Strut brace question

[Beedub]

I found (rather suddenly) that the settings recommended by KW were too firm for road use (as I told you ). I've backed them off a bit, but there remains adjustment in both directions from my current settings. I've left it set at what I feel is likely to be the optimal setup for track use so I can learn the behaviour of the car again having upgraded so many parts at once. Once I better understand how the car handles in a variety of conditions and on different surfaces I'll make incremental adjustments and test these on both road and track.
With Clubsports; rear topmounts; RTAB limiters; camber plates, strut tower reinforcement plates and a strut brace; stiffer ARBs; competition engine mounts; and 19" wheels the car is really very stiff now. There is a modest increase in conducted nvh from the engine and a huge increase in conducted road noise. Painted road markings break teeth and the car is skittish on really badly made country roads (all improved with 18" wheels). Interestingly, the ESP doesn't activate any more often than with my previous Eibachs and OEM dampers and does so less than with the full OEM setup. At present, the best way of coping with rough surfaces is to hold the wheel lightly allowing it to self-centre and trust the car to grip. I'm sure when I soften the damping it will be more comfortable, but I don't think it will be as smooth on A roads as you've made yours.
My preferred tracks are short and technical rather than having long sweeping high speed bends, so this setup really suits me. However, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who's looking to improve their daily driver or weekend road car.
We really must meet and compare notes at some point (although I'm currently writing an MSc thesis so it will have to be later in the year).

Pretty much perfect i don't need to add anything....

 

[Beedub]

Assuming you install after market suspension I think it will depend a lot on the spring rates you choose and the valving in the dampers - I'm still running OEM ARBs with Intrax 1K2 suspension. I am not yet convinced I need to uprate the ARBs, indeed several people have commented how flat my car corners on track.

I run the dampers around 10-15 clicks off full hard on track (depending on conditions, surface, how much attention I paid when adjusting them, etc.) so still some way off as stiff as they could be.

absolutely my feelings echoed here also, i felt no need what-so ever to change the already thick stock ARBs, my car corners literally FLAT with the clubsports ( any body roll that does happen which i can't detect btw I'm happy to keep it for grip )

 

[McKoval]

I did read Strongstrut's comments that you posted earlier on, but I have to point out that the weakest link. (...), is the OEM brackets on the suspension towers to which the firewall braces are attached and there's simply no replacement parts for those; you just repair them if they break. So I think you're just wasting money that could be spent better. But if you're wanting eye candy...

Just to put my 5p, maybe slightly OT, but still..
Exodos, I'm afraid you are wrong on this one - last year one of my strut mounts snapped, and I've bought a set of strenghtend ones from bmw - they are considerably thicker and were installed in post 2007 cars (or so). Anyways you can easily buy them from your dealer, the only thing is that they come in packages of 5 pieces, so you'll end up with three spares in your collection ;-)

TapaTalking

 

[Beedub]

I did read Strongstrut's comments that you posted earlier on, but I have to point out that the weakest link. (...), is the OEM brackets on the suspension towers to which the firewall braces are attached and there's simply no replacement parts for those; you just repair them if they break. So I think you're just wasting money that could be spent better. But if you're wanting eye candy...

Just to put my 5p, maybe slightly OT, but still..
Exodos, I'm afraid you are wrong on this one - last year one of my strut mounts snapped, and I've bought a set of strenghtend ones from bmw - they are considerably thicker and were installed in post 2007 cars (or so). Anyways you can easily buy them from your dealer, the only thing is that they come in packages of 5 pieces, so you'll end up with three spares in your collection ;-)

TapaTalking

i don't think they are stronger tbh... they just use a better fastening method that doesn't need constant Tqing....

 

[exdos]

Exodos, I'm afraid you are wrong on this one - last year one of my strut mounts snapped, and I've bought a set of strenghtend ones from bmw - they are considerably thicker and were installed in post 2007 cars (or so). Anyways you can easily buy them from your dealer, the only thing is that they come in packages of 5 pieces, so you'll end up with three spares in your collection ;-)

In that case, I stand corrected. I doubt that anyone would preventatively replace these parts though; just replace if they break.

 

[David-H]

Package from USA finally arrived this morning and strut + firewall braces now fitted.

Total cost, including Express International shipping, Customs (VAT & handling) was a very reasonable £433 as the pound is quite strong right now.

Fitted with black rings and a silver triangle:

 

[exdos]

Ooops! In your excitement, I think you've put the Strutbrace on the wrong way round! The depression on the underside in the middle of the brace should be facing backwards; it's there for clearance of the black pipework immediately behind, unless the latest StrongStruts have a depression that runs the full width of the bar (mine doesn't)

 

[David-H]

Ooops! In your excitement, I think you've put the Strutbrace on the wrong way round! The depression on the underside in the middle of the brace should be facing backwards; it's there for clearance of the black pipework immediately behind, unless the latest StrongStruts have a depression that runs the full width of the bar (mine doesn't)

Sorted!!

 

[srhutch]

I do like the look of the full kit.

Just need to clean you bay now

 

[David-H]

I do like the look of the full kit.

Just need to clean you bay now

It lives outside and isn't a garage queen you know.

 

[srhutch]

But think how much better it would look :wink:

I would love to drive mine more

 

[JamieT]

Looking good.

Picked up an Ultra Racing strut brace direct from Malaysia for £107!:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281251903834

 

[X-S-Z]

Gents,

After giving a friend a ride in my Z4M last week he's decided to take it upon himself to manufacture me a strut brace in his work. We thought it'd be fairly simple to pick up some measurements online and measure the car and away you go... trouble is he's taking the measurements off the car then I go overseas for a few months from Sunday so he won't be able to see the car again to keep checking fitment, measurements etc... does anyone have a reference to measurements of an existing strut brace that they'd be willing to share? I am sure if 'good' there would be an option to have more strut braces manufactured if there was interest.

 

[exdos]

Gents,

After giving a friend a ride in my Z4M last week he's decided to take it upon himself to manufacture me a strut brace in his work. We thought it'd be fairly simple to pick up some measurements online and measure the car and away you go... trouble is he's taking the measurements off the car then I go overseas for a few months from Sunday so he won't be able to see the car again to keep checking fitment, measurements etc... does anyone have a reference to measurements of an existing strut brace that they'd be willing to share? I am sure if 'good' there would be an option to have more strut braces manufactured if there was interest.

Get a piece of plywood or stiff cardboard that is slightly wider than the distance between the outside of the two suspension towers and then cut it on the lower edge so that it JUST fits over the top of the engine. Get a few pieces of plasticine or putty and sit them on top of the engine, then close the bonnet: the height of the squashed plasticine/putty will give you the clearance at each respective point, which can be marked on your plywood template. As long as the side profile of the strut brace that you make fits within the allowable space marked on your plywood template, then it should fit your car.

For the plates on your suspension towers; the bolts of the suspension are at around 95mm apart on an equiangular triangle. Make a couple of plywood templates that sit on the top of your suspension towers then make a wooden bar that you stick on to both of them. You can then use this to make a simple jig on which you make the complete strut brace.

 

[stevo///m3]

equilateral. :x

 

[exdos]

equilateral. :x

Same thing. http://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/equiangular-triangle.html