Strut tower brace?

Eturbo924 · 01-28-2002, 08:02 AM

Hey 944 guys has anyone purchased and or used a strut tower brace. The bars you can purchase to link the two towers...

I was thinking of such a purchase to strengthen the front of my 944. I will be welding up a frame rail to repair some damamged by previous owner and figured this would help some also. Keeping the front from flexing as much might be good.

Let me know your experiences and what products you recomend at what cost. I am more interested in the ones that mount to the tower itself not the ones that mount to the strut shaft only.

Thanks

Eric

Obin Robinson · 01-28-2002, 11:56 AM

a while ago i found one FROM EUROPE designed for the 924/944 and it was under $200. really nice one too. i can dig that info up. everyone that has put in a strut brace has noticed an improvement. mind you, the 924/944 race cars all had them from the factory:

here's the brey-krause one:

http://209.4.91.164/Watkins_Glen_Events/zone_1_48_hours/dynamo_944_engine.JPG

944 GTR cross brace (pretty tough to duplicate at home):
http://209.4.91.164/Watkins_Glen_Events/HSR_2000/Porsche_944_GTR_engine.jpg

if you are really serious about one, i can dig up that info on the one from europe.

obin

justin · justin's Garage

Hey Obin...I'm interested in the one from europe,start diggin bud,TIA

Eturbo924 · 01-29-2002, 04:04 AM

Obin. $200 or so seems to be the number. Let me know if you can what that one from Europe is and the exact cost.

Thanks very much for your input.

Eric

Obin Robinson · 01-29-2002, 04:55 AM

ok, i'll dig up what i can, and hopefully put the info up here today.

thanks for hanging on!

obin

RealRideRacing · RealRideRacing's Garage

It's true that most race cars have some sort of Strut Brace. But you also should know that most race cars have Heim-Jointed suspensions or some kind of more precise bushing setup (Polyurethane or polygraphite). It's my feeling that using a strut brace and rubber bushings isn't very effective. After all, that's the main purpose of the rubber busings, to absorb alot of the forces. I would change to better bushings or heim-joints before running a camber brace.
The only exception would be to the gentleman whose using the brace for structural reasons. In this case, you're using it mainly to maintain the alignment. But I also wonder how effective a bolt-on brace is in this case.

Regards,
David
PENNYWEB/REALRIDE.COM RACING
http://www.RealRide.com

eimkeith · 01-29-2002, 12:59 PM

I agree with this, I don't know how useful it would be without at least having MO30 strut bearings (very little rubber) or camber plates, or something...

However, if the towers flex like I've heard, I'll get one just to keep my welds tight and my paint from cracking!

Eturbo924 · 01-30-2002, 04:18 AM

That is what I suspected. I recall reading an article about a 944S2 (I think) who put a tower brace in and was negatively effected in the auto-x. Seems it made the car plow to much. In my case it will be used to strengthen the front end. I plan to go for the larger units that bolt to the tower and not to the strut itself so it should help my car. The alignment on my car seems to be fine, but I am sure it is not as stiff as it should be with the hit... and subsequent poor repair it had. The frame rail will be properly welded and re-enforced by the end of next week.... so with the addition of a good brace.... should be good to go.

Thanks everyone. Any other experiences with these are welcome to comment.... and are appreciated.

Eric

Obin Robinson · 01-30-2002, 05:23 AM

ok, i got the info.

the info is on page 411 of the 2001 Tuning Zubehor catalog.

the cost of the 924/944 strut tower brace (polished aluminum) is $188.

their website is down right now, but it was at:

http://www.tuningzubehor.com/

i don't have their phone number handy, but they are in california and they advertise in various european car and sport compact car magazines.

good luck!

obin

Obin Robinson · 01-30-2002, 04:57 PM

more info:

they are part number 012031

their phone number is 877 982 3467

e-mail info@tuningzubehor.com

obin

Leadfoot · 02-01-2002, 09:01 PM

how u getting on,found this picture in a mag i managed to get today,prices might be old but anyway....Leadfoot
by design automotive group,info line 310-559-9670,order line 1-888-993-2911 there in California!!..Leadfoot

TKenton · 02-02-2002, 06:55 AM

Does anyone else have first hand experience of the affect a strut tower brace has on a 944's handling?

I run SCCA auto-x and this is a popular mod on the Japanese cars. I like the way my 944s handles, very neutral and balanced, but am always looking for an imprivement. I would not want it to push more or "plow" as one of you stated earlier.

What is the consensus? Will a brace cause the car to push more? or less? I would have guessed less, but have not yet tried it/

todd951 · 02-02-2002, 08:13 AM

I doubt you would notice any difference at all if you still have the OEM rubber strut mounts. You would need to replace those with monoball mounts or camber plates before a strut brace would have any effect.