Looking to swap out the stock front strut bar for an aftermarket, mainly for the looks but I still want it to be better than the stock 26mm bar. So whats the best one for the price? I was looking at the Greddy strut bar but I couldnt find the size of it on any site I looked, so bogus. Anyway, all your guys' input would help. Thanks!!

 

Here ya go you get Front and Rear for $109...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-09...item255eaa72c5

I have them and they work well...

 

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=204843

Beatrush Front Strut Bar -$232 (GB special -$142)
Nice and beefy front strut bar. Looks good and performs as needed.

 

Strut bars don't do much on our cars, and some race teams don't even run them. So the best bar is one that adds a brake master cylinder brace. Mazdaspeed is the only one I know of. There is also a add on brace you can buy, but I think it only works with the stock bar.

 

i think the op knows that

 

im just going to sand blast mine and powdercoat it another color... for the back i will
use the parts from a couple of bars i have and fabricate the mounts

 

yep, several of us don't even run with the OE one ... hows that for the best price?

 

Oh wow, thanks!

 

Yes, and the same racers/modders for the most part will tell you to go to massively-stiff spring/shock combinations. Total spring rate = spring + body flex. Over the past 40 years, every manufacturer has done their best to reduce body flex and generally reduce spring rates. Why? Test drive a 1970 Camaro SS (I used to own one) vs. a 2010 version (which I tried out yesterday). For rather smooth roads the difference can be small, for anything with significant bumps: totally different. (A live-axle Mustang comparison might be more fair).

I agree, any difference between the stock brace and another 2-point brace will be minimal. The difference between it and the GTSPEC 6 point is not (and it looks cool too.) Add that and a lower front brace, plus a set of heavier anti-roll bars, and you get improved handling and save yourself the cost (and discomfort) of stiff coil-overs. (Not negating here the adjustability and other possible (racing) benefits - but to get those really working, you have to know what you're doing.)

YMMV

 

^and adds a ton of weight you dont really need

but sure looks nice

 

how much for that?^

 

And makes it impossible to get to your oil filter without taking it off...

 

Not impossible, just much, much harder. This is with the JIC 4-point at least...

 

needs some very flexible wrists haha

 

The GTSPEC came out to be about 12 lbs heavier (with the lower front included). To compensate, I took 18 lbs off my belly this summer. I have a Series II filter (taller than stock) plus a Prosport adapter plate and still can get the filter on/off without removing the bar. (Flexible wrists).

 

I have the MS one just because of the master cylinder brace.