Benefit of 4 Point Front Strut Tower Bar
 

I am looking at getting a front strut tower bar, either the Mazdaspeed or Auto Exe but am confused as to what benefit the 4 point ones provides over the 2 point ones. I can only think that the 4 Point one provides some front-to-rear stability, I just cant imagine it would be much.

Cheers

Andrew

Mazdaspeed 4 Point
Auto Exe 4 Point

Mazdaspeed 2 Point
Auto Exe 2 Point

The 4 point provides more bracing to keep the shock towers from moving side to side by creating another attach point to the firewall. I installed this type of system on my first gen RX7.

Some bars have bracing for your master brake cylinder. Make sure this is setup for your right hand drive car.

On the other hand, I'm not sure that this is neccessary on the RX8. We don't have a MacPhearson strut suspension. We have an unequeal length A arm suspension. There is less stress to the towers generated. I am of the opinion that anything more than what is stock on the car is unneccessary. This mod would be for show. It will be one of the last that I make on my car, if at all.

If I understand you, you are saying that the 4 point bars are not to brace additional movements, ie nose to tail flex, but to distribute the stresses on the strut towers caused by sidetower-to-tower flex (excuse my made up terminology).

Cheers

Andrew

How about tortional (shear) forces when engaging hard cornering like on track?

I thought the advantage of 4 point strut bar is to put some force of the strut to the firewall so it makes the front struture stronger. It may not be necessary but anything helps.

Not getting too far ahead but what about the under member brace? I am sure it helps. I am tempted to get the few bars mounted where the shinka has... but it will mean stripping the car apart :naughty:

BTW I could feel the increase braking pedal strength when the cylinder and the firewall "stiffened" by the MazdaSpeed 4 point strut with cylinder extension. It really really helps (and I am not lying).

The 4 point MS bar is not available in the US. The 2 point is available and I hear the brake brace works well. I believe that in the other 4 point aftermarket bars, the brake brace is setup for your right hand drive cars.

I'm doing the ms under brace front & back and front & back struts.

Good on you. ;).

Negative is that a 4 point brace transmits a little more of the vibration into the cabin.

That is true Fanman. :yesnod:

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3311/dscn1211rg1.jpg

I have the Aluminum 4-point strut tower brace Revolution Motoring Communications. It only lacks the master cylinder brace, which will be remedied eventually...

I noticed the majority of difference when making turns. It feels tighter, more confidence in turns. When fray test drove my car he asked if I did sway bars because the steering seemed more responsive. (stock sways still)

I do hear a slight bit more noise from the road but it is hard to tell how much more. (high flow cat...)

The rear strut brace helps too.

:cool:

Yep makes sense.

Where did you get that bar 4?

A Guy that sold his 8 back in December of '05...

He had it imported from Japan and for all the times I have attempted to find where to get it I can't... quite a few people have asked where I got it. :cool:
Said he paid $480 for it plus shipping...

It may be the only one in the U.S. :dunno:

Anyone else have this strut brace? :suspect:

Hmmm I did a quick Google and the best I could find was a guy who was trying to sell one on eBay December last year.

:rofl:

I found that too. .. . ...

Someone on here?

Revolution have 2; one Aluminium and the other titanium. The titaniam is expensive ~1250 Austrialian big ones. The Aluminium sells for ~500. That's the equivalent of the Japanese price... I saw 2 Revolution demo cars on Sunday at Super Autobacs. Looked great. Lots of blue and metal under the bonet.

I picked up a new Autoexe sports tunable suspension for myself :D They had to cut out a piece on both sides of the stock strut tower bar for the adjustors so I'm looking at strut tower bars/braces now too as they may have weakened it to stock one???

Tom.

mmmm titanium!!!! Any links to a website?

Sure :D http://revo-tune.jp/catalogue/list.php?category=4&ve_w=RX-8(SE3P)

Tom.

Nice wide open engine bay. Amazing how much room there is without the battery and airbox...

Nice that the Revolution bar is modular. Can be 4-point or 2.

Quality is excellent!

Was even able to mod the engine cover to fit on top of it too.

Titanium is light but not as rigid as aluminum. ;)

titanium exhaust is used to cut weight and it does not transfer heat well... nice for shift knobs as well ;)

Yeah, I love that engine bay... Eventually maybe mine might look like that! Oh to dream!

^I hear that!

Now thinking about the Titanium it is more springy than aluminum but it always returns to the same place. It will be less stiff or rigid than the aluminum but it is more resilient and will displace the energy smoothly.

Those that have ridden a titanium frame bicycle should be able to tell the difference between the harshness of ride between a titanium and an aluminum frame. Aluminum is less forgiving and harsh.

I just purchased/ received a JIC 4-pt. aluminum strut tower but have yet to it put on. Brian at Good-Win Racing has them. I paid $360 or so including shipping. Looks great and seems to be well made. I have the rear on order as well with Jason at the RX8Store so I'll wait till that comes in to install them both.

And pics will ensue, I am sure :D:

Yes, Sir!