The dynamics and the point of fitting a strut brace?
Discussion
Mr2Mike said:
PositronicRay said:
When you see the rubbery top mount wont that just allow flexing? No matter how rigid the tower.
The reason that competition cars usually dispense with the rubber mounts and use spherical joints.kambites said:
hondansx said:
A strut brace may increase the threshold, but understeer will be more abrupt, so the feel of the car on the limit may make it seem like it is more happy to understeer than before.
Almost anything you do to "improve" the front suspension will have that effect though, wont it? Generally speaking, I've always found the more grip you give an axle the more suddenly it will lose grip when it finally does let go. Anything that can be done to make the shell and any point of flex stiffer, in the entire suspension system will make it easier to control geometry through any given turn or application of force.
PositronicRay said:
Correctamundo, floor pan developed from a Hillman Husky.
I thought it was a Hillman Minx/Sunbeam Rapier/Humber Sceptre (etc) floorpan and drivetrain.I had a MkV GT back in the 80s' along with a Mk2 1725cc Humber Sceptre and then a couple of (Arrow shape) Holbay Hunter GLS
Our Alpine (I co-owned it with my brother) was rescued as a rusty heap from a London driveway and was fitted with a Holbay hunter engine.
Have to say, even with the braces it was a very floppy chassis...
fushion julz said:
I thought it was a Hillman Minx/Sunbeam Rapier/Humber Sceptre (etc) floorpan and drivetrain.
I had a MkV GT back in the 80s' along with a Mk2 1725cc Humber Sceptre and then a couple of (Arrow shape) Holbay Hunter GLS
Our Alpine (I co-owned it with my brother) was rescued as a rusty heap from a London driveway and was fitted with a Holbay hunter engine.
Have to say, even with the braces it was a very floppy chassis...
More of a tourer than a sports car. I had a MkV GT back in the 80s' along with a Mk2 1725cc Humber Sceptre and then a couple of (Arrow shape) Holbay Hunter GLS
Our Alpine (I co-owned it with my brother) was rescued as a rusty heap from a London driveway and was fitted with a Holbay hunter engine.
Have to say, even with the braces it was a very floppy chassis...
"The car made extensive use of components from other Rootes Group vehicles and was built on a modified floorpan from the Hillman Husky estate car. The running gear came mainly from the Sunbeam Rapier"
mat205125 said:
Anything that can be done to make the shell and any point of flex stiffer, in the entire suspension system will make it easier to control geometry through any given turn or application of force.
True, although that's not necessarily the same as saying that stiffening the chassis alone will improve handling. I can only assume that manufacturers implicitly take chassis flex into account when calibrating their suspension. Perhaps less so these days with cars being so stiff, but in the past I'd imagine for some cars a significant proportion of the overall spring effect came from the chassis. 
To those asking the early M3 didn't come with a strut brace as standard. It was mid to late 2002 when they did.
There are also a fair few reports of the standard strut braces failing, showing there is a large amount of force and some movement being put through the strut towers and therefore an obvious advantage to having one.
Here is the one I fitted, it is an AC Schnitzer copy that can be bought on Ebay.
There are also a fair few reports of the standard strut braces failing, showing there is a large amount of force and some movement being put through the strut towers and therefore an obvious advantage to having one.
Here is the one I fitted, it is an AC Schnitzer copy that can be bought on Ebay.
If the end of yours look this this:
I can't see how that little bolt could provide enough force to generate enough friction to stop the bar moving against the bit that attaches directly to the turret top. Or is there some sort of stud to stop it from moving?
I can't see how that little bolt could provide enough force to generate enough friction to stop the bar moving against the bit that attaches directly to the turret top. Or is there some sort of stud to stop it from moving?
Edited by kambites on Monday 30th March 18:46
kambites said:
If the end of yours look this this:
I can't see how that little bolt could provide enough force to generate enough friction to stop the bar moving against the bit that attaches directly to the turret top. Or is there some sort of stud to stop it from moving?
Done up tight enough why wouldn't it? And if it didn't you'd soon know as you would see the movement marks.I can't see how that little bolt could provide enough force to generate enough friction to stop the bar moving against the bit that attaches directly to the turret top. Or is there some sort of stud to stop it from moving?
Edited by kambites on Monday 30th March 18:46
VonSenger said:
Done up tight enough why wouldn't it? And if it didn't you'd soon know as you would see the movement marks.
I rather suspect that the bolt would sheer before you could actually get it to apply enough pressure, those little Allen bolts are pretty pathetic; you are of course right though, if it was moving you'd be able to see it. Maybe a better way to put it would be to say that if that can hold it, there's probably not enough force on the bar to be worth having one anyway.
VonSenger said:
If my memory serves correctly the original m3 brace also has bolts? Surely they wouldn't do this if it had no benefit.
It's not the fact that it's bolted, it's the fact that the bolt goes through a slot which is clearly designed to allow the thing to be adjusted in the direction that it's meant to be rigid. Little Allen bolts like that are hardly the first choice when it comes to applying a lot of torque either. Of course that one might have a stud or something to hold it in position, but if it does, why the slot? Edited by kambites on Tuesday 31st March 09:12
kambites said:
It's not the fact that it's bolted, it's the fact that the bolt goes through a slot which is clearly designed to allow the thing to be adjusted in the direction that it's meant to be rigid.
I see. But you would see the movement. No one with half a brain would leave it on if it was just an inconvenience. If there was no movement your saying you might as well remove it?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff