Strut Bar

gstjoker · 06-27-2006

I've been thinking about getting front strut bars for my 96 GST. Do any of you know if there's any difference from other strut bars to the ones on ebay? Such as durability or its performance on the cars? Any recommendation or advice would be great. Sorry for the fact that I don't know much about this.

**Kracka** · 06-27-2006

Ractive makes very stiff yet cheap bars. There can be a difference, but probably not a whole lot.

HiImBrian · 06-27-2006

Yea I used a cheap ebay one on my last car and it worked fine. Couldn't feel or notice any differance though.

**Kracka** · 06-27-2006

FWD's (especially 1G's) have a lot more chassis-flex than the more well braced AWD's and respond more noticably to strut bars.

Jakey · 06-27-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.98GSX

Couldn't feel or notice any differance though.

Was all the weight of your car on the frame rails when you installed it? I installed mine on my Laser simply because I was sick of it laying around the garage. When I get around to installing it correctly, I will put my car on a lift.

Shane55113 · 06-27-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakey

Was all the weight of your car on the frame rails when you installed it? I installed mine on my Laser simply because I was sick of it laying around the garage. When I get around to installing it correctly, I will put my car on a lift.

I don't understand what you mean? How would it be different if you installed it on a lift instead of on the ground? As long as its standing still there is no load on the top of the strut towers, so if anything it would be better to keep it off a lift.

Just to chime in here, if you want a strut tower bar that would work really well just look at the stock one from the Eclipse GT, it connects to both strut towers and to the fire wall. That is a good design.

94talonawd · 06-27-2006

Its all the same. All it is is a metal bar. Heck you can just take a pipe and make one.. haha

**Kracka** · 06-28-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94talonawd

Its all the same. All it is is a metal bar. Heck you can just take a pipe and make one.. haha

There are differences, mainly in the mounting brackets. Jakey is right, at least get your front tires off the ground to unload the suspension when you install it. I installed mine with the car resting on the ground, drove it, came home and reinstalled it with the front tires jacked up and it made a difference. Also, tighten the bar so it pushes out, not pulls in. Do not tighten any of the mounts until the bar is adjusted tight; this will prevent any flex room in the bar to provide the stiffest bracing possible.

Jakey · 06-28-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane55113

I don't understand what you mean? How would it be different if you installed it on a lift instead of on the ground? As long as its standing still there is no load on the top of the strut towers, so if anything it would be better to keep it off a lift.

False. When your car is on the ground with the suspension loaded, the weight of the vehicle is placing an upward bending moment on the entire chasis of the vehicle resulting in chasis flex. With the car on a lift, the weight of the suspension will place a downward bending moment on the chasis but this is much less significant that the entire weight of the vehicle. So, to compensate for the upward bending moment cause by the weight of the vehicle, the proper way to install a strut tower bar is with the car supported by the frame only. Ideally, one would install strut bars with the suspension, brakes, and wheels removed but generally that's not realistic.

Jakey · 06-28-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane55113

Just to chime in here, if you want a strut tower bar that would work really well just look at the stock one from the Eclipse GT, it connects to both strut towers and to the fire wall. That is a good design.

I agree. If I ever get around to it I'm going to design a strut tower bar that links the struts and the struts to the firewall. Check out the 1993 Archer Racing Talon:

More information about the car:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222227

**Kracka** · 06-28-2006

I believe Neuspeed makes a bar that connects the strut towers with the firewall.

Jakey · 06-28-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by S2kracka

I believe Neuspeed makes a bar that connects the strut towers with the firewall.

Happen to have a link? I can't find anything on the Neuspeed website except for Honda/Acura and VW/Audi products.

**Kracka** · 06-28-2006

I don't have a link, but I know for fact they made one for the 2G and am pretty sure they made one for the 1G. Check www.nopionline.com and www.hopupracing.com

98gstaherns · 06-29-2006

Would it a good idea to get a sturt bar for a Gst? Or is it somthing you would only need if you are putting down big WHP?

tim · 06-29-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by S2kracka

I believe Neuspeed makes a bar that connects the strut towers with the firewall.

I didnt know Neuspeed made one for DSMs but the VW and Honda one is the same type that would give the best results on a DSM. Jakey has the right idea. The ideal situation for any strut bar is to have it installed with no load on the suspension. The fact that a unibody car gets most of it's ridgitity(sp) from the firewall would only make sense to have the strut bar connect to it.

**Kracka** · 06-29-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98gstaherns

Would it a good idea to get a sturt bar for a Gst?

YES! Have you read this thread at all?

**asshanson** · 08-09-2006

Do rear strut bars help as much as front ones? I didn't see any mention of them in this thread.

**Kracka** · 08-10-2006

They are totally pointless on 1G FWD cars, but all other models should benefit at least a little bit from them.

**asshanson** · 08-10-2006

How about anti sway bars? Much help there?

P.S. I don't know hardly anything about suspensions

**Kracka** · 08-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowboy

How about anti sway bars? Much help there?

HUGE difference, the Suspension Techniques rear antisway bar I put on my 1G FWD made more of a difference that my AGX/GroundControl setup did.