strut tower brace
The general idea for the two point braces, is to counteract the chassis flex that cornering loads place on one side of the car, by bracing the engine bay laterally. A 3 point tower brace also counters longitudinal flexing by tying in the cowl.
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TECH Addict
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Battlecreek, MI / Mansfield, OH
On a side note, iv heard the 3 point braces are bad news, they have been known to crack the windshield.
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TECH Addict
iTrader: (41)
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Battlecreek, MI / Mansfield, OH
its weird isn't it? People say that strut tower braces are useless on our cars, yet the 3 points some how crack windshields, there has to be some kind of chassis twist going on up there for them to be cracking windshields.
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: SE Portland, Or
Hmmmm...I think you might have something there
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: WI
The reason strut tower braces aren't a necessity is because 4th gens don't have "struts" in the traditional sense. 4th gen front suspensions have upper control arms, macpherson strut front ends do not. The majority of the load forces are applied to the k member and not the shock towers.
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I have a strut tower brace (see my sig) and when I installed it I felt I could tell a difference in overall front chassis stiffness. Then again, my shocks right now are complete garbage, so maybe any flex/bend/sway adjustment is magnified because of this.
The reason strut tower braces aren't a necessity is because 4th gens don't have "struts" in the traditional sense. 4th gen front suspensions have upper control arms, macpherson strut front ends do not. The majority of the load forces are applied to the k member and not the shock towers.
The reason strut tower braces aren't a necessity is because 4th gens don't have "struts" in the traditional sense. 4th gen front suspensions have upper control arms, macpherson strut front ends do not. The majority of the load forces are applied to the k member and not the shock towers.
In the upper shock towers!
I live in western New York, where the roads are horrible, and I've had a 3 point brace in my car for the last 14 years. So far, knock on wood, no windshield issues.....
Yes, really.
The STB was much more useful on the 3rd gen Fbodies due to the different front suspension and the less rigid chassis.
Now if you have a preponderance of lap time data or some analysis of the forces at work on the suspension, k-member and "strut towers" that you would like to produce that would be nice.
In the absence of that data it will be hard to reconcile why practically everyone with experience racing these cars don't think they are needed with your hypothesis.
The STB was much more useful on the 3rd gen Fbodies due to the different front suspension and the less rigid chassis.
Now if you have a preponderance of lap time data or some analysis of the forces at work on the suspension, k-member and "strut towers" that you would like to produce that would be nice.
In the absence of that data it will be hard to reconcile why practically everyone with experience racing these cars don't think they are needed with your hypothesis.
