Strut Tower Reinforcements

[Deen HK]

I'm installing Ohlins R&T's with some Vorshlag camber plates, do the OEM reinforcement plates allow for full range of camber? I've read that some people don't even run the reinforcements with certain camber plates. I was looking at the Garagistic ones since they claim no limitation of adjustability, does anyone have experience with them? I'm not going to be running a wild amount of camber since it's a street car, but I would like to maintain the ability to use the camber if want to fit an aggressive wheel/tire setup.

[Tbonem3]

The plates should move with the camber plate's studs, within the strut tower's slots' range.

That said, the plates are unnecessary with Vorshalg plate's fat surface.

You will also lose an amount of travel equal to the plate's thickness.

The 400lb rate of the Ohlins, and the type of driving I'm assuming you do, wouldn't warrant reinforcement plates imo.

If this is a street car and you don't need more than -1.8 camber, why even bother with camber plates?

[repoman89]

You will also lose an amount of travel equal to the plate's thickness.

Is this true? If I'm picturing it right in my head total travel should be the same. It will just raise ride height by an amount equal to the plate's thickness for the same amount of bump travel. With the R&Ts you tend to need all the ride height you can get.

I run the plates with mine because I didn't see a downside, even though I have 350lb springs rather than the 400s that the R&Ts come with. I run the car pretty high though, around 13.75" center cap to fender

[Tbonem3]

You'd lose travel if you wanted the same ride height. If you're ok with the front end riding slightly higher, then travel would be the same.

If 13.5" front ride height (but still good amount of travel) and more than -2 camber aren't that important, then I wouldn't bother spending $500 on trick camber plates.

Stock mounts or quality cambers plates, with reasonable spring rates, don't need the reinforcement plates IMO.

[usdmej]

adding my anecdotal experience of having developed hairline cracks on the strut towers with the following setup

- front spring rate has varied from 400-600# over time
- have run GC race and currently Vorschlag camber plates
- mixed street and autox
- vehicle had a dinan strut bar before switching to mason engineering


also FWIW the OE reinforcement plates spread the load over a much more appropriate area than those garagistic pieces

[George Hill]

For a street car get the TMS camber plates, lots of camber adjustability and no need for reinforcement plates (I think they are the only camber plate this applies too). I think they are on sale now, I actually have a set showing up today for a non-m.

[Deen HK]

The vorshlag plates/2.5" spring perches were included in the sale, so I figured I might as well run them. Hopefully the 3DM spacer will help with setup and suspension travel. I've been reading up a bunch on how to setup the Ohlins the proper way; goal is to have the car not ride like ass, while also being at a nice ride height.