Name This Strut Brace

wcc · 01-31-2006, 03:01 AM

I have this strut brace that was installed by the PO long ago. There isn't any markings on it, so...... Who make this and where could I get one?

The ones I've seen all bolt on the front fenders on top of the strut. Are those better or is this brace on top of the shock better?

Spede · 05:00 AM

I think that strut braces are supposed to stiffen the body. I don't think they should be connected at the top of the strut nut.

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

Bill,
If you decide to upgrade let me know, I would be interested in that strut bar for my early car that doesn't have the three bolts for the other strut bars. It would save me from having to fabricate one. Thanks!
Mike

wcc · 01-31-2006, 05:52 AM

vanwyk4257,
I don't plan on upgrading, but if I do I'll keep you in mind. I was just looking for something for the other car.

The way I see it is, yes, the ones that uses the three bolts around the strut would definitely stiffen the body. Which is by far the most popular. The one I have shown actually ties the two struts together which in return "should" give you a tighter feel IMO. But I'm no expert, that's why the post. In other words both move together instead of independently. Or do you want them to move independently of each other?

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

Thanks Bill. If you can find any brand name or markings on it let me know. This is the only style of strut brace I can use on my car without modifying the body. I may just have on fabricated otherwise. I appreciate it!

Zeke · 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spede
I think that strut braces are supposed to stiffen the body. I don't think they should be connected at the top of the strut nut.

Actually connected to both would be ideal. But, the top of the strut moves like the end of a pencil stuck thru a piece of paper, back and forth slightly. When connected the strut nut and the 3 bolts, additional stress is placed on the rubber mount. With monoballs, the strut can break due to binding.

That bar looks to be OK on that issue, but you're right about the bar only correlating the struts and not the struts in unison to the body as well.

The best setups use monoballs which eliminate the strut movement relative to the body and the bar holds the body from flexing with a second, triangular member. I believe WEVO and Elephant Racing both address this well.

Would the above bar help? I don't see anything negative about it, just falls a little short of the whole package.

Edit: After seeing the close-up pics below, I'm not sure that all of what I said here is accurate.

tonythetarga · 01-31-2006, 06:37 AM

Why not modify that one slightly. Can you fab a bracket that bolts to one or two of the three bolts around the tower and tie it back into the main bolt at the end of the bar. Like a "V" on either end. Then you just need a longer bolt to tie the whole thing together.

Elombard · 01-31-2006, 07:56 AM

Walt is right I would pull that thing off. I think you are causing shaft bushing wear in the strut. No bar is better than one that limits the movement of the top of the strut.

It is usefull as a tool to pull the struts to max camber. But after the bolts are tightened holding the camber I think you should pull it off.

Jim Williams · 01-31-2006, 04:29 PM

I have a bar that looks similar at the attachment point, but is actually tied in to the body via the strut mount. The strut mount accepts the top of a Bilstein RS strut. The PO assembled all this a few years back, and says he got this and other stuff for the car from The Racers Group. I don't think there are any markings on the strut bar to indicate the manufacturer.

I'm sorry I don't have any more information, I just thought this might be an interesting addition to the thread.

Elombard · 01-31-2006, 04:32 PM

OOh Jim that is sexy!

wcc · 01-31-2006, 04:40 PM

Jim,
Excellent Post!!!!

Thank you very much for that.

Here is a link to that exact strut tower brace.

www.theracersgroup.com

Then click on
Performance parts
Suspension Components
Strut Braces
Then 911 Strut Brace

That takes you to this pic:

http://www.theracersgroup.com/parts/suspension/strut_braces/911%20strut%20bar.jpg

I wonder what those are going for these days? Might be worth a call.....

SLANTNOSE6 · 01-31-2006, 08:16 PM

wcc · 02-01-2006, 04:04 AM

My brace is identical to Jim's. I gotta say, I've been very happy with it. But my '87 has two very large washers with a busing between them. Like this from this link:

Strut Brace Installation

So the brace that I have and the one Jim shows probably won't work with my '87? So on that car I'll have to use the surrounding allen bolts.

SO......

I've seen some that use the rear two bolts, seen them using one rear bolt, now SLANTNOSE6 posted a pic using just the front bolt, I've seen using all three, and I've seen Weltmeister using all three PLUS the top of the strut. I don't even want to get into the triangular ones. That is for another day. Just about every combination known is out there for sale. They all do the same thing, but is one superiour over another? I'm leaning towards the ER one. That one uses one bolt.

vtrich · 02-01-2006, 11:05 AM

If you go to the Weltmeister website you can read their opinion on the value of tying both the body and strut together. Under load, they observe more movement in the top of the strut than the actual body. To me, this makes most sense, unless of course, you have immobilized the strut already,...ie. poly bushings or mono ball setups.

safe · safe's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by vtrich
If you go to the Weltmeister website you can read their opinion on the value of tying both the body and strut together. Under load, they observe more movement in the top of the strut than the actual body. To me, this makes most sense, unless of course, you have immobilized the strut already,...ie. poly bushings or mono ball setups.

That is true, but also so very wrong.... Read the tread from the top and you'll understand.

vtrich · 02-02-2006, 06:41 AM

Quote:

That is true, but also so very wrong.... Read the tread from the top and you'll understand.

I must be a moron, 'cause I did read the thread, and I can only see support for Weltmeister's claim. Why would one replace the standard strut bearing,...or whatever is up there,...with a monoball,...to eliminate the slop in the rubber bushing? So Weltmeister's bar is the only one I know of that ties both body and strut together, which I think is a cost effective way to tighten it up. 'Course if your just messing around on the street it probably doesn't make alot of difference,...ok,..so I'll climb back in my hole.

safe · safe's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by vtrich
I must be a moron, 'cause I did read the thread, and I can only see support for Weltmeister's claim. Why would one replace the standard strut bearing,...or whatever is up there,...with a monoball,...to eliminate the slop in the rubber bushing? So Weltmeister's bar is the only one I know of that ties both body and strut together, which I think is a cost effective way to tighten it up. 'Course if your just messing around on the street it probably doesn't make alot of difference,...ok,..so I'll climb back in my hole.

This is what Walt wrote:

Quote:

Originally posted by Zeke
Actually connected to both would be ideal. But, the top of the strut moves like the end of a pencil stuck thru a piece of paper, back and forth slightly. When connected the strut nut and the 3 bolts, additional stress is placed on the rubber mount. With monoballs, the strut can break due to binding.
[/B]

And I agree with the above. The strut moves at pivot point below the weltmeister bracket. If you then tie the top of the strut to the car you put stress on the rubber bushing and strut bar, something are going to break .
What you want is a monoball and a bar between the strut towers.