How good is the strut brace? Performance wise?

[m3f_PurduinaM3_5769f9ad51]

I've got the Sparco, no complaints here. Couldn't justify spending any more for a strut bar...

[m3f_Jvanmater_0ce9a41d55]

I've got the Sparco, no complaints here. Couldn't justify spending any more for a strut bar...



Would've gotten it too if it wasn't on backorder all the time!:soapbox:



Love my mason though!

[m3f_JPoland_e17b491a3d]

mason brace FTW

[m3f_Magic M3_88afc92f23]

It's prone to stripping and cracking. Buyer beware.



Roland....



Have you been snooping around in my garage? My UUC bar stripped on 2 seperate threaded inserts. After going through the run around with them, (uuc) I gave up on them an fixed the damn thing myself and moved on. It is actually pretty easy to remove their threads, retap and install a new helicoil.

Price, customer service, quality....with them you get to pick 2, but never all 3! That is why I am done.....

[m3f_roarE36M3_c861262699]

+20 HP

[m3f_JPoland_e17b491a3d]

Paging Rob Levin...:bang:

[m3f_Roland H_da3d16ded4]

Roland....



Have you been snooping around in my garage? My UUC bar stripped on 2 seperate threaded inserts. After going through the run around with them, (uuc) I gave up on them an fixed the damn thing myself and moved on. It is actually pretty easy to remove their threads, retap and install a new helicoil.

Price, customer service, quality....with them you get to pick 2, but never all 3! That is why I am done.....



Nope, just my experience with it on a friend's car. Torqued to specifications which I got from Rob, and 3 weeks later it was flopping around in his engine bay.



Paging Rob Levin...:bang:



:rofl3:

[m3f_ASC FTL_ccd289122e]

+20 HP



More if it's carbon fiber :thumbsup2:

[m3f_Petrucci_b9bf1bcab1]

Who cares about the brace, more info on your S54 swap :drool:.

[m3f_cracky_88af6b7d5a]

Strut bars made a VERY noticeable difference at turn in on my Integra, .


theyre basically useless as well on double wishbone hondas...


its more for looks than anything else...

the mason brace speaks to me from a welding/fabrication standpoint. looks sexy.

[m3f_david328ci]

Get one that does not have hinges.

[m3f_ASC FTL_ccd289122e]

theyre basically useless as well on double wishbone hondas...



its more for looks than anything else...

the mason brace speaks to me from a welding/fabrication standpoint. looks sexy.



Sure didn't feel like looks to me.



Also I'll eventually find a pic of a busted e46 brace. Some of the factory braces broke.



That's how much it doesn't matter AND the e46 is stiffer than our car!

[m3f_95RogueM3]

Much of the topic has already been covered, but I will weigh in anyway.


Clearly the x-brace wins for more effective chassis stiffening device, though I feel the strut tower bar also has its place. I have owned (2) bars, both from Rogue, including their RaceBrace and their CF bar.


The Racebrace was very beefy and very light (7lbs sounds about right), and while it allowed front shock adjustment, it did block the dipstick ever so slightly. Not so much that the oil couldn't be checked, but its something I noticed. For the more "hardcore" enthusiast or tracker, I think this is the bar of choice. I sold this bar installed on my turbo 332.


The CF bar by Rogue is what I currently have on my M3 and it too is a quality piece that I know should help with front tower reinforcement and whatever suspension stiffening that any bar can provide. Plus it looks cool. :thumbsup2:


Those who are extremely worried about the front towers should also consider installing the OEM front tower plates (that install from underneath the tower). I had a pair to install on the 332, though for some reason never did end up installing them.


If you plan to buy a bar at all, why anyone goes with hinged, is beyond me.

[m3f_MMMGP_4f4ce33d1d]

theyre basically useless as well on double wishbone hondas...



I too noticed an improvement on my '97 Integra GSR after installing the Cusco strut tower bars, front and rear. It had Koni yellows all around (w/ adjustable spring seat) paired with Eibach pro-kit springs. Wow, that was 14 years ago...? I need a beer!

[m3f_white-hot_43c6fde783]

I think the x-brace is by far the best bang for your suspension buck, by a long margin. At about $200 new, and way less used, you can't really beat the price and is a 5 minute bolt on job. It really does tighten things up way more than a tower brace alone.



I am currently looking for a Sparco tower brace for my M, but as someone mentioned they seem to be hard to find for some reason. They are a nice, solid one piece unit, and can be painted to body color. They are not really much good on the reinforcement bit as they only bolt to 2 of the 3 points on the tower.