Clio 172 Homemade strut brace transforms the handling :)

[hewlett]

It took a while to fabricate but oh boy is it worth it.

The car corners much flatter, feels more solid at the front end, and all those local corners I know so well can be taken 10mph more quickly and with much more confidence. Clearly the 172 front end is a thing of fragility as the stiffening has transformed it. Yes that's wood btw, a long way from any real heat and I'm sure the plastic would melt before the wood caught on fire

[hewlett]

It's very solid and works a treat, not a mm of play and really does do the job

[hewlett]

Cost: about £15
Effectiveness: 100%
Safety: well it seems very solid and hardwood catches fire at a higher temperature than the surrounding plastic so it should be OK

In summary, success..

[hewlett]

Following the success of the first wooden performance enhancing device I'm planning to add a rear strut brace to 'the range' when I get a chance. For the many people who have contacted me to find out if they can have the plans, can I create a wooden strut brace/roll cage/etc, please bare with me. www.woodforperformance.com is being created and will be officially launched v soon. We're also planning a 'prestige performance' line which will include varnished and laquered product lines with 'walnut effect' amongst the many options.

[hewlett]

You read my mind, there will be a button on the website called:

'Woodenise', basically just click on it and you'll see a form, describe your fabrication requirements and our Master Craftspersons will create whatever wooden object you require.


Wood, the possibilities are limited.

[hewlett]

I suppose it's like coming to work wearing sandals and everyone laughing, and you saying, ''yeah but my feet were hot'' and everyone saying ''yeah but sandals, come ooonnnnn''..

This was cheap, secure, it works well, and hmmm, is wood and looks a bit strange. I can live with that, the difference in handling is night n day.

[hewlett]

..or the first time someone roasted a mammoth leg into the fire, took it out and ate it. Someone I'm sure said that 'fires are for heat dude, what are you doing chucking decent food there, WTF'

[hewlett]

There's a minimal fire risk IMO, bolts post bonnet closure, yes its not one for the concourse I have to concede.

[hewlett]

Pre, rather.. The bonnet remains dentless.

[hewlett]

Oh for intelligent analysis, so far the only fact is ... It doesn't look nice

[hewlett]

Firstly, thanks John D.

Well I kinda knew this would be controversial thread, thinking in advance that the rather 'bespoke' nature of the device would cause mirth at the very least. It has to be said though that it is as light as an alloy brace, robust and works. Ref insurance, yes it's covered and thankfully they didn't ask who mananufactured it, the website isn't up and running yet

I was considering that rather than have a 'woodenise' button, 'give me wood' would be better but my wife often reads the threads and she would not be amused. If you have one of these cars you probably don't want to go down the homemade route (details on request, I'm sure you could make it look neater) but, this makes a major difference to the handling. I put a (bought) one on the Impreza last year and it made no discernable difference whatsoever - already stiff shell I guess. Whereas on this car there's less 'jiggle' over bumps, flatter cornering and the car just feels more planted and safer on the road. As a result of this thread someone may get a strut brace and they will be very pleased with the results, the benefits of shorter/stiffer springs without the back ache. That said I still want to go for cup springs or similar.

I have been amused at many of the comments but as none have pointed out a glaring problem/issue/concern, for now at least it's staying and I'm enjoying driving the car a lot more than I did when I didn't realise that it could handle a fair bit better.

[hewlett]

Thanks Funk, no pun intended?

[hewlett]

Ah ha yes I did miss the icon, I was genuinely surprised at how well it worked and once the bolts were tightened how firm it all became and how little the wood seems to flex, it's hardwood so fairly inflexible and the fact that it works so well seems to imply that the wood isn't bending when loaded up in a corner.

[hewlett]

Good news, an aluminium strut brace is on it's way from Germany following this successful 'trial'. Pics to follow.

[hewlett]

Been pining for one for ages, tempted to leaf it as is...