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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 86
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Hey Folks,
I'm aware of a theoretical debate on the effectiveness of front strut tower braces for certain cars.
For those that have used or ridden in Contours with a front strut tower brace installed, can anybody attest to perceptible differences in handling attributable to the STB?
Does anybody have an opinion on the one that Sho Shop sells that requires no drilling?
Thank you,
DCL
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,397
b0x @dm1n
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b0x @dm1n
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,397 |
The Sho shop updated design is better than the older rigid design. You will always have the fear of snapping the strut bolt off witht hat desgin but the hinged ends and adjustability of the new bar reduce the chances of snapping the bolt.
Jeb Hoge installed one on his 95 and noticed quite a difference.
-Andy
Andy W.
The problem with America is stupidity.
I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment
for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety
labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?
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Joined: Jun 2000
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Originally posted by Andy W.:
Jeb Hoge installed one on his 95 and noticed quite a difference.
Then it looks like the Contour's unibody doesn't age too well..  When I installed the OMP front brace on my SVT a couple years ago, I didn't notice a single thing. Zip. Nada.
Huge placebo effect in front strut bars. Almost as good as some diet pills..
There's a VERY long list of things that need to be looked at before someone should fork out 100$ for a front bar on a recent car.
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Way better handling around those corves. But the most popular here is the STB from http://www.ompwins.com plus it's cheaper, only $99.00 plus shipping.
I don't now how your car does now, the easiest way I can explain is when your taking those curves at high speedand your car feels like it's about to flip over, the strut bar really reduces that. At least thats what I felt when I put it on my SE.
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Didnt notice a difference, didnt expect one. I just bought mine for looks.
-Ken V.
1998.5 SE Praire Tan Zetec ATX
psycho_bass@hotmail.com
Roush springs Roush rear sway bar BAT struts 17" Millie Miglia HT3 and a ton of subtle asthetic mods
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 472
CEG\'er
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i really dont drive like this "... is when your taking those curves at high speedand your car feels like it's about to flip over, the strut bar really reduces that."
so i dont think i would need that bar, however i would like to get a new sway bar at 19mm and a rear stb, is that gb still going on,
96 gl sport, atx, rip at 95k
FDNY 343 remember 9/11
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OK, understand that I am just repeating what I read on this board some time ago, but this person said that the front brace does little because the strut towers are so close to the firewall. He said that the rear brace is where you want to spend a little money. Supposedly a big difference. Good luck.
98 Silver Frost SVT
97 BMW 540I Sport, six speed
"Blue is for sky, black is for soil, and white is for simplicity, purity and hope for the future"
"A coveted car should never stunt your life, but should make it more rich and interesting."
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bk4293: Can you explain to me how a strut bar (which is a chassis bracing component, NOT a suspension member) can reduce body roll?? Are you confusing this with a sway bar?
I'd like to understand.
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Originally posted by Pascal:
bk4293: Can you explain to me how a strut bar (which is a chassis bracing component, NOT a suspension member) can reduce body roll?? Are you confusing this with a sway bar?
I'd like to understand.
I think the idea is that it "ties" the tops of the suspension components together, forming a box of sorts, which is inherently a stiffer structure than a "U" assembly.
"Think of it, if you like, as a librarian with a G-string under the tweed." Clarkson on the Mondeo.
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Originally posted by Jeb Hoge:
I think the idea is that it "ties" the tops of the suspension components together, forming a box of sorts, which is inherently a stiffer structure than a "U" assembly.
Yes, I do understand that.
You didn't realize I'm playing stupid here... I'm waiting for the technical explanation on how bracing a car's unibody will make it resist body roll when cornering. 
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