UPPER strut brace poll

[lordgibbness]

Hi all,

I just wanted to run a quick poll for people who have added the UPPER strut brace to their car.

I have been interested in getting one fitted but was advised that it might upset the handling (mainly with regard to riding over bumps on the road) and wanted to see what people who have fitted them think.

I originally thought the upper strut brace would help with turn in (reducing understeer) but from what I was told it is to keep the car stiff during high speed cornering on a race track; and that it's really the lower strut brace that improves lower speed turn in.

The more comments you add the better to help me decide and give me any info you found since adding it. Also if you added it while adding other parts would be useful to know as this might slightly disguise the affect of the upper brace.

Thanks for your time,
Rob.

 

[D.K]

Mine made a bit of difference, it feels a bit stiffer.
It certainly DID'NT make the handling any worse.

 

[speedinsaxo]

Made for a sharper turn in, and a stiffer front end.
Did not make any noticable difference to riding the bumps - it's still bl**dy bumpy with or without !!

 

[Jolly]

Made for a sharper turn in, and a stiffer front end.
Did not make any noticable difference to riding the bumps - it's still bl**dy bumpy with or without !!

Ditto! slight improvment, looks great and not too expensive. Get one

 

[ChrisUK]

Front Upper slightly improved handling - rear upper strut (in boot), made a MASSIVE difference to handling & I would recommend it to anyone

 

[Rarpuc]

Front upper brace i felt makes a diffirence when your pushing hard,much sharper and stiffer front end but under normal driving you wont really notice a diffierence,deffinatly doesnt make things worse tho.For the relativly small cost of it,its still worth getting id say.

 

[tris]

Agree with all of the above good on road and track

 

[Willie]

Well can only comment on the difference with the S3 strutt brace and the 28mm rear ARB as both of these were fitted at the same time.
The car felt good but not a massive transformation
BUT.....
With these and the front ARB upgraded there is a massive improvement, massive.

 

[D.K]

Does the REAR strutt brace really make that much difference ???
I'm planning on getting front and rear ARB's soon but I cant really afford them yet

 

[Phillc]

I fitted the front (upper and lower) and the rear strut brace at the same time,and it made a noticeable difference sharper turn in, and a more level feeling, much as said before.

 

[DOLBY]

i would say the strut brace makes a noticeable improvement to the handling of the car, once it is fitted go look for a tight roundabout and you will notice the steering bites more when going into the bend. when mine was fitted the first thing i noticed was how heavy the steering had become. this is a good thing. i know this was down to the strut brace for a fact because i drove a standard LCR the same day and it felt like i could turn the steering wheel with 1 finger. the owner of the other car commented on how heavy my steering is a t low speeds too.

rear upper strut (in boot), made a MASSIVE difference to handling & I would recommend it to anyone

i wouldnt say massive difference. just feels more stiffer and controllable.

 

[billyhas]

You need to be pushing hard to really notice the difference .Sudden changes in direction such as entering and exiting roundabouts at speed feel more reassuring

 

[lordgibbness]

Thanks for all the responses so far... I probably won't be able to get the parts in time for when I get the remap done so I'll probably do it when I have it in for a service this summer. Give me something to look forward to - the worse thing is to have all the "todo's" done with the kind of upgraditus that we all suffer from!

 

[godber225r]

Never understood why the LCR never came with one as standard??
Get the audi S3 one. its a good price and a good colour. Made a slight difference to my car only really noticeable when throwing it round roundabouts.

A good mod for 50 odd quid do it

 

[D.K]

Thanks for all the responses so far... I probably won't be able to get the parts in time for when I get the remap done so I'll probably do it when I have it in for a service this summer. Give me something to look forward to - the worse thing is to have all the "todo's" done with the kind of upgraditus that we all suffer from!

Fit it yourself mate, they are easy.

 

[lordgibbness]

I don't think I'd fancy drilling the bodywork myself!

 

[B3LSY]

easy i done mine in 20min

 

[Phillc]

easy i done mine in 20min

Like the man said 20 mims, line it up, mark it, drill it,and do the bolts up.

 

[D.K]

easy i done mine in 20min

If Ben can do it anyone can
Sorry mate

 

[B3LSY]

what you trying to say!?