Intro
In this article I will guide you through all you need to know regarding Strut bars, what they are, their use, and why you might want them on your vehicle!
Disclaimer:
Not everything in this guide will apply to every make and model. This is the best guide online for free at the time of posting. However, if you notice something that should be added or removed, please email me, and I will fix it as soon as possible, thanks.
-74Customs team
What Strut Bars?
Strut bars or Strut tower braces are a device used to increase the rigidity of your chassis, specifically for your suspension. It does this by connecting your upper strut towers together with a bar. This bar helps to disperse the force your shock exerts on your strut tower between the two sides of your vehicle. For vehicles with four independent struts and towers you can use two strut tower braces or strut bars, one between the front two struts and two between the rear strut towers.
Kinds of Strut Tower Braces
Single-Piece Strut Bar (most common)
A solid bar connecting your left and right struts together. It will fit directly to your strut towers or be bolted in with your strut bolts and strut tower.
Multiple Connection Points
Sometimes a strut bar connects more than just your struts, sometimes a bar may connect to your firewall or engine bay for even more added integrity and reinforcement.
A Hinged Strut Bar
A hinged strut bar is going to make the installation process much easier on most applications. Hinged bars are also common in universal strut tower braces. However a hinged strut bar will not have as much of an impact as a solid bar. It allows for more movement in your bar, mitigating the impact it plays on reinforcement and handling.
What Do Strut Braces Do?
As previously mentioned, a Strut Bar or Strut Tower Brace helps improve your chassis’s rigidity. This added rigidity between your strut towers will allow you to evenly disperse the weight and force of one strut onto the other strut adjacent. This improves the handling, predictability, and overall traction while cornering.
Why You Might Want Them
There are a few points to consider before purchasing a strut tower brace for your vehicle. Strut bars are great devices but may not be the most practical or useful for every application.
Pros
1) Increased Structural Integrity
Because you are connecting two points in your vehicle that commonly can flex under heavy cornering your vehicle is likely going to see a positive increase in its predictability and durability. Although not advertised as a chassis reinforcement it has similar properties which are almost never a bad thing especially for those who drive their vehicles hard.
2) Improved Cornering Stability
Because of the added reinforcement the force exerted on one side will distribute onto the other side much like a sway bar. The distributed force and stability from the increased rigidity help to maximize the use of your suspension components. The maximized use of your whole suspension system allows you to handle better while cornering. It helps increase traction, handling control and overall vehicle predictability.
3) Good Value For Price
Strut tower braces are a great modification, with prices ranging anywhere from $50-$1000 you can find a strut tower brace which suits your needs and style. Improving both the integrity of your vehicle and handling abilities there is not much of a downside to strut tower braces if it suits your driving needs.
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Cons
1) Added Weight
Although Strut bars are a wonderful modification if it is not suitable for your vehicle’s build plans they could harm the performance you seek more than help by adding unnecessary weight for the gain you receive. The people who will likely not gain from a strut bar are those who are building a drag racing car or any other type of straight-line-oriented vehicle.
2) Not Applicable To Every Model
Sometimes a strut bar will not be made for a vehicle or if you do not have a strut tower to begin with (common with some leaf spring suspension vehicles). If you are wanting a strut bar and can’t find a bar specifically made for your vehicle you are in luck. There are a variety of universal strut tower bars that can be applied to many vehicles but you still cannot make a universal bar fit for whatever reason you can always have a custom strut bar made for your application.
If you are unable to install a strut tower brace, because of the absence of strut towers you may have to search for other variations of chassis reinforcement or suspension modification to meet your needs (Common for trucks or old vehicles with leaf springs).
3) Can Get In Way
Although generally designed with practicality, sometimes a strut tower brace can interfere with things such as trunk/hatch space or certain engine modifications. If this is the case you may have to find another alternative for the strut tower brace, alternatives like other shapes or custom bars, and other suspension/chassis modifications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will they void my warranty?
Sometimes a vehicle may have a stock released strut tower brace you can install that will not void a vehicle’s warranty, however, generally any/most forms of vehicle modification will void a vehicle’s warranty. For more information or questions about this topic, it is advised you speak to an expert or the warranty provider directly to address your question specifically.
What if I can't get one for my car?
If you are unable to get a strut tower brace for your specific vehicle you have two main options:
- Buy a universal fit strut tower brace and fit it to your specific vehicle.
- Have a custom strut bar made for your vehicle. Or custom fit another strut tower bar from another vehicle onto your own.
Are they safe?
Yes, generally speaking, if you install a strut bar correctly like many other vehicle modifications, you are not going to be sacrificing safety. If the bar breaks it likely will not cause any direct damage to you or your vehicle. If you install it incorrectly you can run the risk of your upper strut disconnecting or damage to your strut tower but generally, you run a very minimal risk installing a strut tower brace.
Conclusion
Strut tower braces are a great modification for many people looking to enhance their suspension and chassis integrity. Proceed with caution ensuring to properly install parts and are aware of local laws regarding vehicle modification. With this knowledge, you can move forward modifying with confidence. If you have any further questions or concerns feel free to reach out at 74Customscompany@gmail.com, Thanks for reading!
