you think of your strut bar?

[husker741]

Which kind do you have and was it worth it? Does it really stiffen up the front too much? I already have RCE Yellows and I'll track it rarely, but I'm interested in spending a little for a strut bar if it helps. I just don't want the ride greatly effected because I heard it does make it stiffer.

[boredom.is.me]

I have the GrimmSpeed strut tower bar and it does indeed provide a little extra predictability. It does induce a little initial understeer, but it helps the overall cornering experience tremendously.

[husker741]

Originally Posted by boredom.is.me

I have the GrimmSpeed strut tower bar and it does indeed provide a little extra predictability. It does induce a little initial understeer, but it helps the overall cornering experience tremendously.

How much did it stiffen the ride?

[boredom.is.me]

I'm not sure how much, but it is easier to dog leg. So ya, it's stiffer. As far as daily driving and bumps go. I can't really tell.

[autoCAR]

I got a Cusco carbon strut bar n I feel a bit of a difference too. Deffinetly feels more responsive in turn in, and as for comfort, no change.

edit: id recommend it if you got an extra 200 bucks n want a more crisp ride
just don't expect night and day changes

[fatoni]

can someone please explain to me how a strut bar generates more understeer?

[boredom.is.me]

It doesn't allow the chassis to comply (read flex) to the road as much. Te harder you push the car into a corner, te harder the STB is working to keep the outer wheel down. The result is a little less initial traction.

I can't really explain it too well. Also correct me if I'm wrong.

[DriftEightSix]

Originally Posted by boredom.is.me

It doesn't allow the chassis to comply (read flex) to the road as much. Te harder you push the car into a corner, te harder the STB is working to keep the outer wheel down. The result is a little less initial traction.

I can't really explain it too well. Also correct me if I'm wrong.

but that would mean it would effect the initial turn in... Which i found was improved with my strut bar (Grimmspeed)

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by boredom.is.me

It doesn't allow the chassis to comply (read flex) to the road as much. Te harder you push the car into a corner, te harder the STB is working to keep the outer wheel down. The result is a little less initial traction.

I can't really explain it too well. Also correct me if I'm wrong.

the chassis not flexing is exactly what you want to improve grip. in my head, thats just allowing the suspension to better do its job.

adding understeer can happen either by the car losing grip up front (which will slow a car down), or gaining grip in the rear (which i cant see a strut tower bar doing).

[frs10]

so what is the point of the factory installed bars?

[u/Josh]

Originally Posted by fatoni

can someone please explain to me how a strut bar generates more understeer?

I'm just going off intuition here, but it seems to me that adding a front strut brace would effect the car in a similar way as running a slightly stiffer anti-roll bar.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by u/Josh

I'm just going off intuition here, but it seems to me that adding a front strut brace would effect the car in a similar way as running a slightly stiffer anti-roll bar.

thats not at all what a strut tower bar does.

[u/Josh]

Originally Posted by fatoni

thats not at all what a strut tower bar does.

A strut tower bar effectively stiffens the front suspension when one wheel is in bump and not the other, by not allowing the chassis to flex (as much). A sway bar also stiffens the suspension when one wheel is in bump and not the other.

Now I am not sure exactly how the strut towers usually deflect, so I'm not sure how much effect the strut brace has when both wheels are in bump at the same time. Anyway, in very general terms, a strut brace stiffens the front suspension.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by u/Josh

A strut tower bar effectively stiffens the front suspension when one wheel is in bump and not the other, by not allowing the chassis to flex (as much). A sway bar also stiffens the suspension when one wheel is in bump and not the other.

Now I am not sure exactly how the strut towers usually deflect, so I'm not sure how much effect the strut brace has when both wheels are in bump at the same time. Anyway, in very general terms, a strut brace stiffens the front suspension.

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.