Strut Tower Brace

[slow6inslo]

I am in the market and on a budget... Will all of them pretty much all do the same thing; I plan on just buying a basic one from tbyrne or thunderracing. Or does anyone have any suggestions on decent priced ones elsewhere

Thanks guys (and gals)
Trevor

[Firehawk_Dude]

They are all basically the same thing.

Pick one!! :D

[coop5885]

i got the BRM one. Just gotta wacth out after you put it on. It can make the tail end kinda loose, at least it did for me

[Marsh Bx22]

i have the bmr one, it really did tighten up the front end, or atleast i think it did..

[DarkPhoenix]

THe BMR one did a good jog of tightening the car up, but I didnt like the way that it was over the engine, very close to the tranny tube and just weird. I now have the hotchkis one and it is low profile and does the same thing. I just changed out of personal preference of the way it looked, no functional difference.

[Hooper]

Today I installed the Hotchkis STB and it went in without any trouble. It took 20 minutes and a few tools. (ratchet, 5/8" wrench, 5/8" socket and a 15mm deep socket.)

I noticed a difference immediately in the way the car handled. It looks good too. $181US + shipping from Thunder Racing.
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/12/web/444000-444999/444692_56_full.jpg

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/12/web/444000-444999/444692_57_full.jpg

[YELLERR]

I have SLP STB one on my car. I like it. Can't remember how much it cost.

[FlagSStaff]

Originally posted by YELLERR
I have SLP STB one on my car. I like it. Can't remember how much it cost.

I have that one as well... it was like $89, I think. No complaints about it, that's for sure!

[mitchntx]

Originally posted by slow6inslo

Will all of them pretty much all do the same thing;

Trevor

Yes ... nothing!

I have run my TA at Motorsports Ranch in Texas with an STB and without. There were NO differences in my lap times, turn in traction, corner exit push, tire pressures or tire temps.

The differences most feel is the weight reduction in their wallet ...

[DarkPhoenix]

I disagree, When I installed mine the front end of the car felt much stiffer in turns.

[mitchntx]

Originally posted by Blk02ls1a4
I disagree

Doesn't surprise me. It's not a popular stand. But if you search back, I've maintained this stand for years.

I tested on a closed course under controlled circumstances, not on some country road ...

[YELLERR]

Originally posted by Blk02ls1a4
I disagree, When I installed mine the front end of the car felt much stiffer in turns. Same here. It did make a differents on my car. I also put biger sway bars,(32mm front, 21mm back).

[mitchntx]

So you put an STB and sways ... how do you know it wasn't all sways?

get 4 pieces of 2x4 lumber and nail them altogether to form a square or rectangle.

Stand it up. This represents the K-Member, both SHOCK towers and the STB.

Push on it from the side. Just how stiff is this "box"? Without cross bracing or at least triangulation ... it's worthless.

[stoleit]

im planning on buying a hotchkis stb, just because i wanna make my car into a show car, and i think that stb looks the best. just do you wanna go chrome? black? or red? those are your main choices as i recall.

[slow6inslo]

OK... mitchntx....

what else do you have done to your car? Becuase I dont have crap yet, I just wanted to only add the STB.... I'm sure if you have SFC's, LCA's, PHR, Sway bars, torque arm and you put on a STB you probably wont notice a damn bit of difference... Although if you have nothing and add an STB I'm sure it has to make some sort of difference, or else they would never sell... right?

[YELLERR]

I also put the STB on my brothers 95 T/A and he couldn't believe the diferense it made to the car. 'Knight and Day' is what he said.

[mitchntx]

Originally posted by slow6inslo
Although if you have nothing and add an STB I'm sure it has to make some sort of difference, or else they would never sell... right?

You are kidding, right? People will buy ANYTHING, as long as there is great marketing. Remember Slick 50? How about "The Tornado"?

[YELLERR]

Yes, I remember Slick 50. Put that stuff in a 73 step side and I had to turn down the idal after that. That truck went over 500,000 miles. I dont think it would have on regular oil. That STB was the first thing we put on the 95. That car would lean on turns like an old cad. With the brace it changed that lean. Now the car was 6 years old at the time too. After the STB we decided to change the shocks. And that made the car even better. Now that 95 handels just like my 02 does.

[mitchntx]

Slick 50, STRUT tower brace and magic dust ...

