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Strut Tower Brace worth it?

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Old 06-07-2012, 06:19 PM
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Default Strut Tower Brace worth it?

I know this has been beaten to death as far as if a STB actually does anything or if it just looks cool. Some people say it does nothing but look good and make it harder to work on the engine without removing it each time, others say it stiffens up the front end and eliminates vibrations.

Getting right to the point, Founders Performance has a STB for under $60 new including shipping. For such a controversial mod I'd be wary of spending double that on one but for $60 is it worth the risk of having what may or may not benefit the car structurally/performance wise?
Old 06-07-2012, 08:29 PM
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Evidence or not, we sell a TON of them.

And have them on all our cars. Even if they don't do anything measurable, they just make you feel like you did something good for the car.

ramey
Old 06-07-2012, 08:51 PM
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I'm planning on ordering a UMI PHB and UMI SFC's within the next month as well, should have added that in the first post. I don't know if after those the STB would do anything, but I mean $60 doesn't seem like a lot of money really so any benefit could be justifiable for that price is what I'm thinking, just wanted to get some general input
Old 06-07-2012, 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by LS-ONE_DAY
I know this has been beaten to death as far as if a STB actually does anything or if it just looks cool. Some people say it does nothing but look good and make it harder to work on the engine without removing it each time, others say it stiffens up the front end and eliminates vibrations.

Getting right to the point, Founders Performance has a STB for under $60 new including shipping. For such a controversial mod I'd be wary of spending double that on one but for $60 is it worth the risk of having what may or may not benefit the car structurally/performance wise?
Not trying to be rude here but if you know this has been beaten to death, why ask the same question yet again? I don't understand what you wish to get out of this thread?

I was on the same boat as you but have decided against purchasing one and using that $60+ elsewhere.
Old 06-07-2012, 09:15 PM
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I have one because when I bought an interior out of a wrecked car the guy threw it in for free. I put it in at the same time I did Strano/Bilsteins, adj PHB and LCA's so I couldn't tell if that alone made a difference. Would I pay for one? Probably not. It is kind of a pita to work around.

Last edited by SilverSS07; 06-09-2012 at 02:00 PM.
Old 06-07-2012, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by 02TransAm/Batmobile
Not trying to be rude here but if you know this has been beaten to death, why ask the same question yet again? I don't understand what you wish to get out of this thread?

I was on the same boat as you but have decided against purchasing one and using that $60+ elsewhere.
I asked because most run $80-$250 dollars. I wasn't trying to have a huge argument about whether or not it does or doesn't help, more so I was wondering if it is worth even $60 for the possibility of any benefit.
Old 06-07-2012, 10:53 PM
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Search the many threads that exist and draw your own conclusion on if you want one or not. Do a little homework.
Old 06-08-2012, 07:39 AM
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Thanks for considering UMI!

Originally Posted by LS-ONE_DAY
I'm planning on ordering a UMI PHB and UMI SFC's within the next month as well, should have added that in the first post. I don't know if after those the STB would do anything, but I mean $60 doesn't seem like a lot of money really so any benefit could be justifiable for that price is what I'm thinking, just wanted to get some general input
Old 06-08-2012, 10:24 AM
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I'll have mine wedesday so I'll find out myself and post.
Founders PHB and PHB relocation kit is also WAY cheaper as well. All my other mods have been Umi so i'm a little worried and I hope the quality is as good.
Old 06-08-2012, 11:20 AM
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I have a Hotchkis chrome stb even if it doesn't do much it looks good.
Old 06-08-2012, 11:35 AM
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Seriously, yes the topic has beaten to death, and the price point is irrelevant given the bar does so little. If it fell from the sky tomorrow would it be worth putting on?

https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspensio...08536-stb.html

This is as ubiquitous a question as when will my 10 bolt break, a topic that comes up in the exhaust section now for some reason. Put it to bed already.
Old 06-08-2012, 12:17 PM
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I think it actually helps when your working on the car. Gives you something to hold on to. Unless youre doing a head swap or something.
Old 06-08-2012, 04:42 PM
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The difference was felt the moment i went off of driveway. When you climb on a driveway 1 tire at a time, it was noticable. Ive done all relevant suspension mods first so at this point it was not much to think about, but i found on a 14 year old frame with 150k on it, it does help
Old 06-08-2012, 11:15 PM
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I had one on for a while but I had to take it off so often to work under the hood that I finally just left it off....havent noticed anything different. Besides if the strut towers actually flexed together or apart during driving you gotta figure it would bend the hood....right?!?!? my hood is straight
Old 06-09-2012, 12:06 AM
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In wreck it helped and when I put my old 3 point on I had a wheel up in the air. I tightened it and broke my windshield the first day we had the car.
Old 06-09-2012, 12:07 AM
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Originally Posted by SladeX
The difference was felt the moment i went off of driveway. When you climb on a driveway 1 tire at a time, it was noticable. Ive done all relevant suspension mods first so at this point it was not much to think about, but i found on a 14 year old frame with 150k on it, it does help
Possibly, but don't disregard the real phenomenon known as the "placebo effect".
Old 06-09-2012, 12:40 AM
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Originally Posted by 02TransAm/Batmobile
Possibly, but don't disregard the real phenomenon known as the "placebo effect".
lol. true. the real question OP is are you making crazy HP and needing a roll cage and and big slickers with crazy suspension to stay on the road? prob not.

so you probably dont need one.
Old 06-09-2012, 01:09 AM
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i think once your pushing over 400hp to the wheels you need to stiff your chasy using sub-frame. tower brace, & tunnel brace, and everything else so not to get body flex
Old 06-09-2012, 08:27 AM
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No right now I'm only making maybe ~315rwhp or so (not dynoed/tuned) but I plan on getting a torque converter by the end of summer so I'll be getting SFC's before that. I don't plan on making 400 rear wheel for at least a year. I never plan on needing a roll rage, Pretty sure the requirement for ET is 11.49 and under needs a roll cage, long term goal is consistent 11.5
Old 06-09-2012, 08:34 AM
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Here's some of my input/experience:

My buddy's car that had completely shot front tires. The front end vibrated at 55-70mph. After we put on an STB, the vibration was gone, and yes, we were on the same exact stretch of road before and after on the same day (within half an hour).


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