What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
#18
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
![](http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/data/506/medium/10_corolla_xrs_engine.jpg)
I have one stock. Stock it has that, upgraded suspension, lowered 0.5" and some Michelin Pilot Primacy [very good tires] so it handles like a go-kart.
![Big Grin](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
As for straight line you'd all pwn me.
![Wink](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
#19
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
Originally Posted by Mike94ZLT1
I thought I could feel a difference in cornering with mine, but it was so small it could have all been in my head. They look cool though! ![Thumbs up!](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb.gif)
![](http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/Mike94ZLT1/IMG_0038.jpg)
![](http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/Mike94ZLT1/IMG_0044.jpg)
![Thumbs up!](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb.gif)
![](http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/Mike94ZLT1/IMG_0038.jpg)
![](http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/Mike94ZLT1/IMG_0044.jpg)
#20
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
Originally Posted by mr00jimbo
![](http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/data/506/medium/10_corolla_xrs_engine.jpg)
I have one stock. Stock it has that, upgraded suspension, lowered 0.5" and some Michelin Pilot Primacy [very good tires] so it handles like a go-kart.
![Big Grin](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
As for straight line you'd all pwn me.
![Wink](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
#22
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
Originally Posted by 85_305
Um *cough cough* anybody on here would also own you in the twisties, if that's what your getting at..
![Stick Out Tongue](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
I guess what I'm saying is I haven't driven a Corolla XRS but I've found quite a few more seemingly mundane cars handle better and much more predictably in the corners than my Z28 did. Maybe my suspension on the Z28 was shot, but I just found it to be a rocket in a straight line and a boat in the corners (I mean, not bad, but for such a low slung 2 door single-mission car it wasn't very impressive to me w/ handling)
#23
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
![](http://home.comcast.net/~kr4495/cz28/stb.jpg)
I like my STB (Strut Tower Brace). I don't think you feel the difference until you start cornering really hard. The front end just feels stiffer when cornering hard. Perhaps it's all in my head. Perhaps the real difference is just knowing you have such a large hard stiff rod under the hood.
![Big Grin](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#24
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
Originally Posted by Gunny Highway
I've thought about doing it for my 3rd gen, but I'm worried that it might make my harsh ride even more harsh. . . . that and I'm currently in the process of grenading my 4th tranny in 4 years. ![irk](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/irk.gif)
![irk](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/irk.gif)
It's what so many manufacturers strive for with their chassis design in the first place - torsional (and bending) rigidity.
#26
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
Originally Posted by Steve0
Strut tower braces dont do much for 4th gens because 4th gens don't have struts. ![Wink](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
The suspension geometry does not concentrate loads in such a way that a strut tower brace would counteract. Some claim that they can tell a difference after an install, but the general consensus is theyre not needed for 4th gends.
![Wink](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
The suspension geometry does not concentrate loads in such a way that a strut tower brace would counteract. Some claim that they can tell a difference after an install, but the general consensus is theyre not needed for 4th gends.
#27
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
Originally Posted by Steve0
Strut tower braces dont do much for 4th gens because 4th gens don't have struts. ![Wink](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
The suspension geometry does not concentrate loads in such a way that a strut tower brace would counteract. Some claim that they can tell a difference after an install, but the general consensus is theyre not needed for 4th gends.
![Wink](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
The suspension geometry does not concentrate loads in such a way that a strut tower brace would counteract. Some claim that they can tell a difference after an install, but the general consensus is theyre not needed for 4th gends.
this is exactly it
a strut is a prominent member in controlling the camber of the wheel thus alot of loads go to the "u shaped design" and squaring it off makes it significantly stronger
a shock absorber however only has to "absorb shock" the upper control arm will take the loads that the struts would, and since the control arms are bolts to the k-member they're not gonna flex and a "shock" tower brace is almost useless
#28
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
You've got to get under a 4th Gen and look at the suspension. The upper control arms are not bolted to the K-member, only the lower control arms.
All the vertical load for the lower control arm is transfered to the spring, and the upper spring seat is bolted, along with the upper A-arm mount directly into the shock tower, concentric with the shock mount. This is really not significantly different than the 3rd Gen strut type suspension, where the inner end of the lower arm is bolted to the chassis, and the entire vertical load is transferred by the strut into the center of the strut tower, and to the spring, which is not concentric with the shock.
I think the biggest difference between the 3rd and 4th Gens is in the design of the "tower"..... 4th Gen seems a bit more "integrated" into the cowl, and hence stiffer to begin with.
I like the comment about the "old person bathroom hand rail"..... as a certified "old person", I find it helps me maintain my balance under the hood
I think its also useful on cars capable of pulling the front wheels.
All the vertical load for the lower control arm is transfered to the spring, and the upper spring seat is bolted, along with the upper A-arm mount directly into the shock tower, concentric with the shock mount. This is really not significantly different than the 3rd Gen strut type suspension, where the inner end of the lower arm is bolted to the chassis, and the entire vertical load is transferred by the strut into the center of the strut tower, and to the spring, which is not concentric with the shock.
I think the biggest difference between the 3rd and 4th Gens is in the design of the "tower"..... 4th Gen seems a bit more "integrated" into the cowl, and hence stiffer to begin with.
I like the comment about the "old person bathroom hand rail"..... as a certified "old person", I find it helps me maintain my balance under the hood
![Big Grin](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![](http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injuneerzz@aol.com/PhotosD/Eng2202.jpg)
#29
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
Originally Posted by respectirocz
this is exactly it
a strut is a prominent member in controlling the camber of the wheel thus alot of loads go to the "u shaped design" and squaring it off makes it significantly stronger
a shock absorber however only has to "absorb shock" the upper control arm will take the loads that the struts would, and since the control arms are bolts to the k-member they're not gonna flex and a "shock" tower brace is almost useless
a strut is a prominent member in controlling the camber of the wheel thus alot of loads go to the "u shaped design" and squaring it off makes it significantly stronger
a shock absorber however only has to "absorb shock" the upper control arm will take the loads that the struts would, and since the control arms are bolts to the k-member they're not gonna flex and a "shock" tower brace is almost useless
![Smilie](https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I know that the 4th gen is not one that greatly benefits, though...
#30
Re: What exactly do "Strut Tower Bars" do?
I noticed a difference in mine. It's not a noticeably-overall suspension improvement, but rather it seems to improve the front end stability when taking sharp turns at high speeds.