handling and strut braces

[Dolly_Gti]

well my ibiza is too high and the body roll is something special.. but until new year i cant afford to throw wedge at it suspension wise, so......

are strut braces any good or are they merly for looking nice under the bonnet? just thinking about gettin a front one, at around £40 on ebay. comments appreciated.

 

[cordobabrendy]

strut brace wont help handling at all until you lower the car, i had one on my 16v but if i was you id leave it until you have exhausted all other areas first.

 

[Dolly_Gti]

im starting with an uprated front anti roll bar, then all going well have decided FK coil overs are good for the money, still get a strut brace to look nice i suspose lol!

 

[surcalation]

The arb will make more of a difference then a strut brace. I have both on mine just to make sure

 

[gregclarks]

Strut Brace is better than i thought...



I was sceptical about bolt on strut braces, but i was lucky enought to be given one, my car was already lower 60mm on the Avo Road sport package and didnt roll too much, but WOW the brace has made a really big difference, i would say it has pushed my max speed round my favourite roundabout from 48mph to nearly 60mph! but it also felt really composed. My strut brace is the Raid HP one, i didnt rate their stuff as its always cheap on ebay, but it is well made and simpl(ish) to fit, i threaded M8s into the bodywork, without bolts - we shall see if it survives, first impressions are good THUMBS UP. I agree ARB would be better first i am getting that next!

 

[Czechboy]

I agree ARB would be better first i am getting that next!

I might be wrong but I think your 16v should have the ARBs fitted as standard already.

Mig

 

[gregclarks]

Oh yes it does, but they are pretty puny, i think some uprates 25mm ones would make a hell of a difference - anyone done it, they cost about £150 so i do need some positive reviews!! thanks

 

[Dolly_Gti]

mine has anti roll on the front (8v Gti), but it doesnt due much to eliminate body roll

 

[jcs356]

Definitely worth going for uprated ARBs - Badger Bill does Neuspeed ones - they are about £170 each for front and rear. Yeah, the GTi 8v and 16v does have ARBs as standard - the front one is independent, the rear one is inside the rear beam. With 25mm front and 28mm rear and it handles like a go-kart

 

[Dolly_Gti]

£170 for a front anti roll :O fook me maybe this suspension lark will have to wait till i save some pennies lol

 

[ibizacupra]

£170 for a front anti roll :O fook me maybe this suspension lark will have to wait till i save some pennies lol

rear one is £170, front one is ~£145
rear one needs adaptor bracket to fit ibiza rear beam. (which I make)

options are 23mm front or 25mm front, or 25mm rear or 28mm rear- rear is 3 position adjustable also.

Good kit, makes a hell of a lot of difference... Rear in particular.

 

[Dolly_Gti]

when you say 23mm/25mm for front.... or 25mm rear/28mm rear is this is the size of the ARB? and will a bigger one be better more rigid? i assume a kit consists of anti roll bar + 2 drop links and nuts, which would a straight swap for standard?

 

[Dolly_Gti]

^^^anyone..?

 

[edc]

Those are the diameters of the arbs. Rear one requires special brakcets as described front one is just straight replacement. I've had 20VT 23mm on front with Neuspeed 25mm rear for a couple of years now and I reckon it would be more fun and easily cope with the 28 instead of 25mm rear arb.

 

[jcs356]

Yeah, Neuspeed do two diameters, depending upon how much you want to tighten things up. The thicker the bar, the less it flexes. As I say, I've got the thicker option front and rear with 25mm front and 28mm rear. You can adjust the rear as Bill says - mine is in the middle at the moment.

 

[Dolly_Gti]

so this adapter that Bill makes... does it bolt straight on, or is there cutting/welding ect involed on the rear axle. i must admit im very tempted, unfortunatly we are the wrong side of christmas!

 

[edc]

If it's the same thing that I had fitted then it's just a simple U shape bracket. No butchering of car required.

 

[jcs356]

If it's the same thing that I had fitted then it's just a simple U shape bracket. No butchering of car required.

Yep, it is just a simple bracket.

 

[surcalation]

any pictures of the said bracket?

 

[edc]

Pictures been posted up before, should be on search unless purged.