Strut Brace

[minnnt_ts]

what exactly does a strut brace do and what shud happen when uv got one...

Minnnt

[Ryan1985]

Tightens up the steering I've heard and means u can go into corners with more confidence!

Worth the money tho, I dunno??? ;)

[Twincam.GTi]

minnnt_ts

what exactly does a strut brace do and what shud happen when uv got one...

Ryan1985

Tightens up the steering I've heard and means u can go into corners with more confidence!

Ryan1985 is correct as this 'stiffens' up the front end and stops a lot of inner wing 'flexing'.

Plus in the long term it prolongs the life of the car!...many years ago many a mac'pherson struted car (such as Escorts, cortina mK1s etc...) used to suffer from flexing of the front end (especially the performance versions) and inturn this would lead to corrosion of the inner wings. So by stoping flexing you are helping to stop rust take a hold (I admit I'm thinking to the future when the car is 10+ years old).

Get one (it will also benefit the next owner, and the next one,and ...) there less than £80 and well worth the money. plus with a Toyota there easy to fit.

[minnnt_ts]

yeh i noticed they looked easy 2 fit... but tuneacar show a trd one and its like got 'legs' on it... wtf r they then?

Minnnt

[Ryan1985]

Thats a lower strut brace I think, u can get upper and lower strut braces for the front!

[minnnt_ts]

oh rite... hey, im learnin... ur very helpful

Minnnt

[Viper_7]

As well as the plus points mentioned...they have a big negative point too....any impact on either side of your motor...will travel along the bar...and also cause damage on the other side...twisiting the chasis..and writing off your motor...which would have been fixable before hand... hence not many people disclose them to insurers...as they stick a hefty on a hefty premium.

Vipes

[Ryan1985]

Mmmmmm, I'll take that on board Viper!

[alanbradley]

As well as the plus points mentioned...they have a big negative point too....any impact on either side of your motor...will travel along the bar...and also cause damage on the other side...twisiting the chasis..and writing off your motor...which would have been fixable before hand... hence not many people disclose them to insurers...as they stick a hefty on a hefty premium.

Vipes

Yeah! I'm really glad mine didn't fit or that could have made my continuing dealings with those :censor: s at Toyota Insurance even harder to deal with :ffs:

Even my friendly Mr T think that they're impossible to deal with and are going to complain...

A

[Twincam.GTi]

As well as the plus points mentioned...they have a big negative point too....any impact on either side of your motor...will travel along the bar...and also cause damage on the other side...twisiting the chasis..and writing off your motor...which would have been fixable before hand... hence not many people disclose them to insurers...as they stick a hefty on a hefty premium.

So how come Toyota have them fitted to certain models as standard such as the 1980's Corolla GTs & GTi's and certain Celicas?

[earpl]

:hokus-pokus: because they wanted to.

[Viper_7]

As well as the plus points mentioned...they have a big negative point too....any impact on either side of your motor...will travel along the bar...and also cause damage on the other side...twisiting the chasis..and writing off your motor...which would have been fixable before hand... hence not many people disclose them to insurers...as they stick a hefty on a hefty premium.

So how come Toyota have them fitted to certain models as standard such as the 1980's Corolla GTs & GTi's and certain Celicas?

As "most" performance cars cut down on the weight and the chasis do twist, so they are required to stiffen the Shell....and they do increase handling.

Many cars actually NEED them to stop them twisting. My last motor had one as standard..both front and rear.

All I'm saying is that yes they do improve responsiveness but a knock on either side..will travel along the bar and also cause undisired effects on the opposite side.

It can be safetly said that most modern cars these days can be written off in a 15mph impact. Due to well built crumple zones...lots of electonic gagets..setting off air bags... activating pre-seatbelt tensioners ( all of which need replacing after a "small" impact. It all ends up costing more to repair than to replace.

If it's a side impact...the force is distirbuted under the foor and across the roof...again writing the car off.

Getting back to strut braces. Say someone hit my front wing without one...ok one new front wing....lights..perhaps bonnet.

If I had one on...you'll find the entire cars front geometry will be twisted. They don't absorb any impact..they just transfer it to the opposite side of the car causing more damage.

Vipes

[echohb]

^ Your knowledge and experience is truly eye opening. Thanks Vipes!

Now, are there any examples of poor Vitz/Yaris/Echos that have suffered this type of ordeal?