05-28-2013, 01:28 PM | #1 |
Negative Camber Junkie
Drives: 2010 1SS LS3/6MN ABM 1 of 23 Join Date: May 2009
Location: ChiTown, IL
Posts: 1,824
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Strut-tower Brace? We don't need no stinkin' strut-tower brace!
So Car and Driver's Tech Department did an article about a K&C Machine which cost about $3 million and really tests a chassis/suspension/etc.
One of the comments from the gentlemen that runs this machine will be an eye opener for some and Pfadt did a test that came to the same conclusion with just a string (I can not seem to find the video though). Discuss... T. GO HAWKS!!!!!
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"Horsepower is something that looks great in a Magazine article, but suspension is what actually gets you around the track fast.." Jack Olsen
The drag strip is like sniffing glue, it's cheap, it's a decent buzz, it doesn't last long and they are all the same. Road racing is like China White Heroin, the buzz is stronger, the high lasts for hours, it's extremely addictive and they are all different. I can't wait for my next Track fix. DA HAWKS OWN DA CUP!!!!! Last edited by TBone; 05-28-2013 at 01:46 PM. |
05-28-2013, 01:41 PM | #2 |
Drives: . Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: .
Posts: 1,085
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Yea, but they look so cool! And yes, I have one.
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05-28-2013, 02:42 PM | #3 |
Drives: G5.R Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,377
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That is one awesome piece of equipment.
nice article! And another indicator that Pfadt is on top of their game. |
05-28-2013, 02:53 PM | #4 |
Drives: 2015 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 835
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I have one for looks alone. Pedders also says our cars get zero benefit from a strut brace. The only Camaro requires it is the Vert (and that's why it comes with one).
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05-28-2013, 03:17 PM | #5 | |
corner barstool sitter
Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Eastern Time Zone
Posts: 6,990
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Quote:
The most likely performance improvement for any two-point bar would be under severe braking where the two tower tops will be moving in opposite directions (rather than in the same direction by slightly different amounts as is the case while cornering). It would take at least a three-point strut tower tie bar configuration involving the firewall/cowl structure to add enough general torsional stiffness to even begin to matter as far as chassis torsion is concerned, and I'm sure that an X-braced four point arrangement attaching out near the A-pillars would be better still. Buick installed two point strut tower braces as OE on at least some of their sedans only a few years back, but I doubt that its effects on either cornering performance or handling balance were considered as being much more than incidental to reductions in NVH and cowl shake . . . which also addresses quite nicely the anecdotal claims of "feels more solid" by those who have fitted STBs to cars that do not feature them as standard structural fitments. Even the much larger cross-section two point lower lateral tie that I added to a different chassis was more noticeable for the changes it made in NVH than in any easily recognized improvements in autocross performance. Norm |
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05-28-2013, 03:50 PM | #6 |
Mine gives me 3 extra HP and 4 lbft of torque. ;-)
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05-28-2013, 04:00 PM | #7 |
I agree that the STB doesn't make your car handle better or improve a paticular deficiency however if you are testing multiple suspension setups and trying to dial in your car for a given track it will allow you to get more percise settings without chasing grimlins because your strut tower deflection is dynamically changing your intended settings. I can prove it with some chaulk and a tire heat probe.
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05-28-2013, 09:16 PM | #8 |
Drives: 2011 1LT/RS A6 RJT SuperCharged Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: 87114
Posts: 3,503
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I like my GM brace, even if it doesn't provide any "measurable" difference. By looks alone I love it.
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05-28-2013, 09:30 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2012 45TH AE SS Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 553
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not sure how much track performance you get, but i do know first hand it makes a difference on how the car feels!!! i took a drive up the rachel NV out by area 51 over a year ago and let me tell you the road is SHIT. tried to go fast and the wheel was all over the place the car felt like it was falling apart... flash forward to a few months back went out for the same cruise and i kept thinking to myself wow they fixed the road the wheel wasn't moving the car felt more solid!! the only thing i changed on my car was put a GM strut brace trust me it makes a difference!!!
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05-29-2013, 07:13 AM | #10 | ||
corner barstool sitter
Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Eastern Time Zone
Posts: 6,990
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Quote:
I was hoping that this particular individual would reply over in that other forum. Quote:
Norm |
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05-29-2013, 07:21 AM | #11 |
The Mark of Excellence
Drives: 2010 ABM 1SS RS LS3 Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Smallest State in the Union
Posts: 8,690
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And five more pounds of weight.
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BMR, CAI, DynoMax, Elite Eng., Hurst, Jannetty, Clear Image Headers & Hi Flow cats, Jet Hot, LSR, TSW, VMax, Vredestein |
05-29-2013, 07:40 AM | #12 |
Drives: 2010 Camaro SS, 2014 Z28 Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Houston
Posts: 414
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And, once again I'll bring up the various teams racing Camaros in World Challenge and Grand Am where slight improvements in car speed into and thru corners is the difference between the podium and everyone else. Some use them and some don't. When we raced Camaros, we didn't. But they do look good for sure.
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05-29-2013, 07:46 AM | #13 |
06-09-2013, 12:06 AM | #14 |
Negative Camber Junkie
Drives: 2010 1SS LS3/6MN ABM 1 of 23 Join Date: May 2009
Location: ChiTown, IL
Posts: 1,824
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Bump.
T. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
__________________
"Horsepower is something that looks great in a Magazine article, but suspension is what actually gets you around the track fast.." Jack Olsen
The drag strip is like sniffing glue, it's cheap, it's a decent buzz, it doesn't last long and they are all the same. Road racing is like China White Heroin, the buzz is stronger, the high lasts for hours, it's extremely addictive and they are all different. I can't wait for my next Track fix. DA HAWKS OWN DA CUP!!!!! |
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