Do I need a Strut Tower Bar?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Yoniyama

Ordinary, I would say that the front top brace is a must. But,

please see video of TRD Griffen project car attached:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71345

It is interesting that such an intensely modified vehicle DOES NOT have the front brace attached.

I wonder why not.

Because, as some of us are trying to say, a few hundredths of an inch flex in that area is negligible with respect to other factors affecting overall rigidity of the system. Dunno if I already mentioned this but, IMHO, the factory braces are already configured beautifully.

That being said, an extra strut brace certainly doesn't hurt anything so I suggest letting bygones be bygones. Enjoy your car!

[abraxis]

Originally Posted by Yoniyama

It is interesting that such an intensely modified vehicle DOES NOT have the front brace attached.

I wonder why not.

What are talking about? It most certainly DOES HAVE the front brace attached. It's the same as the one I linked in my picture above. If you mean why isn't it triangulated it's because they decided to gusset the brace using welds. This is also explained in the link I attached about triangulation. You can clearly see three separate reinforcing gussets added to the brace. Does pretty much the same thing but leaves the option of raising the intake manifold or dropping a blower on it.

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

IMHO, the factory braces are already configured beautifully.

That's why they changed the design and reinforced it? The factory front braces were the just the cheapest way they could do what obviously needed doing at the price point of this car. $$$

[Snowblind]

I have a Grimmspeed strut bar and TRD Japan chassis braces on my car. Steering feel and handling predictability noticeably increased.

[muffinz]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Save your money and track your car as is. It's fairly track-capable from the factory. Just needs brake pads and fluid, which I didn't see on your mod list. I'd start there before getting any braces or bushings.

As you start to track more, the next mod you'll want is an oil cooler.

pads, lines, and fluid are going to be my next purchases.

Also, I installed the 2014 forester oem oil cooler on my car. oil temps never go over 240F on the track. It probably doesn't have the cooling capacity of a dedicated oil radiator....but I'm not planning on doing FI ever so I think it'll suffice.