Notices
Series I Aftermarket Performance Modifications Discussion of power adding modifications

Mazdaspeed Strut Tower Bar

Thread Tools
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 12:21 PM
  #1  
R3v9K's Avatar
Thread Starter
R3V9K
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Mazdaspeed Strut Tower Bar

Hey guys just wanted to find info out about the Mazdaspeed Strut Tower Bar - Front. I obviously like it for the sake of dressing up the engine but does anyone who owns this believe that it is worth the money for performance/cornering. Anybody know any great finds for prices?
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 12:34 PM
  #2  
Mazurfer's Avatar
Surf Hard, Drive Hard
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,840
Likes: 13
From: Indialantic, Florida
Originally Posted by R3v9K
Hey guys just wanted to find info out about the Mazdaspeed Strut Tower Bar - Front. I obviously like it for the sake of dressing up the engine but does anyone who owns this believe that it is worth the money for performance/cornering. Anybody know any great finds for prices?
I have it, I like it, but not really sure how much it really adds to cornering effects or performance.
Best prices are probably:

www.rosenthalmazda.com

or

www.trussvillemazda.com

Depending on who is running free shipping at the moment and I think that's Trussville.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 05:54 PM
  #3  
RXH8TED's Avatar
PoOn
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans/Northshore
well, In all honesty it does help a little, but You will not notice it unless you have a real use for it. For example, you prolly won't notice any difference just daily street driving, and Even the occasional speed fix down an old curvy backroad will not reall net u a difference unless you like to abuse your car and do it ALL the time. The onyl way you will notice much a difference is if you actualy bring your car to a road coarse or auto-x event on a regular basis.

hope that helps.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 06:43 PM
  #4  
Charles R. Hill's Avatar
Owner of BHR
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 45
The greatest performance value of this part comes from the brake master cylinder support. The RX-8 has one of the stiffest chassis available.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 06:53 PM
  #5  
skyse3p's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
the most performance u'll notice is the Brake stopper.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 07:27 PM
  #6  
california style's Avatar
Londons Yellow Peril
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 2
From: North London
does the brake support make the brakes feel firmer or something?

How does it actually help? (technically speaking)
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 07:40 PM
  #7  
LionZoo's Avatar
road warrior
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 3
From: Oakland and Los Angeles, CA
The brake master cylinder support is worth the money alone, which is good since it probably doesn't offer much of anything else. However, after installing it there's a very noticeable difference in brake pedal stiffness.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 09:26 PM
  #8  
diabolical1's Avatar
i'm the undead
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by california style
does the brake support make the brakes feel firmer or something?

How does it actually help? (technically speaking)
basically it prevents the cylinder from moving forward when you push the pedal, which is pretty normal in every car without one. it therefore gives a more positive feel and slightly more braking response (probably not noticeable to the average person).
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 09:53 PM
  #9  
laythor's Avatar
I zoom therefore I am.
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 12
From: San Jose, CA
It's worth it for two reasons:

1. stiffer brakes
2. makes you get rid of the engine cover
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 10:06 PM
  #10  
kevinD1226's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Lowell, Mass
the mazdaspeed strut bar works with the cover
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 10:12 PM
  #11  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
The greatest performance value of this part comes from the brake master cylinder support. The RX-8 has one of the stiffest chassis available.
but I think missing the *b-pillar* weaken the whole thing.

Autoexe has something to counter that problem tho. Its coming to me soon.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 11:15 PM
  #12  
Charles R. Hill's Avatar
Owner of BHR
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 45
Spend a little time studying the chassis design and save your money.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 11:26 PM
  #13  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Spend a little time studying the chassis design and save your money.
I did study it for a bit. I have kinda the same conclusion, they added a lot of **** to support the *missing* of the B pillar. but is still not *there*. so ... anything to support it a bit more sounds good to me.

the bars wasnt expensive. compare to other garbage that I've spent ...