[YELLERR]

That's just how this stuff has help me. No magic dust, just what had happen with me and how it worked for me.

[mitchntx]

Fair enough ... likewise, my results.

I honestly think it's great you had good results.

For what it's worth, here is my car in action ...

http://24.0.108.222/mitchntx/mitch.wmv

The guy with the camera is a very good friend of mine and we were playing leap frog all weekend, learning from each other.

[YELLERR]

Cool mitchntx!
Was most interesting talking with you. I'm right now on a slow dial up. So first chance I get I'll check out that site! 10/4 on the results you got too. Mabey the STB makes the front towers much to stiff? You know, next time I'm with my brother I'm going to take that STB off and see if the car changes. Since then we have put new shocks and springs on that car too. I'll let you now what comes of it. :)

[YELLERR]

mitchntx; Just got done checking that out. Pretty neet! Looks like you guys were having a good time. I've never done anything like that my self. I can see your opinion of the STB now. Thanks. Very Cool!

[Stew]

I bought mine cuz it looks cool Mitch...quit trying to mak people feel bad about their purchase....;) :p

[DarkPhoenix]

I guess the STB can't hurt the way that the car handles. How much it helps is definately open to debate. Maybe the difference that I felt was all in my head, but that is all I need... Perception is Reality. In any event, it looks cool and kinda makes my tranny dip-stick not look so alone in the engine bay. Buy it or don't the choice is yous. :cool:

[mitchntx]

Originally posted by Stew w/00&92
I bought mine cuz it looks cool Mitch...quit trying to mak people feel bad about their purchase....;) :p

Hey ... I bought one!!!!

[slow]

its a SHOCK tower brace ;)

Ryan

[98_1LE]

The reason I have never put a shock tower brace (our cars do not have struts BTW) on my car is that negative camber is your friend in a turn, and IF the front end flexes, you will gain neagtive camber. If the STB prevents flex, then you do not gain camber, and ultimate grip could suffer slightly. I think the STB serves a purpose of keeping the car tight for a long time, but I will never be convinced it is a must have part for a good handling car.

EDIT: The video Mitch posted above was shot from my car which has never had a STB on it.

[YELLERR]

98_1LE
That's what I was thinking and wondering too. Thanks. That video is cool!

[blue02formula]

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/davefarley64/detail?.dir=/e0f3&.dnm=4911.jpg

I like my Edelbrock.

[Rottluver]

I gotta be honest here, I am not against them, but I bought a SLP STB when my '02 WS6 was brand new, no mods at the time and I didn't notice anything change at all. Car felt exactly the same as it had before I unloaded $100 from my wallet LOL

Maybe it works better on the older and/or non-WS6 cars, I don't know but mine felt the same.....Just my humble $.02

Darrin

[TransBAm99]

Originally posted by YELLERR
'Knight and Day' is what he said.

what kind of knight are we talking here? A David Hasselhoff/Michael Knight type difference, or a King Arthur's knight type?

[YELLERR]

Got me there! Night, dark turn on head lights night. :stick:

[TransBAm99]

Originally posted by YELLERR
Got me there! Night, dark turn on head lights night. :stick:

:D

i got the BMR STB. it did stiffen the car up, but i don't know how much it helps handling wise

[Rottluver]

Originally posted by TransBAm99
:D

i got the BMR STB. it did stiffen the car up, but i don't know how much it helps handling wise

I am thinking of dumping my SLP brace and getting the Hotchkis brace. 1) I like the looks better & 2) Mine won't fit the fuel rails covers I want to put on the car underneath it.......Hopefully it will help out better then the SLP STB. I heard the BMR brace is also good & will allow for FRC's below it........

[YELLERR]

Years a go, use to put them on older camarows, pontiacs and mustangs. It helped them out a lot. These new cars are pretty good new. Just, with that experience, I think it would help my car more. My car seems to ride ok with the STB on.

[Camss57]

Do you have to drill any holes to install one like the BMR STB or is it a straight bolt-on?

[YELLERR]

Camss57
It's a strate bolt in thing. Real easy to do. I think it took me 5 to 10 minutes to insall mine.

[Camss57]

Thanks YELLERR,

I don't want to drill any holes in my baby.

[YELLERR]

:D

[zombie5011]

if your short on cash I seen one for sale for $50 in the for sale section... Its used but still a hella deal.

In fact I just bought one today in the for sale section for $50