2009 Mazda RX-8 R3 4-point Strut Bar/Tower Brace
Dodging those Corollas
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,638
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From: Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
Neo,
There are two discussions in this thread. The original one started by Kafka was talking about the shock tower strut brace.
Somewhere, a guy did a thread revival recently and was asking about the engine torque brace. If you read the whole thread, you will find out where the transition takes place.
There are two discussions in this thread. The original one started by Kafka was talking about the shock tower strut brace.
Somewhere, a guy did a thread revival recently and was asking about the engine torque brace. If you read the whole thread, you will find out where the transition takes place.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Strut tower braces definitely work on my 1999 BMW M3. I installed an x-brace (lower chassis cross member made for convertibles) and a Strong-Strut strut tower brace. I made a huge difference in handling on the track. Incidentally, the strut tower brace I have is solid steel (no holes bored in it like the newer models on the website) and weighs a LOT. It still is worth it and the car is much faster and the handling much more predictable and trackable with it and the x-brace installed. (But still not as good as an RX-8 which is why I am looking to buy one after having test driven a 2009 model.) I think the fact that my strong-strut brace is NOT hinged at the ends helps a lot. Otherwise the structure would not make as much of a difference. Triangulating the brace (attaching it to points on the firewall) also help immensely. This is what I have seen on the newer RX-8's and BMW's. I agree that upper and lower control arms are the way to go, but I can only see that additional structure would only help, not hurt.
I used to own a 1996 BMW 318ti. The engine on this car moved on the engine mounts so much during one corner where a shift was necessary mid-corner at Mid-America that I had to move the lever as if I was shifting from 3rd to 6th (it had a 5 speed transmission). If I did not do that the transmission ended up in 2nd instead of 4th. The engine torque brace listed in one of the posts above would probably help to reduce this type of problem and give other benefits as well. The webpage below gives a very good and detailed explanation of the effect.
(http://www.strongstrut.com/)
http://www.ingallseng.com/stiffy-article.html
I used to own a 1996 BMW 318ti. The engine on this car moved on the engine mounts so much during one corner where a shift was necessary mid-corner at Mid-America that I had to move the lever as if I was shifting from 3rd to 6th (it had a 5 speed transmission). If I did not do that the transmission ended up in 2nd instead of 4th. The engine torque brace listed in one of the posts above would probably help to reduce this type of problem and give other benefits as well. The webpage below gives a very good and detailed explanation of the effect.
(http://www.strongstrut.com/)
http://www.ingallseng.com/stiffy-article.html
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BigMikeATL
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
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May 26, 2016 12:31 AM
