Is a strut bar REALLY needed?

[Bidaci]

I have a 2019 Ecoboost PP. It came with the strut to strut bar as well as the strut to cowl. For daily driving and autocross how important is the strut to strut bar? Is the improvement (if any) worth the weight?

 

[dragoon]

With any MacPherson strut supplied car, you need the strut brace to maximize front suspension and chassis strength and reduces flex. That’s weight put in the right places. Remember, with that strut assembly, there is no upper control A arm to offset the forces during cornering and the load goes to the mounting point which is the same structure that the brace attaches. So the brace tightens it up for better steering response.

 

[blacksheep-1]

In the Boss 302s we ran in Grand Am and Pirelli, we didn't run a strut bar, that being said, those cars werre all seam welded and a lot stronger than a production car. The cars that have to use a stock chassis in the SCCA normally use a strut bar.

 

[SMGDHG]

With any MacPherson strut supplied car, you need the strut brace to maximize front suspension and chassis strength and reduces flex. That’s weight put in the right places. Remember, with that strut assembly, there is no upper control A arm to offset the forces during cornering and the load goes to the mounting point which is the same structure that the brace attaches. So the brace tightens it up for better steering response.

Yes but you are assuming the chassis itself doesn't have sufficient torsional rigidity on it's own, do you know if that is the case? None of us do, and if you look at torsional rigidity figures for the S-550 (I am commonly seeing a value of 27,000 Nm/deg), you can deduce that these cars are pretty stiff from the factory. As are S-197's.

 

[vmxracer]

I tried a strut bar on my 2013 302s and really liked the car without it.

 

[noldevin]

I took mine off and never missed it. I think 99% (if any at all) would never know it was missing. I honestly think it's just there for bling/because they think people expect it.

 

[blacksheep-1]

this cracked the K member at Barber

 

[TMSBOSS]

this cracked the K member at Barber


View attachment 90747

Likely because you never received FAA approvals for your frequent flights!!