Thinking Of Getting A Strutbrace

[dino20vt 3]

A above really, just fancy one, whats best, cheapest, where to buy, what to avoid etc!

[dino20vt 3]

And it's for a 205 with an standard 1.9 Mi16 engine.

[Tom Fenton 1,536]

They are all much of a muchness, I've had Sparco and OMP ones before, both of which seemed pretty identical.

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

*Dons flamesuit*

 

Now I'm dealing with a professional fabricator who specialises in mainly competition prep for 205s, I'm of the opinion and understanding that many off-the-shelf strut braces are more cosmetic than anything else.

 

Based on that, I'd say they're not worth the £50 or £60 they usually cost. Therefore I wouldn't bother, unless you're going to have one properly fabricated.

 

IMO now, I'd say they're one of those common aftermarket mods that make you feel your car's faster and better than it was.

 

[dino20vt 3]

Strutbracer.co.uk do OMP steel ones for £63.87 delivered or £60.68 when using this discount code: 66749585

[Baz 421]

Agree with DrS, they don't actually do alot laterally, bar stiffen the strut tops. You're better off fitting some strut top strengthening plates IMO.

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

Agree with DrS, they don't actually do alot laterally, bar stiffen the strut tops. You're better off fitting some strut top strengthening plates IMO.

 

Here's what I & I believe Baz mean. One is my car, the other is not. But both strut tops have been strengthened. These are what I now understand to be proper strut braces.

 

 

Mine's only tacked in in this shot.

[mr_exe 1]

Ours has got upper and lower braces, and I think the bottom one is worth having. As the others have said the top one is mostly cosmetic for impresing people looking at the engine bay. What it is useful for is resting on when working on the back of the engine, somewhere to put the magnetic dish, and for pulling the car into the garage.

[SurGie 54]

It might not do much but i noticed an improvement on a standard car worth the £20 i spent on a second hand one.

 

So welded ones are better then ?

 

Where can you get them from, or do they have to be made by a fabricator ?

Edited December 9, 2009 by SurGie

[daveo 0]

i'm also interested in this, i know on a 106 a lot of people claimed that a lower strut bace made a big difference

[omega 82]

my 2p worth

which is best to have a fixed or a ajustable one? and what does a ajustable one do?

i mean the idea of a strut brace is to tie the two struts together between two fixed points so whats the ajustment for?

or is it take into account the diffrence tolerances in the shells?

[Tom Fenton 1,536]

Simple test, get a standard 205, drive it before fitting a strutbrace, then fit a bolt on cheapo one (e.g. £15 from ebay) and then see what the difference is.

 

I always thought that the manufacturers claims were hyped up bull s*ite until I did this back to back for myself.

[dino20vt 3]

Did it make any difference?

[Tom Fenton 1,536]

There is one fitted to my car!

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

There is one fitted to my car!

 

I have one fitted too (an OMP one), and it would be silly to say they don't make a difference, as the car is suddenly gaining a flex control device that it didn't have before.

 

However, whilst these are simple to fit, I believe they are relatively weak and not as supportive/bracing as a straight one fixed rigidly to (as Baz said) plated top mounts.

 

The OMP/Sparco type we're talking about here really only fasten to a turret via 3 little studs that have 11mm nuts on, are bent by design and are rather thin at the angle join to the rings on the end.

 

If convenience is what is needed then I would say there's nothing wrong with them, and they will - they must - bring some benefit due to the forces they apply or oppose depending on your POV.

 

Otherwise I would say the plating (even on its on) and the fixing of a straight brace would be a much better use of the £60 as part payment to get a more professional brace made and fitted.

 

Nothing wrong with them, I just feel the phrase 'more cosmetic' is closer to the truth, although a little harsh.

[Veero 1]

Whether or not they do anything, they do provide a handy item to lean on when you are reaching over the back of the engine fixing things.

[Batfink 201]

The OMP ones are certainly not cosmetic. Kyepan and I did a back to back test and the difference was rather apparent.

Traction was noticeably improved over camber changes such as coming off roundabouts.

