Strut Tower Braces
12-30-2003, 04:39 PM
#3
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Join Date: Aug 2003
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Wow that news to me. It makes sense though. I had a Strut Tower Brace on my Acura (auto-cross) and noticed quiet a bit in handling. Didn't know if it would do the same thing with a much more powerful car or not. Thanks for your input though.
12-30-2003, 05:33 PM
#4
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Location: Washington DC
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THey also help out "stiffing up" the front end. When they are included with sub-frame connectors the combo works great. As before I have a 2 point setup from SLP and it works great. I get no rattles in the car at all.
12-30-2003, 08:11 PM
#8
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It seems like everyone has heard stories about cracked windshields but no one has seen it firsthand.
The metal at the cowl seems a little thin to be used for support IMO.
If the LG is much more expensive than BMR I would get the BMR. It's a pretty simple part and not worth spending a lot on.
The metal at the cowl seems a little thin to be used for support IMO.
If the LG is much more expensive than BMR I would get the BMR. It's a pretty simple part and not worth spending a lot on.
12-30-2003, 08:22 PM
#9
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Location: Washington, left coast
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I posted a similar question in suspension/auto cross section and got different responses. Steve B even went so far as to say STB's did nothing for him & wasnt worth buying........
Sway bars on the other hand.............pretty much everyone says that well worth the bucks...........from what I've read anyway.
Many have reccomended Sam Strano as the F body uspension guru. His web site does have some useful ideas & he hosts a board too.
For me, it's springs, struts & sway bars first, then we'll see what 's left in the budget.
Sway bars on the other hand.............pretty much everyone says that well worth the bucks...........from what I've read anyway.
Many have reccomended Sam Strano as the F body uspension guru. His web site does have some useful ideas & he hosts a board too.
For me, it's springs, struts & sway bars first, then we'll see what 's left in the budget.
12-30-2003, 09:32 PM
#10
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The "3-points cause cracked windshields" is urban legend. I've been running the LG Motorsports "4-point" (that's what THEY call it) for 8 years, and the car takes a real beating at the track. The windshield is still in one piece 
. And yes, it is bolted to the cowl.
LG Motorsports "4-point" shock tower brace
A good friend of mine was running mid-9's in a 3,900# 30th SS convertible, and he was disappointed that the blower ducting had forced him to eliminate a 3-point STB. If you look at the better cage setups on the high power 4th Gens, they will have braces extending from the front of the cage to the top of the shock towers..... has to help absorb the loads of pulling the front wheels and dropping them back down on the track - something the auto-X guys don't have to worry about.
. And yes, it is bolted to the cowl.LG Motorsports "4-point" shock tower brace
A good friend of mine was running mid-9's in a 3,900# 30th SS convertible, and he was disappointed that the blower ducting had forced him to eliminate a 3-point STB. If you look at the better cage setups on the high power 4th Gens, they will have braces extending from the front of the cage to the top of the shock towers..... has to help absorb the loads of pulling the front wheels and dropping them back down on the track - something the auto-X guys don't have to worry about.
Last edited by Injuneer; 12-30-2003 at 09:35 PM.
12-31-2003, 10:14 AM
#11
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Location: Upstate NY
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FWIW, strut tower braces (STB) are meant to be used on MacPherson strut suspensions where there is no upper control arm and lateral suspension loads are fed into the upper strut tower location.
The 4th gen F-body has a Short/Long Arm (SLA) wishbone suspension with the spring mounted on the shock. That upper location takes vertical tire loads, not lateral cornering loads. There is a small lateral component because the shock isn't exactly vertical, but it's minor compared to loads froma MacPherson strut suspension. Additionally, the "long knuckle" F-body suspension minimizes the lateral loads in the upper control arm.
IMO, spend you money elsewhere.
Another interesting "strut" is sold for the 94-96 Impala SS which has a SLA suspension with all parts attached to the frame on this frame and body car. The "strut" basically ties the radiator support more securely to the firewall. It never sees any suspension loads.
The 4th gen F-body has a Short/Long Arm (SLA) wishbone suspension with the spring mounted on the shock. That upper location takes vertical tire loads, not lateral cornering loads. There is a small lateral component because the shock isn't exactly vertical, but it's minor compared to loads froma MacPherson strut suspension. Additionally, the "long knuckle" F-body suspension minimizes the lateral loads in the upper control arm.
IMO, spend you money elsewhere.
Another interesting "strut" is sold for the 94-96 Impala SS which has a SLA suspension with all parts attached to the frame on this frame and body car. The "strut" basically ties the radiator support more securely to the firewall. It never sees any suspension loads.
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