Does Adding A Front Upper Strut Bar - BMW Forum

spfdfanatic · 12-28-2004, 06:06 PM

These are not real expensive, and I have been thinking about adding one. Anyone have one and can you really tell a difference???

RIBEMR26 · 12-28-2004, 06:11 PM

I think the cheap ones do not really...for example Dinan makes a good one that is almost $300 I think...that DOES help take out some of the roll during hard cornering....

If you are going to buy one on EBAY for $10....I can pretty much guarantee you it could not withstand the weight of a small child, much less make the front end of your car any more solid....

spfdfanatic · 12-28-2004, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by spfdfanatic@Dec 28 2004, 07:06 PM
These are not real expensive, and I have been thinking about adding one. Anyone have one and can you really tell a difference???

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The one I am looking at is stainless steel with a carbon fiber coating. It's about $75, and thought if it would make some difference, it was a pretty cheap mod!

TMac325is · 12-28-2004, 06:17 PM

i figured strut bars rear didnt do much good unless you have an aftermarket suspension.. maybe im wrong

RIBEMR26 · 12-28-2004, 06:46 PM

Quote:

i figured strut bars rear didnt do much good unless you have an aftermarket suspension.. maybe im wrong

You are....

///M Power · 12-28-2004, 06:48 PM

They will help if they are truly stronad and if you have other mods t help with suspension (i.e. sway bars springs/shocks)

Autotechnica · 12-31-2004, 12:09 PM

Strut bars have absolutely nothing to do with the struts. They do not change the way the suspension (sway bars or springs) work in any way. The strut towers are simply convenient mounting locations used to stiffen up the upper portion of the chassis. You could weld a bar from the side of the strut tower to the other side and it would do the exact same thing. Installing stress bars have also been known to decrease the amount of damage to the chassis if you get in a small accident. When you corner, the top strut towers or upper portion of the chassis have flex. Installing stress bars reduce the flex thus equates to better handling.

I'd also recommend using an X-brace to stiffen the lower front sub-frame / chassis.

97alpineM3 · 12-31-2004, 12:11 PM

You will find the most noticable differance in handeling once you stiffen the lower portion along with the upper... as auto said again.

Les

bigred318 · 12-31-2004, 01:29 PM

and the x brace for the e36 is not that expensive right now!!

So running a x brace and a strut bar would gain a noticable difference?

David

tn325i · 12-31-2004, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigred318@Dec 31 2004, 01:29 PM
and the x brace for the e36 is not that expensive right now!!

So running a x brace and a strut bar would gain a noticable difference?

David

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I am a newb to this forum but a veteran at Bimmers..This page is interesting.
Granted it is for an E30 but physics are physics....And it's new years..

Strut bar info.

Autotechnica · 01-01-2005, 12:26 AM

Guys, just remember when you stiffen up the chassis and suspension, you MUST get better tires. Without that, the car will just be dangerous to drive. You'll loose grip a lot easier in the bends. If you use crap tires, it doesn't matter what kind of suspension or chassis modifications you have.

Bry

xxxbimmer · 01-01-2005, 04:21 AM

wow you have nice rims auto

ganjacyde · 01-01-2005, 04:58 AM

yeah strut bars are really a second upgrade to me...i wouldn't have put one on my car had i not upgraded my suspension.

but honestly, for a regular upgrade...a strut bar shouldn't be very high on your list...i mean there is much more important shit you can add to your car, regardless of price (i'd never fuck with cheap shit though, you've spent so much on your car so far, even 4k is considered alot around where i live) if you don't drive heavy turns at high speeds each day, or every other day, it's really a worthless upgrade, because you won't really notice much difference until you are depending on it. i've felt my strut bar make a difference before, and thats actually more than people i know who've thats added any kind of strut bar can say. but honestly, like i said, its best fit with another set of handling parts, because its mainly looks under the hood unless you are a seasoned driver.
but hell, some people here might be able to tell you that their strut bar has saved their life or some shit, but honestly, i can tell you i've only seriously felt the effects from my strut bar one or two times, and during those times it was my suspension and tires that meant the most, not this thin piece of metal that attaches one side of my car to the other.

sorry, i'm a little fucked up after new years...but figured i'd share my experienced opinion on the subject, even though alot of people here would seem to have the experience factor on me just by how much they use the forum here. i'm not joking though, i've driven my fucking car hard as hell since i've bought it, and every cent i've put into it i've examined how it worked, and strut bars...shit, they really just don't cut it.