Whiteline Jim
11-07-2009, 09:09 AM
Taken from the Whiteline FAQ
Chassis and strut bracing - how does it work?
There are many different types of chassis braces, the most common being strut tower braces on the front or rear. Not all cars use actual struts though the term "strut brace" is still used to describe a brace between shock towers. For example Honda Civic, S2000, Nissan Skyline and Ford Falcons are sometimes fitted with a front upper shock brace but it does not have as direct an impact as bracing actual strut towers.
The reason is that a MacPherson Strut integrates the wheels upper link point into the actual strut. Hence a significant proportion of wheel load is located by and dealt with the strut. Vertical loads from the wheel pass through the strut and spring up to the strut top and towers which leads to flex in the sheet metal around the strut tower and inner guard. In fact, we've measured up to 15mm of flex on some cars which translates to up to 1 deg of dynamic camber change. Some vehicles will benefit more than others with age being a factor. But, even the newest vehicles have some rigidity problems due to the method of construction. Many new cars have the complete firewall and dash assembly lowered through the windscreen aperture then glued in place. This may actually be more rigid in some directions as claimed by the car makers but we know that fitting a strut tower brace on these vehicles makes a very noticeable difference.
Though not as noticeable or effective, shock tower braces on the cars mentioned above will make a difference. However the actual equivalent load point is usually an upper control arm and its locating points on the inner guard. Bracing these points is the preferred option and is what we have done with EF Falcons and our KSB510 kit. It braces the upper inner control arm mounts to the x-member via the engine mount points. We know it works well because we bent some 10mm bolts on the first prototype we fitted after taking 3 corners!
Whiteline range of chassis braces includes lower control arm braces, extra heavy-duty swaybar mounts and things like rear subframe lock kits.
But, apart from all the technical guff, they look really good!
Here are some comments from customers describing what they felt.
To: Whiteline
Subject: WRX front lower braces
Have you seen the show on channel ten called 'Rove'?
Rove has a segment called: 'What the.......!' This rang in my mind when I left your workshop and rounded the next few corners!
I was expecting for the front end to be 'more stiff', but not to the extent being exhibited. Turn in is sharper. Powering out (even though I have the anti-lift kit) evokes far less understeer, less front end lift and resultantly less front wheel spin.
The lower control arm brace (KSB700) has made the single biggest impact for my mind on the cars feel. FLAT is all I can say! Feels as flat as my ##### Type R/S coil-overs did. Bravo, job well done Whiteline team.
The following is from Michael S, current (2001) NSW WRX Club Class 3 champion.
……. After many runs, adjusting my suspension to get the most from the little grip we had from a cold track and no sun and I was 3rd in class driving harder than ever before and not at the pointy end it was time to fit the under body strut brace, fitted and ready I found it has much sharper response to fast steering inputs, and yes it was faster on the stop watch by 2-3 tenths, this might not sound so much but at the pointy end it was a huge gain……
Are your strut braces adjustable, and if so how do you adjust them?
A strut tower brace is just an additional chassis brace that can be fitted by the owner to further increase chassis rigidity, specifically between the strut towers. It is not designed to pre-load their mounting points, but rather to simply provide extra strength when needed like during fast cornering.
Yes, our strut braces are adjustable, however this is purely for better fitment and to compensate for vehicle manufacturing tolerances. Significant variation between individual vehicles exist from new with age affecting dimensions even further on some cars. Either way, always fit and tighten the strut tower brace with the vehicle parked on level ground standing at normal ride height.
Chassis and strut bracing - how does it work?
There are many different types of chassis braces, the most common being strut tower braces on the front or rear. Not all cars use actual struts though the term "strut brace" is still used to describe a brace between shock towers. For example Honda Civic, S2000, Nissan Skyline and Ford Falcons are sometimes fitted with a front upper shock brace but it does not have as direct an impact as bracing actual strut towers.
The reason is that a MacPherson Strut integrates the wheels upper link point into the actual strut. Hence a significant proportion of wheel load is located by and dealt with the strut. Vertical loads from the wheel pass through the strut and spring up to the strut top and towers which leads to flex in the sheet metal around the strut tower and inner guard. In fact, we've measured up to 15mm of flex on some cars which translates to up to 1 deg of dynamic camber change. Some vehicles will benefit more than others with age being a factor. But, even the newest vehicles have some rigidity problems due to the method of construction. Many new cars have the complete firewall and dash assembly lowered through the windscreen aperture then glued in place. This may actually be more rigid in some directions as claimed by the car makers but we know that fitting a strut tower brace on these vehicles makes a very noticeable difference.
Though not as noticeable or effective, shock tower braces on the cars mentioned above will make a difference. However the actual equivalent load point is usually an upper control arm and its locating points on the inner guard. Bracing these points is the preferred option and is what we have done with EF Falcons and our KSB510 kit. It braces the upper inner control arm mounts to the x-member via the engine mount points. We know it works well because we bent some 10mm bolts on the first prototype we fitted after taking 3 corners!
Whiteline range of chassis braces includes lower control arm braces, extra heavy-duty swaybar mounts and things like rear subframe lock kits.
But, apart from all the technical guff, they look really good!
Here are some comments from customers describing what they felt.
To: Whiteline
Subject: WRX front lower braces
Have you seen the show on channel ten called 'Rove'?
Rove has a segment called: 'What the.......!' This rang in my mind when I left your workshop and rounded the next few corners!
I was expecting for the front end to be 'more stiff', but not to the extent being exhibited. Turn in is sharper. Powering out (even though I have the anti-lift kit) evokes far less understeer, less front end lift and resultantly less front wheel spin.
The lower control arm brace (KSB700) has made the single biggest impact for my mind on the cars feel. FLAT is all I can say! Feels as flat as my ##### Type R/S coil-overs did. Bravo, job well done Whiteline team.
The following is from Michael S, current (2001) NSW WRX Club Class 3 champion.
……. After many runs, adjusting my suspension to get the most from the little grip we had from a cold track and no sun and I was 3rd in class driving harder than ever before and not at the pointy end it was time to fit the under body strut brace, fitted and ready I found it has much sharper response to fast steering inputs, and yes it was faster on the stop watch by 2-3 tenths, this might not sound so much but at the pointy end it was a huge gain……
Are your strut braces adjustable, and if so how do you adjust them?
A strut tower brace is just an additional chassis brace that can be fitted by the owner to further increase chassis rigidity, specifically between the strut towers. It is not designed to pre-load their mounting points, but rather to simply provide extra strength when needed like during fast cornering.
Yes, our strut braces are adjustable, however this is purely for better fitment and to compensate for vehicle manufacturing tolerances. Significant variation between individual vehicles exist from new with age affecting dimensions even further on some cars. Either way, always fit and tighten the strut tower brace with the vehicle parked on level ground standing at normal ride height.