 

No doubt a fully welded option is better, as well as a full cage and welding up the inner wings etc etc, but quite frankly 99% of us drive road cars and it would be a pointless expense to go that extreme. Yes you can complain they are held on by three little nuts, but those three nuts are strong enough to hold your suspension on so whats the worry there..

There are cheap thin metal ones available on the market that are purely cosmetic but as long as you buy from the right manufacturers you will be ok.

I used to run an OMP upper and lower brace and the wear on my front tyres was pretty uniform despite the way I cornered on the road. I dont know if the lower brace did much but looking at how much my subframe has been welded up by colin for the racecar I'd guess that the lump of metal flexes more than we think....

 

Kev

[Tom Fenton 1,536]

Kyepan and I did a back to back test and the difference was rather apparent.

 

I've done the same test and agree with you.

 

I'm happy that it makes an improvement.

 

I like to stick to talking about things I've tried back to back and can directly compare.

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

Yes you can complain they are held on by three little nuts, but those three nuts are strong enough to hold your suspension on so whats the worry there..

 

Wasn't a complaint Kev, just a fact. As I said, they are convenient. It's not a worry either, but it's hardly as secure as the welded in version is it?

 

I cannot see how a pair of welded in top plates and a brace like the ones pictured is anymore inconvenient/in the way on a road car than the £60 type we're talking about here.

 

Again: I didn't say they do nothing or are worthless. I'm just saying there are better ways of doing it. Plus the types of brace pictured can be removed via 2 bolts/nuts rather than 6.

[jackherer 543]

Yes you can complain they are held on by three little nuts, but those three nuts are strong enough to hold your suspension on so whats the worry there..

 

Also when you take a strut brace off you can tell from the (lack of) marks on the strut tops that they don't move at all.

[Batfink 201]

Wasn't a complaint Kev, just a fact. As I said, they are convenient. It's not a worry either, but it's hardly as secure as the welded in version is it?

 

I cannot see how a pair of welded in top plates and a brace like the ones pictured is anymore inconvenient/in the way on a road car than the £60 type we're talking about here.

 

Again: I didn't say they do nothing or are worthless. I'm just saying there are better ways of doing it. Plus the types of brace pictured can be removed via 2 bolts/nuts rather than 6.

 

I'm not throwing accusations so dont worry I'm just saying they do the job. I dont think most people need to spend more than £60

welded in plates and a brace is certainly more inconvenient to fit.

I can see the benefits for if you wanted to remove your suspension and/or engine but again its not really much of a concern for most people again.

Will it offer enough of an advantage over and above the normal off the shelf item to be good value for money is certainly debatable.

[allye 530 3 Cars]

my 2p worth

which is best to have a fixed or a ajustable one? and what does a ajustable one do?

i mean the idea of a strut brace is to tie the two struts together between two fixed points so whats the ajustment for?

or is it take into account the diffrence tolerances in the shells?

 

Most are adjustable purely because the french were unable to make a car with exact same dimensions at that time!

 

Ali

[dino20vt 3]

Ok then, we've established they do make a noticeable difference, perhaps not a massive improvement as using welded plates/fabricated bars but a difference non the less. As my cars a road not track car and don't fancy welding, what shall I go for OMP or Sparco or any other suggestions appreciated.

 

Ok then, we've established they do make a noticeable difference, perhaps not a massive improvement as using welded plates/fabricated bars but a difference non the less. As my cars a road not track car and don't fancy welding, what shall I go for OMP or Sparco or any other suggestions appreciated.

[Batfink 201]

I think they are pretty much similar. I have both kicking around and well the OMP is cheaper so i'd go with that

[pug_ham 243 3 Cars]

My original one is a solid non adjustable Sparco iirc & it fitted straight on withour touching the bonnet.

 

The type Rich has posted in his two pictures are more of a turret brace than a strut brace imo & these are the same as the type Peugeot Sport used to offer for sale.

 

The only one I've seen which I'd consider cosmetic are the cheap alloy ones on ebay, I fitted one to a car (not mine) & the mounting plates flexed when I moved the "adjustable" bit to lock it off.

 

It looked like any flex you get as standard would still be there because of the cheap matel used on the strut top plates.

 

Graham.