edc
19-11-2003, 13:38
Strut Brace: the benefits
Rigidity is an important part of your cars handling. When you ask it to change directions any play in the suspension or chassis will be taken up before the car adjusts its course. Conversely if the car hits a bump or bit of road camber then the play in the chassis and suspension will be taken up before this interaction is communicated to the driver. As a result soft suspension and a chassis that lacks rigidity will dampen the cars responsiveness as well as the feedback it gives to the driver. By stiffening the chassis you also prevent the suspension geometry from changing under load (as the chassis flexes) and improve the overall cornering and grip characteristics of the car.
To improve the chassis stiffness/rigidity we can add brace bars or a full cage between key load bearing points of the car's chassis. Roll cages in race cars serve a second function beyond that of safety as they dramatically improve the rigidity of the car but on the flipside are not practical for everyday road use. Not only do they impair access in and out of the car but, they pose a serious threat to the well-being of your skull in the event of an accident, and as such should be used in conjunction with a helmet! They also weigh a fair amount and so if you are striving to up the power to weight ratio then a full cage will not help. The road going compromise is to fit a/several strut brace/s. These tend to be rigid bits of metal that span the gaps between key chassis and suspension pick up points. There are many different designs available to suit different cars but there are three common types: front upper, front lower, and rear.
Click here to view the full article courtesy of Matey-Matey (http://www.matey-matey.com/gti_strutbraces.shtml)
Rigidity is an important part of your cars handling. When you ask it to change directions any play in the suspension or chassis will be taken up before the car adjusts its course. Conversely if the car hits a bump or bit of road camber then the play in the chassis and suspension will be taken up before this interaction is communicated to the driver. As a result soft suspension and a chassis that lacks rigidity will dampen the cars responsiveness as well as the feedback it gives to the driver. By stiffening the chassis you also prevent the suspension geometry from changing under load (as the chassis flexes) and improve the overall cornering and grip characteristics of the car.
To improve the chassis stiffness/rigidity we can add brace bars or a full cage between key load bearing points of the car's chassis. Roll cages in race cars serve a second function beyond that of safety as they dramatically improve the rigidity of the car but on the flipside are not practical for everyday road use. Not only do they impair access in and out of the car but, they pose a serious threat to the well-being of your skull in the event of an accident, and as such should be used in conjunction with a helmet! They also weigh a fair amount and so if you are striving to up the power to weight ratio then a full cage will not help. The road going compromise is to fit a/several strut brace/s. These tend to be rigid bits of metal that span the gaps between key chassis and suspension pick up points. There are many different designs available to suit different cars but there are three common types: front upper, front lower, and rear.
Click here to view the full article courtesy of Matey-Matey (http://www.matey-matey.com/gti_strutbraces.shtml)