Hey, where is my Clutch Bracket support !!!!
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2008 | 11:41 PM
  #14  
slavearm's Avatar
Boost Junkie
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 683
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, CA
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
The greatest performance value of this part comes from the brake master cylinder support. The RX-8 has one of the stiffest chassis available.
Ding ding ding... that's the winner. Also the #1 reason I went with the MS version.
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 12:14 AM
  #15  
Charles R. Hill's Avatar
Owner of BHR
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 45
The ingress/egress area has been reinforced with a rollcage-type hoop that renders the use of a "B" pillar unnecessary. You can lift the car up from one corner until three of the 4 wheels are off the ground and the doors STILL open and close smoothly. Is that stiff enough?
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 12:19 AM
  #16  
TeamRX8's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,936
Likes: 2,141
Originally Posted by nycgps
but I think missing the *b-pillar* weaken the whole thing.
No, they have a very intelligent design with how the suicide doors, roof, and rocker panel all lock together

seriously, the RX-8 made a lot of other traditional vehicle chassis look like beer cans when it came out, it was an evolution in chassis stiffness
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 12:20 AM
  #17  
Charles R. Hill's Avatar
Owner of BHR
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 45
Yeah, what Team said.......

However, the rear doors have locking pins not for chassis stiffness but for side impact/safety purposes.
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 06:38 AM
  #18  
california style's Avatar
Londons Yellow Peril
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 2
From: North London
The RX8 was designed from the ground up as a sports car.

Its suspension, chassis stiffness and weighting were all carefully balanced and designed as a sports car (not a saloon "sported up" like a lot of competitors).

Obviously as costs and emmissions were also in the balance (for any sensible company) certain things could be better, but I've always thought the car handles amazingly and any improvements made should be about power and its delivery rather than chassis/brakes/suspension which are all carefully balanced and interplay with each other.
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 07:50 AM
  #19  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
The ingress/egress area has been reinforced with a rollcage-type hoop that renders the use of a "B" pillar unnecessary. You can lift the car up from one corner until three of the 4 wheels are off the ground and the doors STILL open and close smoothly. Is that stiff enough?
Im not saying is not stiff enough. and I know what they did to the body to make up for the *missing* of the B pillar.

but like I said, its not there, you dont really *need* it. but its good to even make it stronger isnt it ?

Hey, I love the handling :D
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 08:29 AM
  #20  
Charles R. Hill's Avatar
Owner of BHR
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 45
We're getting into the same dyanic of argument as the " aftermarket intake" discussion.
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 09:54 AM
  #21  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
We're getting into the same dyanic of argument as the " aftermarket intake" discussion.
lol :P

Doesnt matter, I got it cheap. hohohohoo ~~~~ actually, free :D Its a gift but I have to pay some shipping. no biggy haha

Clutch Bracket ~~~~~
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 10:21 AM
  #22  
Charles R. Hill's Avatar
Owner of BHR
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 45
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying the MazdaSpeed bar isn't worth it. I have one on my car and it's cool. However, I just wouldn't want to see people making fools of themselves with erroneous information(I have done enough of that for myself!). The MS bar is mostly aesthetic, except for the brake cylinder support, and the factory one otherwise performs well.

Ya know J, that bracket is soon gonna be all done and ready to ship so you better get your next issue to harrass me about!
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 01:38 PM
  #23  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying the MazdaSpeed bar isn't worth it. I have one on my car and it's cool. However, I just wouldn't want to see people making fools of themselves with erroneous information(I have done enough of that for myself!). The MS bar is mostly aesthetic, except for the brake cylinder support, and the factory one otherwise performs well.

Ya know J, that bracket is soon gonna be all done and ready to ship so you better get your next issue to harrass me about!
lol, but its still not done ~~~ Im just gonna keep harrassing u till you ship that sucker to me

I'll give ya a hint over what im gonna harrass u next : something to do with cooling.

hohohohohohohoho ~~~

The bar ... well, it might not do much alone, but it adds up. Mazda did a fine job on rx8 already I know. but some people just want perfection
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 01:44 PM
  #24  
Charles R. Hill's Avatar
Owner of BHR
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 45
J; oil or water? I have two rads available right now, ready to ship.
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2008 | 02:06 PM
  #25  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
J; oil or water? I have two rads available right now, ready to ship.
O really ?

Pm
Reply


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:51 AM.