MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Performance Related => Topic started by: NorthandSouth on November 14, 2007, 18:31

Title: Will front strut brace make a difference?
Post by: NorthandSouth on November 14, 2007, 18:31
Lynne wants a nice romantic strut brace for Christmas    s:roll: :roll: s:roll:  
before I get one (£40 on ebay.. your gonna tell me its cr*p   s:D :D s:D  ) I just wondered would she notice a difference on a 04 plate cos I think I read they had improved stiffening.

Mike
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Post by: Anonymous on November 14, 2007, 18:46
Personally I'd lower it first.
Looks and performance.

It should tighten up the front end - reduce tramlining (is this a problem in 04 cars?). Whether she'll notice a big difference in her daily driving I don't know. How "enthusiastic" a driver is she?
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Post by: NorthandSouth on November 14, 2007, 18:50
but I dont want to lower it Simon...I like it as it is and at least I can get over the speed humps at work!!

Depends on what you mean by enthusiastic....I'm not a mad driver but I do like to put my foot down now and again   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  

Lynne   s:D :D s:D
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Post by: Anonymous on November 14, 2007, 18:57
Lynne, i did not lower my 02 because of speed bumps, but i lowered the 06, really is the best mod, looks far better and handles even better.
There is a pic of mine lowered in the garage.
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Post by: alancdavis on November 14, 2007, 19:04
I asked the same question....  s:roll: :roll: s:roll:   but after fitting front and rear strut braces I became one of the converted,,,,,,,,YES,a significant improvement    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
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Post by: Two's Company on November 14, 2007, 19:17
Mike - I'd go for a Corky x-brace or plate first then the strut bar.

I noticed more of an improvement from the corky plate than the strut bar.

Steve
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Post by: Anonymous on November 14, 2007, 19:56
QuoteThere is a pic of mine lowered in the garage.

Oh yes that is nice. I like the de-badged with liquid art Eagle look.

Just can't convince the wife to lower hers  s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
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Post by: davidhowson on November 14, 2007, 20:00
Front upper brace went onto mine too, but only after Tein springs and uprated ARB drop links!
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Post by: kanujunkie on November 14, 2007, 21:36
lowering, strut brace and ARB will all make a difference, they should all be treated the same rather than one being better than another, its like a jigsaw, you need all to get a complete picture
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Post by: heathstimpson on November 15, 2007, 07:38
Quote from: "Two's Company"Mike - I'd go for a Corky x-brace or plate first then the strut bar.

I noticed more of an improvement from the corky plate than the strut bar.

Steve
And I have an original Corky brace for sale for £80 including P&P. If interested send me a pm  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
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Post by: northernalex on November 15, 2007, 10:50
I put on the front strut brace and then the corkies, felt an improvement with the FSB, and a smaller improvement with the corkies.  Less scuttle shake, although not completly removed.

Car now understeers when going round a corner too fast rather than feeling like its twisting as it was before the FSB.
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Post by: Wabbitkilla on November 15, 2007, 10:57
Mine's an 03 car and i....

Fitted a Corky breastplate - dramatically improved the rigidity of the car, reduced scuttle shake and better handling altogether.

Lowere on Tein S-Tech springs - much improved handling, reduced roll in the corners.

Just fitted Cusco Front Strut Tower Brace (the ebay ones are copies of these), what did that do? Turn in is more precise and quicker. Stability in corners is improved when you find the road getting lumpy, i would say the slight vagueness that was there is now gone.
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Post by: Anonymous on November 15, 2007, 11:09
Front strut bar makes a massive difference, all bracing does. Of couse the more U do the more of a diminshing return u get.

I've a che's front brace one of corkys original brest plates and a cusco front strut. The difference between this and stock is fantastic.

In my opion defintly do bracing first
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Post by: roger on November 15, 2007, 14:10
Definitely breast plate first, that stops the shake rattle and rolls.  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  

After that it gets a bit personal - looks, cornering, control, cost? Personally I would lower then FSB (even though I did it the other way round, basically because the FSB was there and available)
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Post by: Leeber on November 21, 2007, 10:26
Mine's an 06, I fitted the FSB and a set of SP12's a couple of weeks after getting the car, I immediately noticed that the steering felt much more precise/direct (not sure if that's because of the wheels or the FSB but I'm betting it was the latter). Next came the lowering springs which made the biggest difference to the handling and very recently I fitted the Corky's which made the smallest difference of the three. I didn't think I'd notice any difference at all with the FSB but I was pleasantly surprised.