Strut brace
- Thread starter Sean d
- Start date
I found the same when I fitted mine Sean on my Z3, also on my Eunos when I had it too. Ant followed me in my Z3 round a series of bends the day we fitted my boot spoiler on my 4 and he did remark how flat it stayed in the bends. It did have a good susp. kit on it as well though.
The jury seems to be out as to whether you notice any improvement on a Z4 if you fit one @Neilc as they come from the factory with brace bars from the turret tops back to the bulkhead. I think it would look much nicer under the bonnet with one regardless.
Tony.
I have one identical to this which I'll be fitting this weekend, but I have a query.
Do strut braces work in compression or expansion? Are they being squeezed or stretched?
Does the unloaded, inside strut brace the movement of the loaded strut? I'm having a thick moment figuring out what way the strut tops move!
The reason I ask is that these braces have a little bit of slack in their joints, they don't have rose joints. So do you extend the brace to take out the slack or contract it?
Compression I'm thinking, If you are cornering round a right hand bend, the load on the LH front strut tower is being transferred up the strut brace to the RH strut tower, in essence the right hand strut tower will be stopping the LH strut tower from flexing under load and vice versa.
(Hmmmm.........Sits back and waits to be proved wrong)
The top mounting of the struts and the angle they sit would indicate its compression.
Removing the slack will benifit both directions as it will just become ridgid.
Mine has no adjustment it bolts tight but others have an extending bolt each end to assist to get the perfect fitment.
Removing the slack will benifit both directions as it will just become ridgid.
Mine has no adjustment it bolts tight but others have an extending bolt each end to assist to get the perfect fitment.
Out this morning testing things again and was really impressed until my O/S rear blew out whilst hard cornering, had to check my pants once I got to grips with the car, I was very close to home so limped back, I may need a new 108 once I get it off to check the rim.
Thats the car off the road until I can get a pair of new rears, I have heard great things about Landsail LS388 and the reviews are outstanding, has anyone tried them.
Thats the car off the road until I can get a pair of new rears, I have heard great things about Landsail LS388 and the reviews are outstanding, has anyone tried them.
I had landsail Ls988 on a previous set of wheels most of the reviews indicate poor wet weather but spoke to the local tyre guy and he said most bad reviews are from people not driving to the conditions.
The rating system for tyres seems standardised so should indicate correctly.
They are cheap well made a nice tread pattern and i never had an hairy moments that i can report.
The tyre you quote is the wider version but believe rates the same mone where a square set up so 225's allround .
The rating system for tyres seems standardised so should indicate correctly.
They are cheap well made a nice tread pattern and i never had an hairy moments that i can report.
The tyre you quote is the wider version but believe rates the same mone where a square set up so 225's allround .
Last edited:
Crikey mate I bet that was scary
.Glad you caught it and you're ok,I imagine the adrenaline is still pumping.
Let's hope the wheel is ok,tyres are easier to replace.
I had accelera tyres on the back of mine and I had no complaints,untill the last few thousand miles when in the wet they were "entertaining".
But by that point they'd done 18k miles. Excellent for budget rubber.
Hmmm, so what is actually happening when no strut brace is fitted?
When you load up one wheel in the corner, does the chassis on that side twist, reducing the camber angle of the wheel and strut, therefore moving the loaded strut top outwards as it pivots around the chassis rail. Increasing the distance between the strut tops.
OR
does the camber angle stay constant with the load forcing the entire strut inwards, therefore reducing the distance between the strut tops?
I'll take some pictures as I install to explain the slack better.
@Sean d
good catch!Also interesting to hear the comments on tyres as they are next on the list to tie in with rims refurb!
Last edited:
I believe there to be alsorts of flex in the top strut towers under extreme cornering.
The brace in theory creates a box the lower end of the chassis is held together with the bottom engine cross brace adding this between the two strut towers stops/removes the amount of flex it has adding rigidity.
The brace in theory creates a box the lower end of the chassis is held together with the bottom engine cross brace adding this between the two strut towers stops/removes the amount of flex it has adding rigidity.
Great video explination here...
We sell Landsail tyres at work, and, although they're at the budget end of the market the appear to wear well no reported grip issues. You get what you pay for in general.
Tony.
Tony.
The name 'landsail' is killing me
Tyres are for gripping and sails are for...sailing.
I'm not sure I want tyres that sail and sails that grip.
Or is it land that sails?
Or is it tyres that sail over land?
But what about corners and braking?
I hope they didn't pay a lot for whoever came up with that name for them. Sounds like a google translate suggestion!
My experience with budgets has generally been fine to fun in the dry. In the wet fun to lethal. I don't want overly sticky tyres but they must be progressive so you know what's going on and be able to resist aquaplaning which BMW seem to be more susceptible to than a nose heavy FWD car.
I've also noticed the Far East brands seem to have much more of the slippery stuff that a tyre come with so take longer to bed in. My nexens were worryingly slipperly after fitting but a quick few 'u turns' by right foot sorted them out.
Whatever brand you get just take time to get used to them before giving it some.
Tyres are for gripping and sails are for...sailing.
I'm not sure I want tyres that sail and sails that grip.
Or is it land that sails?
Or is it tyres that sail over land?
But what about corners and braking?
I hope they didn't pay a lot for whoever came up with that name for them. Sounds like a google translate suggestion!
My experience with budgets has generally been fine to fun in the dry. In the wet fun to lethal. I don't want overly sticky tyres but they must be progressive so you know what's going on and be able to resist aquaplaning which BMW seem to be more susceptible to than a nose heavy FWD car.
I've also noticed the Far East brands seem to have much more of the slippery stuff that a tyre come with so take longer to bed in. My nexens were worryingly slipperly after fitting but a quick few 'u turns' by right foot sorted them out.
Whatever brand you get just take time to get used to them before giving it some.
Ouch!
Wow @Sean d not the sort of thing you hear these days, with regard to tyres, I a great believer in buying the best you can, IMO you cannot beat a premium quality tyre.
, that why we love em.
The Z3 moves around an awful lot, in fact is has the torsional stiffness of a jellyHmmm, so what is actually happening when no strut brace is fitted?
When you load up one wheel in the corner, does the chassis on that side twist, reducing the camber angle of the wheel and strut, therefore moving the loaded strut top outwards as it pivots around the chassis rail. Increasing the distance between the strut tops.
OR
does the camber angle stay constant with the load forcing the entire strut inwards, therefore reducing the distance between the strut tops?
I'll take some pictures as I install to explain the slack better.
@Sean d
Also interesting to hear the comments on tyres as they are next on the list to tie in with rims refurb!
, that why we love em.
I knew my tyres where on their wear limit on the inside edge, particularly the O/S, I was on a cruise last weekend in the Peaks and pushed the Z pretty hard, in fact I even commented to one of the guys that my tyres would be shredded after this run, I'm just pleased I didn't turn off the ACS, I'm comfortable using budget tyres especially these days with all the reviews on line.Wow @Sean d not the sort of thing you hear these days, with regard to tyres, I a great believer in buying the best you can, IMO you cannot beat a premium quality tyre.
The Z3 moves around an awful lot, in fact is has the torsional stiffness of a jelly
Yoiks Sean, scary stuff. Hopefully after a clean pair of pants you are OK. New tyres to be bedded in before next weekend then
I saw some serious strut braces at the Car-B-Q tonight including this one on a Mustang. I think it was made in Scotland from Gerrrdders
it was iron Bro . . . .
Tony.
it was iron Bro . . . .Tony.
