New 40mm Cusco Rear STB
10-16-01, 03:26 PM
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New 40mm Cusco Rear STB
I just imported a couple Cusco 40mm billet aluminum rear strut tower bars. It's probably the strongest rear strut tower bar you can buy for the Aristo JZS16# or GS300/400/430. I have an extra one and need to sell it for $200. It's currently on display at Area51 Fabrications.
10-17-01, 10:10 AM
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Reply for Intellexual
Originally posted by Intellexual
This one is 40mm...what is that measurement for the Tom's and UGO rear strut bars?
This one is 40mm...what is that measurement for the Tom's and UGO rear strut bars?
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10-18-01, 04:27 AM
#10
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The Cusco rear STB is a nice unit...however, know that THICKNESS is not the way to measure strength.
The UGO rear STB is CARBON FIBER. Pound for pound carbon fiber is much stronger than aluminum. The reason why the UGO bar isn't some big tube is because it doesn't need to be. And it's lighter (not that it matter much on a rear STB)...
Also, cuttin into the trunk liner is no big deal...I'm constantly surprised by how reluctant people are to get STB's (front or rear) because of some stupid reason...like not wanting to take off the useless engine cover that you never really see or cutting two small slits/holes into the trunk liner...it's not like the trunk liner is water/air tight or anything!
For such MINOR visual changes, the STB adds A LOT (yes, "A LOT" is TWO words, not one) IMPROVEMENT to your handling...
I have yet to run into a situation where having a couple holes in my trunk liner has affected anything...or removing my engine cover...but ever time I take a turn, my STBs make me smile...
The UGO rear STB is CARBON FIBER. Pound for pound carbon fiber is much stronger than aluminum. The reason why the UGO bar isn't some big tube is because it doesn't need to be. And it's lighter (not that it matter much on a rear STB)...
Also, cuttin into the trunk liner is no big deal...I'm constantly surprised by how reluctant people are to get STB's (front or rear) because of some stupid reason...like not wanting to take off the useless engine cover that you never really see or cutting two small slits/holes into the trunk liner...it's not like the trunk liner is water/air tight or anything!
For such MINOR visual changes, the STB adds A LOT (yes, "A LOT" is TWO words, not one) IMPROVEMENT to your handling...
I have yet to run into a situation where having a couple holes in my trunk liner has affected anything...or removing my engine cover...but ever time I take a turn, my STBs make me smile...
10-18-01, 05:55 PM
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Ugo is nice too...
Manaray,
You're right about the part that thickness does not measure strength. The measure is "rigidity" and +/- pole tolerance. A good way to test a strut bar is to have two people hold opposite ends of the strut brace and start twisting. An important factor overlooked in strut bar is the tolerance of the connector bolt and the lock-joint of the bar. FYI, many STB in the market wilt. To reassure people the bolt and joint of the Type-40 series are 17mm pressed billet aluminum (again aerospace quality... I don't need to go there). The thickness and design is the key advantage.
I'm not too sure about the part of carbon fiber being stronger than "billet" aluminum. I know dragcars are moving to billet aluminum driveshafts as opposed to other materials. By the way I wouldn't trust using the Ugo rear STB or any STB if it was completely made of carbon fiber... especially a reinforcement part... maybe for the exterior. Heck, I wouldn't use a carbon fiber based roll cage. That and it's not economically feasible to construct a 100% carbon fiber strut bar and sell it for $249. I'm pretty sure the Ugo bar is carbon-wrapped around rectangular-bar aluminum. In terms of round... haven't you seen the Volkswagen Bettle commercial.
But you're totally right about the handling and turns... the GS tends to have too much body roll and the front/rear STBs do help a lot!
You're right about the part that thickness does not measure strength. The measure is "rigidity" and +/- pole tolerance. A good way to test a strut bar is to have two people hold opposite ends of the strut brace and start twisting. An important factor overlooked in strut bar is the tolerance of the connector bolt and the lock-joint of the bar. FYI, many STB in the market wilt. To reassure people the bolt and joint of the Type-40 series are 17mm pressed billet aluminum (again aerospace quality... I don't need to go there). The thickness and design is the key advantage.
I'm not too sure about the part of carbon fiber being stronger than "billet" aluminum. I know dragcars are moving to billet aluminum driveshafts as opposed to other materials. By the way I wouldn't trust using the Ugo rear STB or any STB if it was completely made of carbon fiber... especially a reinforcement part... maybe for the exterior. Heck, I wouldn't use a carbon fiber based roll cage. That and it's not economically feasible to construct a 100% carbon fiber strut bar and sell it for $249. I'm pretty sure the Ugo bar is carbon-wrapped around rectangular-bar aluminum. In terms of round... haven't you seen the Volkswagen Bettle commercial.
