Front Strut Tower Bar = OverSteer/Understeer?

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Aug 11, 2005 | 08:37 PM

PandaSC300

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Front Strut Tower Bar = OverSteer/Understeer?

Hi,

Just wondering what the overall effect of a front strut tower bar is on a SC300. Will it cause the car to oversteer more easily or understeer? Thanks and appreciate it.

JM

Aug 12, 2005 | 01:51 PM

RobSoVIP

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not a whole heck of alot... some looks, maybe some feeling of a stiffer chassis... but not enough to change much.

Aug 12, 2005 | 07:49 PM

PandaSC300

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So no noticeable oversteering? Thanks for the info.

JM

Aug 13, 2005 | 01:43 PM

Syed Shah

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Technically, stiffening the front would cause understeer. But in real life, the effect probably won't be noticeable.

Aug 13, 2005 | 03:22 PM

PandaSC300

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Understeer? Could you please explain why it's understeer? Thanks.

JM

Aug 13, 2005 | 03:25 PM

Syed Shah

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Because a stiffer front always leads to inherent understeer.

The SC understeers normally anyway too. But it is all down to driver preference.

Aug 13, 2005 | 03:29 PM

Lexusfreak

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From: St. Thomas, Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syed Shah

Technically, stiffening the front would cause understeer. But in real life, the effect probably won't be noticeable.

Agreed.

Aug 14, 2005 | 02:33 AM

Cmedrift

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to get the full effect of a strut tower brace people dont understand you pretty much have to change all your front suspension bushings to ball joints for strut tower braces to work . because your chasis flexes under hard conditions and strut tower braces dont really determine understeer too much man ive gone through soo many damh setups with my 86 so ive been there done that if you want a sport look get em but if your serious do all the suspension upgrades from pillow tops, lower control arm, tie rods. tension rods would be a good start

Sep 12, 2011 | 10:01 PM

#10

norcal2jz

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nicely said Cmedrift

Sep 12, 2011 | 10:09 PM

#11

SChema

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Strut braces do not have much of an effect on the JZA80 chassis. To even remotely make a difference, you should look into 3 or 4 point braces the tie into the firewall; other than that, they are mainly for eye candy.

Sep 13, 2011 | 10:44 AM

#12

GSteg

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Your chassis must be really flimsy and beat up to even feel a difference. If your chassis is in great shape and you still 'feel' a difference, then it's all in the head.

Want to know whether a chassis brace helps? Take your car on a road course and do some data-logging. If you don't see an improvement with the bar after repeated runs, then throw it away. If you are faster, then great...it did something.

If you're doing it for cosmetic reasons, then any bar will do wonder.

Just adding a strut bar is not going to do crap for torsional rigidity..but it sure does look good!

Sep 14, 2011 | 08:06 PM

#13

Asha'man

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On the spaghetti-noodle chassis of a Fox Mustang, stiffening measures like strut tower braces, subframe connectors and the like make a huge and very noticeable difference. On an already stiff chassis like the SC, I highly doubt you'll notice any difference. For reference, take note of the next time you jack up your SC by one of the tow hooks, front or rear. The whole side of the car, both wheels' worth, comes off the ground. If you were to do that on a Fox, only the corner you're jacking comes off the ground; the other three remain planted. Pretty sad lol, although I'll always love those cars.

Sep 21, 2011 | 06:24 PM

#14

spdrcr771

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From: Arlington TX

They do work, most ppl say they don do much cause there car's are only driven on the street or drag strip. But if you road race "track day" your car then there is def a notice able difference. In road racing every little bit of help is a plus. Every "driver" is different. Most ppl dont have all the suspension components to complement each other. IE adjustable sway bars, good coilovers, adjustable control arms etc. I feel like I get a quicker steering responce, cause of the stiffer chassie. I like a little of understeer, cause, I get to use more throttle steer with the *** end. To each his own. Believe who you want. There's lots of track time on this SC.