what does a strut brace do for your car?

[Guest Anonymous]

i know it makes it more rigid, but what does that help you with?

[BLUNT]

keeps your steering geometry in spec under load is a simple explanation

[c.d.iesel]

....they (front and rear) keep the floppy sides if the car

tied together while driving the car at it's limit of adheasion."it's a good thang"

[Paul7002]

I noticed a definite difference and improvement in handling after installing my Ireland front bar recently. Hard to describe, I guess I'd say sharper through the twisties with less understeer/more oversteer.

I also notice less body flex over uneven pavement.

[Guest Anonymous]

same goes for a rear bar?

[BLUNT]

probably a lot less noticeable if at all in the rear. but im still going to have one anyway

[scottiesharpe]

2002 have a very weak front end. The nose panel usually tears off because the front subframe strut assemblies flex so much.

If you look at the welds at the stop of the strut where they meet the nose, they are probably bent or torn on your car.

A strut bar helps stop the welds from tearing at the nose panel.

[_z_]

Steve k always sends folk here

http://e30m3performance.com/myths/Strutbar_Theory/strut_bar_theory.htm

for an explanation. Frankly a lot of it goes over my head, but its a good read!

[steve k.]

Steve k always sends folk here

http://e30m3performance.com/myths/Strutbar_Theory/strut_bar_theory.htm

for an explanation. Frankly a lot of it goes over my head, but its a good read!

Oh, c'mon is basic phisics

What you have to learn from the above is there are two forces acting on the bar depending on what is happenening with the car. But it is a good read. Just like the rest of the stuff on that site.

steve k.

[_z_]

Steve k always sends folk here

http://e30m3performance.com/myths/Strutbar_Theory/strut_bar_theory.htm

for an explanation. Frankly a lot of it goes over my head, but its a good read!

Oh, c'mon is basic phisics

Ya, but I noticed as I was hitting about .45 c the other week the whole strut bar theory started breaking down bigtime

[steve k.]

Ya, but I noticed as I was hitting about .45 c the other week the whole strut bar theory started breaking down bigtime

It didn't break down, it just became a close aproximation. And not for you, but to the outside observer

steve k.

[Guest Anonymous]

(original poster) so on a front bar how important is it to be able to adjust it on an 02. could i just make one myself and have it be super stiff?

[steve k.]

the strut bar is always stiff. it prevents the top of strut towers from pulling apart in turns. there is no adjustability.

You might be thinking of sway bars. The bar that connects control arms.

steve k.