But you're totally right about the handling and turns... the GS tends to have too much body roll and the front/rear STBs do help a lot!
10-19-01, 02:48 AM
#13
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TX GS - Maybe stupid is a pretty harsh word but I don't mean it personally. I just think in GENERAL that the reasons are stupid. People argue about visuals ("I like the way the engine cover looks") on parts they rarely see! How often do you look under the hood?
As for the trunk, when you open it up, you won't see two HOLES (unless you're completely mechanically and geometrically inept and cut some large honkin' holes
)...you'll just see a nice rear STB...
The only real disadvantage to the rear STB is that your rear "shelf" space now has a bar going through it...but for me, my GS isn't a station wagon and I'm not a soccer mom so I'm not exactly carrying around a lot of crap in my trunk...
Botton line is if you like a car that HANDLES, a pair of STBs will make you smile...but I guess if you'd rather have a pretty little engine cover and a pretty trunk liner, then that's your business...
I guess it's much like the difference between the PCA (Porsche Club of America) and the POC (Porsche Owners Club)...PCA members like to just buy and talk about their pretty little Porsches...POC members rip it up on the race track...
V300 - There is no doubt that the Cusco bar is VERY sturdy...my only point was that thickness does not measure strength...I would have ABSOLUTELY NO reservations recommending the Cusco bar you're selling...
The ends of the UGO bar are aluminum and the mounts/bases/brackets (whatever you want to call 'em) are made from steel...it's a pretty sturdy setup...definitely doesn't flex a whole lot (I tried)...and the handling is par with the TRD STB (which is a massive 1-piece steel pipe setup...)
VW Bettle: Would you trade your GS for one? Neither would I.
As for the trunk, when you open it up, you won't see two HOLES (unless you're completely mechanically and geometrically inept and cut some large honkin' holes
)...you'll just see a nice rear STB...The only real disadvantage to the rear STB is that your rear "shelf" space now has a bar going through it...but for me, my GS isn't a station wagon and I'm not a soccer mom so I'm not exactly carrying around a lot of crap in my trunk...
Botton line is if you like a car that HANDLES, a pair of STBs will make you smile...but I guess if you'd rather have a pretty little engine cover and a pretty trunk liner, then that's your business...
I guess it's much like the difference between the PCA (Porsche Club of America) and the POC (Porsche Owners Club)...PCA members like to just buy and talk about their pretty little Porsches...POC members rip it up on the race track...
V300 - There is no doubt that the Cusco bar is VERY sturdy...my only point was that thickness does not measure strength...I would have ABSOLUTELY NO reservations recommending the Cusco bar you're selling...
The ends of the UGO bar are aluminum and the mounts/bases/brackets (whatever you want to call 'em) are made from steel...it's a pretty sturdy setup...definitely doesn't flex a whole lot (I tried)...and the handling is par with the TRD STB (which is a massive 1-piece steel pipe setup...)
VW Bettle: Would you trade your GS for one? Neither would I.
10-19-01, 03:49 PM
#14
Originally posted by manaray
The ends of the UGO bar are aluminum and the mounts/bases/brackets (whatever you want to call 'em) are made from steel...it's a pretty sturdy setup...definitely doesn't flex a whole lot (I tried)...and the handling is par with the TRD STB (which is a massive 1-piece steel pipe setup...)
The ends of the UGO bar are aluminum and the mounts/bases/brackets (whatever you want to call 'em) are made from steel...it's a pretty sturdy setup...definitely doesn't flex a whole lot (I tried)...and the handling is par with the TRD STB (which is a massive 1-piece steel pipe setup...)
What about the front STB? same thing? CF center aluminum ends and steel brackets?
10-20-01, 02:38 AM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
Yup, check out the photo...the pieces at the end of the carbon center which look sorta pinkish in color are anodized aluminum. Then the mounting brackets (red) are steel...and the bolt/nut are also steel (chrome steel).
On a sidenote, did you ever find out if this bar fits on a GS300?
Hey V300, can you get Cusco STBs (front and rear) for the JZS-147s?
On a sidenote, did you ever find out if this bar fits on a GS300?
Hey V300, can you get Cusco STBs (front and rear) for the JZS-147s?