I was wondering what the most popular one is for WRX owners. Also, how common is it to have one these days on a WRX? Do you owners have it on your priority list? The reason I am asking is because I was thinking of making a replica of one of the most common ones to see how hard it is to do.
Well, i don't think it's the most popular, but the ones i would buy are the Cusco or the STI Titanium strut bar. Biggest reason: Their Rigid. none of that silly bolting of the bar to the mounting plates. that just creates hinges, causing the chassis to basically trapezoid. Honestly, the majority of strutbars are un-neccisary. but their often done because they create the illusion of a rigid chassis and are cheap and easy to install. But i tell you what, you whip up a rigid strut tower bar out a of some heavy enough material that i can mount it to the car, grab it, and move the car without it flexing, and make it cheap enough, and i'll scoop one up immedately.
My first customer! :-D That's good to know thank you. I always thought the hinged ones made little sense. If you are causing the car to flex so much (especially with the added support of the firewall) that you need hinges on the strut bar so it doesn't snap, then you are having way too much fun.
So ebay bars are no good because of the bolt connecting the rod to the mounting plate? You could easily just weld that so it doesn't flex, if one were so inclined. I've been kind of looking at these lately. Mostly the ebay specials. Don't feel like spending $100+ on a bar I know isn't that much of a handling improvement to begin with. But, you can get the front and rear bars with an H brace for the price of 1 cusco front bar. Kinda hard to swallow getting 1 bar for the price of 3.
While this is true, most ebay bars are made of inferior materials. the plates that the bar attaches too and connects to the strut tops are often made of a thin soft metal, and the bar it's self is rarely strong enough. i've seen and shook so many strut bars, and the ebay specials are always the worst. i thought about buying one and welding it up, but keeping the inferiority of them in mind, i just thought it would be more effective to build one from scratch. For the most part, the hinges are there just for ease of use. it's easier to install the mounting plates first then throw the bar across it. likewise for removal for maintenance/repair.
Looks like I got lucky. I'll track down where mine came from (employee of the month award), but it's an off brand i think...RE is on the top. Mine is in there so tight that I can sway the car from side to side if I grab the strut tower. there's no play what so ever and it does have one huge bolt on each side to connect the braces to the bar. although, I only noticed a very slight difference in the way the car feels during cornering...and the could be all in my head. another note....the rear strut tower is great! I noticed a huge plus when I put it in....my subs and amp are logged behind it so they can't move around anymore!:biggrin:
Okay. They would probably be made out of steel. Maybe aluminum for special requests. This means that they wouldn't be light weight if that's a concern for anyone. Chux, I would have to take measurements of your particular car since I don't have an existing one to work from.
Substeroo! i found the design you should build off of! Solid bar, with a built in brake master cylinder brace! AWSOME! it serious looks like you could build the majority of it with a brake and a band saw. little bent rod stock and you've got a wicked bar.
