Strut braces

[Stacey]

Morning

Have seen these strut braces on a number of cars and just wondered if someone could explain to me what they do and if I should be considering getting one for my car please?

When and why would you require one?

Thanks for your help xx

[Rdlangy1]

Front and Rear strut braces stiffen up the chassis to some degree. Basically they minimise roll when cornering as they offer support across the width of the car...

I am sure someone would give a more detailed reply.

They are a cheap (ish) (£150-£200 for both front a rear) way to get better cornering as the body roll is less.

Ryan

[Red Baron]

Only reason I have one is because the carbon fibre looks nice when you open the bonnet and I picked it up cheap. Keep your eye out for a second hand STI one if you want Titanium bling or go for a cheaper after market one if you don't want the STI sticker.

[555_Si]

Most, apart from the ones that look like they are only strong enough for show, are to keep the strut turrets in place when cornering hard, especially when using sticky tyres. If the strut turrets move, it alters your geometry, hence the tyres contact patch with the road, hence potentially less grip.

A good strut brace when needed will help make the car feel more responsive and tight.

I have used strut braces on a lot of cars, and some have made no feel able difference to vast difference. I have found on hatchbacks like golfs, a fully triangulated setup in the boot massively changes the stiffness of the rear, though a brace like that tends to take up a lot of boot space.

On a saloon Impreza a rear brace I feel is marginal if any difference, as you have the rear shelf and firewall area doing a lot of bracing. On the front it seems sti put them there so might be doing something.

[Banstead Stig]

The rear brace made a huge difference on the FSTi and Impreza Wagon, which supports Si's theory!

One of the US Forester owners has an incredible triangulated set up, but renders the rear boot useless as a boot. Bet the car handles well though!

I didn't notice a huge difference when fitting the fronts to be perfectly honest, but that could just be me. Got a Whiteline front on the FSTi and a Tein one on the Impreza, so proper jobs.

[Stacey]

Thanks for the info everyone, much appreciated xx

[Granby]

Originally Posted by Banstead Stig

The rear brace made a huge difference on the FSTi and Impreza Wagon, which supports Si's theory!

The rear brace on my old wagon also made a big difference, there is a roundabout near me and a part of it the tarmac was rippled and you could feel it through the car, but when i fitted the rear brace it was so much better with no shake coming through the car

[tbtstt]

It may have been a placebo effect, but I had a much better feeling from the back of the car once the rear strut brace was in (and that was after I'd changed the suspension and fitted a front strut brace).