Strut Tower Brace No Benifit For Miata?
01-30-2007, 10:12 AM
#1
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Strut Tower Brace No Benifit For Miata?
i Was told a strut tower brace has no real benifit on a miata other than bling factor in the engine bay? the suspension is already well balanced and theres no real load on the front shocks, therefore there is really no need for the extra support from a brace
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01-30-2007, 10:32 AM
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Pretty much true. I have one installed just because it looks cool, and I'm also using it as part of a master cylinder brace (you ever see how much that thing moves the firewall when you press down the brake pedal?!).
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01-30-2007, 12:33 PM
#8
All a strut tower brace does to a street Miata is cause it to push... BAD!
If your car is fully track prepped with the tires and suspension to support the increased stiffness, then maybe.
None of the serious autocrossers use one and these are the guys that are running full suspension. It does help with the bling factor though.
I had one until an guy at the local autocrosses laughed at me and told me the story. I removed the brace, but left the mounts in place. I also have a small brace (in the form of a large bolt) on my drivers side mount to keep the brake master cyliner from flexing. I'll post pics when I get home later.
If your car is fully track prepped with the tires and suspension to support the increased stiffness, then maybe.
None of the serious autocrossers use one and these are the guys that are running full suspension. It does help with the bling factor though.
I had one until an guy at the local autocrosses laughed at me and told me the story. I removed the brace, but left the mounts in place. I also have a small brace (in the form of a large bolt) on my drivers side mount to keep the brake master cyliner from flexing. I'll post pics when I get home later.
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01-30-2007, 03:47 PM
#14
Who said it doesn't help with stiffness? Help isn't the word I'd use though, but it does stiffen up the front end. The problem is that stiffer isn't better due how well the suspension in naturally sorted. Maybe a better thing to call these braces since we don't have struts is (cowl shake brace), or (shock tower brace).
Yes, the bar does nothing directly to the suspension, but there is always a certain amount of "suspension" in the chassis itself. When you stiffen the front end and not the rear to the same extent, all other things being equal, you'll push. That was the explanation I received and the logic I believe is sound. I've been wrong before though.
I was at a local autocross earlier in the summer. After two runs, another Miata driver came over out of the blue...
"Hi, I'm Jon, mind if look under your hood."
"Sure man, you drive that yellow one, right..."
"Yup."
I pop the hood.
He says, "I thought so. Take that bar off and you won't push anymore."
Then he walked away.
It was like a gift from the autocross God. Previously, my fastest laps always involved crazy push. No matter what I did or how much I slowed it down, the instant I'd lift from braking and steer for the apex, I'd push somewhat all the way around. No amount of slowing down would help, that'd just mean I'd have to get back on the gas sooner and push anyways on corner exit. I'm not the greatest driver, but damn!
When I removed the bar, I put back in some natural chassis flex and the front didn't push... at all. I could keep steering control and actually hit my apexes. My times dropped over two seconds per lap and I was keeping pace with the EVO's.
Yes, the bar does nothing directly to the suspension, but there is always a certain amount of "suspension" in the chassis itself. When you stiffen the front end and not the rear to the same extent, all other things being equal, you'll push. That was the explanation I received and the logic I believe is sound. I've been wrong before though.
I was at a local autocross earlier in the summer. After two runs, another Miata driver came over out of the blue...
"Hi, I'm Jon, mind if look under your hood."
"Sure man, you drive that yellow one, right..."
"Yup."
I pop the hood.
He says, "I thought so. Take that bar off and you won't push anymore."
Then he walked away.
It was like a gift from the autocross God. Previously, my fastest laps always involved crazy push. No matter what I did or how much I slowed it down, the instant I'd lift from braking and steer for the apex, I'd push somewhat all the way around. No amount of slowing down would help, that'd just mean I'd have to get back on the gas sooner and push anyways on corner exit. I'm not the greatest driver, but damn!
When I removed the bar, I put back in some natural chassis flex and the front didn't push... at all. I could keep steering control and actually hit my apexes. My times dropped over two seconds per lap and I was keeping pace with the EVO's.
Last edited by samnavy; 01-30-2007 at 03:59 PM.
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01-30-2007, 04:02 PM
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I'll have to try it. It's just so pretty.. and has the master cyl brace (uhh de-jdm-ified from the right side to the left)
course I can't change my spark plugs or do ANYTHING with it in there....
course I can't change my spark plugs or do ANYTHING with it in there....
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