Strut tower brace advice

Post by **dopebox** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

I have a 1995 240sx SE with just under 90,000 miles on it. A SR20DET swap is in the plans but in the meantime I wouldn't mind tying things together a little bit. Will any brace clear both the KA24 and the SR20 or does it have to be application specific? Also, any recommendations on brands and models? I want this brace to stiffen the car up a little bit and improve the handling. Eventually I want to get into autocross but at the moment it's just my daily driver.

Post by **Touchdown038** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

A strut tower bar would stiffen up the front, and yes it would fit regardless of what engine you have.

Post by **dopebox** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

What's everyone's favorite strut brace?

Post by **240marcuSX** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

cusco is a favorite,

Actually if you have Nismo motor mounts, certain strut bars wont clear because the mounts sit the motor higher ( dont know this from experience, but i was looking at this guys SR at a drift event, and i asked him why the bar wasnt there, but the ends that bolt on to the strut were. and he said that he had those mounts and it wouldnt clear)

so if youre planning on getting those mounts, get a bar with a bend in it or something.

Post by **Phax** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Cusco. If you get the rear one, be sure to purchase the triangle brace for that extra measure of support.

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

I like cusco, apex-i, and NISMO from a personal perspective. Im sure the JIC and some other bars are of good quality, also. but for my money, the first three are the way to go.-chet

Post by **crzycav86** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Make your own! .... if you can.. I think its cheaper, and you'll have that warm fuzzy feeling of self satisfaction when you're done..

Post by **SingleCamSam** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Do these things really improve handling all that much?

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Its not really so much "handling" they improve, as much as chsis rigidity, and the feel you get for how hard the suspension is being worked, maximal grip limits may go up as a result of the chasis not flexing(therefore allowing the cars suspension to do what its supposed to)...but the major effect will be feel and rigidity..both benifits well worth paying for, IMO.-chet

Post by **bazan** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Is that actually true about the mounts not allowing certain strut bars to clear?

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

yes, bars designed for the USDM engine with minimal clearance of the valve cover(IE: cheap ones) may touch/interfere if you use the NSIMO mounts, which supposively lift the engine 1/2" or something-chet

Post by **tinted** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

why the hell are they an advantage if they lift the engine, besies stiffness?? why not lower it

Post by **Structure240sx** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

they are made specifically for the sr. its the ka's that they raise 1/2"

Post by **S13240** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

I have a Trust front strut bar with nismo mounts and it clears fine.

Post by **UsedToOwn240SX** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

What about the ones they're selling at ebay? Are they any good or bad?

Post by **dr!ft** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Gotta love the price of the Trust/Greddy/Grex strut bar. $109 sure beats having to shell out $250 for them Nismo's. But in this case, do you really get what you pay for? Like is the twice-as-expenxive Nismo bars any different? Wait, do they even make bars for S13's?

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

yes, yes, and yes. the design of the bars like nismo, cusco and others tend to resist torsion better, and are generally made from better materials nad designed for their purpose better..-chet

Post by **dr!ft** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Ah... thx. Guess I'll stick to getting the Cusco OS bars and the rear tri-bar...

Post by **Jeff Williams** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Underdog, if you are looking for that last 1000th of a second off your lap times, buy the best. If you are driving the car on the street, buy the cheap ones off of eBay. The stress on the bar is not that much that a solid aluminum bar is going to fail.

This my opinion.

I bought a $12.00 bar, and paid $12.00 to ship it. The car feels like I put a new steering rack on. It handles like a 2 door sports car, rather than a 5000# Q45. It sure beat the $200.00 alternative. If you don't see one for your car, go measure some other Nissans and find one that is the same.

My bar is for a 2000 Maxima, with a little mod, it fit my Q45.

I bought a second one, for my I30t, because the price was so cheap. They threw in the shipping for free.

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

you get what you pay for.-chet

Post by **tinted** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Exar-Kun wrote:you get what you pay for.

Like most performance parts, the difference is like this:

Post by **bazan** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

yes, the price vs. performance function is always exponential.

Damn companies fleecing us out of money again.

Whatever the market will bear i suppose...

Post by **whiterps13** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

which cusco bars are better. i know there are os, as and carbon covered. any reccomendations?

Post by **turboweege** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

is there much difference with putting only a front bar compared to front and rear??

Post by **whiterps13** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

i know putting a stiff brace in the rear adds oversteer, so i would imagine that putting front and rear on would maintain a nuetral balance. correct me if im wrong.

Post by **monsterx240sx** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

I installed my strut tower bars today both front and rear. I was wondering if any of you know what is better to tighten the strut tower bar in (pull the towards the middle of the engine compartment) or out (push away from the middle of the engine compartment)???

Post by **Jeff Williams** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

monsterx240sx wrote:I installed my strut tower bars today both front and rear. I was wondering if any of you know what is better to tighten the strut tower bar in (pull the towards the middle of the engine compartment) or out (push away from the middle of the engine compartment)???

Either way, you are changing your camber adjustment, and will require a fresh alignment.

Pulling it in will cause negative camber, and pushing it out will cause positive camber.

My understandin of the brace, is to reduce camber movement under stress.

I put mine at a little outward pressure, since the car tends to flex inward in the corners. Then I had the alignment done, to get it in spec.

Post by **elgarvo616** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

this might sound stupid but i cant seem to fimd the rear towers. can anyone help me to fimd them? i drive a 95 240. thanks

Post by **barrigas14** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

rear tower are found only by Cusco and Nismo. Cusco does not make a rear triangle for the S14 only the S13. imo save the money and get sway bars. those help 10x's as much. a strut bar is an after thought. having both front and rear on my S14 i never noticed them...and that is after autox. i wish i would have bought sway bars instead. btw if someone says...my car handles 10x's better with this bar...they are more than likely wrong.

Post by **veilside180sx** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:22 pm

you don't have to preload the bar when you install it. Since it works it both directions depending on what your'e doing.

Strut tower brace advice

Strut tower brace advice

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