02-25-2004, 09:40 PM
so Civics actually have front struts I guess? And (if I have this right), Integras do not, it's really shocks all around? And all (Honduh/Acura) have shocks in the rear? Or do some have struts back there too? Doesn't really matter, I'm just curious.
But one thing is clear. Braces on SHOCK towers do NOTHING. People sell these for BMWs too. A shock is only loaded vertically, so if the tower flexes laterally (and there's really no load on the tower to make it do this), it really doesn't matter. But strut braces, yes, they can help. Even if the chassis is not very flexible, and you can't FEEL the difference, the added strength helps prevent excess stress on the towers because the bar shares the load between them, which can be close to 500 pounds laterally with R-compounds on track (I wish I could find the article that calculated the physics of it, but I'm far too lazy). If no Honda in the history of time has ever cracked a strut tower, then great, forget it. Their tires ARE pretty narrow. :lol: But with a lot of track time, some cars do. Seems like a steal to me if they're not really made of plastic. If I could find a decent strut tower brace for my E30 for near $100 (and that's just ONE bar), I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
disclaimer: I did down a 24OZ before writing this (married guys can't do 40's anymore)
But one thing is clear. Braces on SHOCK towers do NOTHING. People sell these for BMWs too. A shock is only loaded vertically, so if the tower flexes laterally (and there's really no load on the tower to make it do this), it really doesn't matter. But strut braces, yes, they can help. Even if the chassis is not very flexible, and you can't FEEL the difference, the added strength helps prevent excess stress on the towers because the bar shares the load between them, which can be close to 500 pounds laterally with R-compounds on track (I wish I could find the article that calculated the physics of it, but I'm far too lazy). If no Honda in the history of time has ever cracked a strut tower, then great, forget it. Their tires ARE pretty narrow. :lol: But with a lot of track time, some cars do. Seems like a steal to me if they're not really made of plastic. If I could find a decent strut tower brace for my E30 for near $100 (and that's just ONE bar), I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
disclaimer: I did down a 24OZ before writing this (married guys can't do 40's anymore)