Are All STB Created Equal?

Post by **rico05** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

I have been staring at my screen for an hour at a picture of a Cusco STB (strut tower brace) and a eBay el-cheapo special. I see very little differences. Any reason I should spend 10x as much for the Cusco ones? Thanks for any opnions.

Post by **WAbernethy** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

The cusco will probably be stiffer than the el-cheapo one. But I'll bet that it's not 10x stiffer. Depends on your priorities. If you really need that sticker and you want the stiffer bar then shell out the extra dough. Personally, I have an el-cheapo because I'm a cheap bastard.

Post by **rico05** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

Well, the Cusco seems no more adjustable than the cheap ones. I had a cheap one on my former FC, and it worked just fine. But since I am planning on doing a bit more spirited driving in my S13, I was just curious to see what anyone had to say. And since you (and most everyone else around here that I see) has cheap ones, looks like I have will have yet another package on its way;)

Post by **EnzoRWD** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

just to add another option: im gonna get my bars from cpracing.ca theyre are cheaper than cusco (what i was originally looking at) and hella cheaper the other 3-point stuff. check it outhttp://www.cpracing.ca

Post by **WAbernethy** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

Just make sure that you get the STB that comes with the type-R keychain. They threw one in with my bar and when I put it on my keychain; Bam! 5 extra horses.

Post by **yeswepromise** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

i wish i could trade my Cusco carbon fiber strut bar for an ARC one.

Post by **rico05** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

Enzo- If I don't win the ones I have already bid on eBay, I am def. getting some of those nice ones from CP. Damn..that 4 point rear one looks damn nice...espicially since I pulled my back seat I could show it off;)

Website · Post by **matchstyc** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

I asked myself the same question a few months back and eventually went with the ebay ones. I've had nothing but positive results with them. They're super stiff and they do the same thing as the name brand stuff does. And I have money left over to spend on something else. I went with these. They look good too.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...33591

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

you get what you pay for.-chet(yeah, someone had to say it.)

Post by **lessthanjakejohn** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

Just make sure it will fit!

Post by **rico05** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

Exar-Kun:I understand that philosophy, but in something as simple as a STB is that logic as pertinent? I mean, for a cat back yes. But on a metal tube?Matchstyck:Those are them. I hope someone does outbid me tho, as I really like the look of the CP ones.

Post by **Camel** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

matchstyc wrote:I asked myself the same question a few months back and eventually went with the ebay ones. I've had nothing but positive results with them. They're super stiff and they do the same thing as the name brand stuff does. And I have money left over to spend on something else. I went with these. They look good too.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...33591

The same folks make this bar for nopi. check out their site for pics. works for me. the welds aren't as straight as a more expensive one but it works fine.

Post by **trpower7** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

If anyone can bring me a STB they've bent, I'll be surprised. I made my own rear STB out of aluminum tubing from Home Depot, cost me a grand total of $2. Works like a freakin' charm. Cmon folks, it's just a piece of metal connecting point A to point B.

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

it's more thn that. AS with anything, theres a lot of design factors that people usually dont notice nor care about:-materials-engineering-manufacturing

materials is obvious, a firged alluminum(or aircraft grade alluminum) bar will be more expnsiev than a steel bar, and C/f or titanium will be highest cost, but lowest weight and the most strength.

engineering is more sublte. think about it, if you have an adjustment thred in the middle of the bar with two lock nuts, that bar will flex there on the threads, lock nuts or not. Threads have play. Likewise, having screws going parlell with the strut bar are a bad idea, you'd want a flat, or hollow tube secured by bolts going pependicular to the bar itself to ensure proper stress transfer and less flex.

manufacturing considers things like tollerances, and how things are secured(grade of fastners, etc), take for instane the anchor point, is it wlded or forged into shape(where the bar mount meets the trut tower mount with the 3 holes)..

I can go on for a long time on this. suffice to say, you can usually take about 20 seconds and detrmine if the bar was designed and manufactured well.

-chet

Post by **WingsNThangs** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

Pilot Motorsports Strut Tower Barshttp://www.phase2motortrend.comReputable in SoCal, beefy, and damn cheap. I think free shipping to continental US for now. Simple in appearance, very beefy construction.

I have a rear one on my car and it works wonderfully. Made a world of difference in rigidity and interior noise reduction. Just ordered a front one.

I've read about one case where eBay strut bar that hindered the ease of closing the hood, but I've never heard of anything bad from the Pilot STB's. Only good reviews from quite a few 240 enthusiasts. It wont wow those who care about namebrands, but it does its job just as well as Cusco to most drivers. Pretty safe bet.

Post by **bazan** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

When I got my POS eBay bar the holes in the mounts were drilled improperly. I had to slot them to get the bar to fit. When I complained to the maker, they replied that there would be some drilling required. I won't trust anything but a brand name from here on out.

Exar has a good point about the quality of the design and materials. Materials do play a large role in these things. The design more so. I didn't notice much difference with my cheapo eBay STB but that was probably because I just started driving the car when I bought the bar. I'll bet that if I replace it with the one from CP i'd notice a significant difference.

Post by **pgt892** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

Hey do you guys know if that gauge panel will fit an S14? They have it listed for an S13 but I don't see why it wouldn't fit. You can see it here: http://www.cpracing.ca/product...AUGES

Post by **droptopsilvia** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

I got a pilot bar, unfortunately I cant fit the rear one b/c of the convertible....however the bar will make a pretty nice skull crusher should anyone get stupid!

Post by **Camel** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 10:09 am

pgt892 wrote:Hey do you guys know if that gauge panel will fit an S14? They have it listed for an S13 but I don't see why it wouldn't fit. You can see it here: http://www.cpracing.ca/product...AUGES

It should work fine, It is just a din radio opening.

C

Are All STB Created Equal?

Are All STB Created Equal?

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