Benefits of an upper strut brace?

1. user_30040 Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 Bridlington Posts: 1496 Audi A3

   #1 19th April 2011, 10:58

   Well in the near future looking to invest in a upper strut brace for me car, But are they worth the money? and do they make a big diffrence in the handling?
2. Wvtr Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Fife/Aberdeen Posts: 147 '02 Vtr

   #2 19th April 2011, 11:02

   imo they dont do anything, not noticeable anyway. Make sure you get the correct one, as one of them fouls against the holder for the bonnet support.
3. user_30040 Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 Bridlington Posts: 1496 Audi A3

   #3 19th April 2011, 11:06

   Well if they dont have much benefit i wont get one lol, Just asking the question
4. OGGY-VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2011 Stevenage Herts Posts: 155 Yellow X reg Saxo Vtr

   #4 19th April 2011, 11:16

   they do make a fair bit of difference, they stiffen up the struts from flexing, makes the steering more responsive, so i think they are worth there money
5. shaneio Established Member Joined: Nov 2008 welwyn garden city, hertfordshire Posts: 2313 s1 106 xsi

   #5 19th April 2011, 11:17

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by OGGY-VTR they do make a fair bit of difference, they stiffen up the struts from flexing, makes the steering more responsive, so i think they are worth there money

   
6. user_30040 Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 Bridlington Posts: 1496 Audi A3

   #6 19th April 2011, 11:23

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by shaneio

   Go on then
7. carlsmith715 Established Member Joined: Nov 2010 manchester Posts: 2099 2000 1.6 furio

   #7 19th April 2011, 11:25

   is the bottom one not suppose to make the most difference
8. Matt-T Established Member Joined: Oct 2010 Rednal Posts: 1943 Vauxhall Vectra VW Golf Mk4 Honda Prelude

   #8 19th April 2011, 11:27

   Upper braces are good IMO.
   Is it for front or rear mate? Rear braces are quite good IMO also. They are worth it
9. carlsmith715 Established Member Joined: Nov 2010 manchester Posts: 2099 2000 1.6 furio

   #9 19th April 2011, 11:28

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Matt-T Upper braces are good IMO. Is it for front or rear mate? Rear braces are quite good IMO also. They are worth it

   can you get rear braces on a saxo
10. user_30040 Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 Bridlington Posts: 1496 Audi A3

    #10 19th April 2011, 11:30

    Would be a front one if anything
11. user_40784 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2010 London Posts: 2768

    #11 19th April 2011, 11:30

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by carlsmith715 can you get rear braces on a saxo

    Nope, personally think theres no need for it!
12. carlsmith715 Established Member Joined: Nov 2010 manchester Posts: 2099 2000 1.6 furio

    #12 19th April 2011, 11:33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by johnr32 Nope, personally think theres no need for it!

    thats what i was thinking.
    
    and if you get a strut brace get a lower one first in my opion
13. shaneio Established Member Joined: Nov 2008 welwyn garden city, hertfordshire Posts: 2313 s1 106 xsi

    #13 19th April 2011, 11:35

    on a serious note tho they do improve things aslong as your car aint stupidly low
14. user_30040 Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 Bridlington Posts: 1496 Audi A3

    #14 19th April 2011, 11:38

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by shaneio on a serious note tho they do improve things aslong as your car aint stupidly low

    Lowered 40mm already on spax , Worth getting an upper?, Dont realy want to get a lower one lol
15. Wvtr Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Fife/Aberdeen Posts: 147 '02 Vtr

    #15 19th April 2011, 11:40

    i had a lower strut brace on first, it felt great, could actually feel a benefit, put the top one on and didnt notice a difference at all
16. shaneio Established Member Joined: Nov 2008 welwyn garden city, hertfordshire Posts: 2313 s1 106 xsi

    #16 19th April 2011, 11:41

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tally2425 Lowered 40mm already on spax , Worth getting an upper?, Dont realy want to get a lower one lol

    proberly the perfect height, worth getting an upper and some very sticky tyres. ive had a lower 1 and me didnt see much difference.
17. user_30040 Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 Bridlington Posts: 1496 Audi A3

    #17 19th April 2011, 11:42

    Will invest in an upper one then see how thats feels will eventually get a lower one tho
18. E3D Established Member Joined: Aug 2007 Tunbridge Wells Posts: 1465 Furio 1.4 2002

    #18 19th April 2011, 11:46

    you need upper and lower for it to have any real effect along will uprated bushing thicker arbs ect...
19. samburton53 Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2011 Norwich Posts: 247 2002 Citroen Saxo VTR, 2001 Fiat Punto

    #19 19th April 2011, 15:39

    I have an upper brace, and instantly noticed a difference. The car seems to fight back less when you throw it into a tight corner.
    
    I'm on standard ride height though, so that might be why.
20. mangojace Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Hampshire Posts: 1484

    #20 19th April 2011, 17:07

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by carlsmith715 can you get rear braces on a saxo

    Why would you want rear braces on a saxo.They dont have IRS?
21. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

    #21 19th April 2011, 17:26

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mangojace Why would you want rear braces on a saxo.They dont have IRS?

    Yes you do...
    You have two individual torsion bars. They share an arb though just like the front. More importantly there are no struts or side loads that can be braced, those loads all being transmitted through the trailing arm shafts and beam bearings.
22. mangojace Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Hampshire Posts: 1484

    #22 19th April 2011, 18:15

    Exactly they cannot be braced,which i was stating?? Yes they have IRS but not fully independant!
23. kristel10589 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 5362

    #23 19th April 2011, 19:21

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Matt-T Upper braces are good IMO. Is it for front or rear mate? Rear braces are quite good IMO also. They are worth it

    saxo's dont have rear struts, the beam acts as a brace.
    
    
    

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mangojace Exactly they cannot be braced,which i was stating?? Yes they have IRS but not fully independant!

    Saxos have full independant suspension on the back, just as the front. They are linked by an ARB just like the front.
24. mangojace Established Member Joined: Mar 2011 Hampshire Posts: 1484

    #24 19th April 2011, 21:00

    ill shut up,your right on this lol!

    1 user thanked this post: kristel10589
25. GTEsKee Newbie Joined: Oct 2010 southeast Posts: 6 VTR'ed 1.1

    #25 19th April 2011, 21:30

    its a good idea to brace your four rear beam mounting points against your rollcage though . . . the floorpan in my boot came away and the rear rear beam mounts pushed about 4 inches into my boot once . . . although the scrape marks said i cleared about 18ft over the crest to be fair :-P