Custom Front Strut Tower Brace
08-14-2010, 04:50 PM
#1
Custom Front Strut Tower Brace
Well as some of you may know I made a beefy rear strut tower brace, Well I have some metal laying around and some spare time figured I'd start on a front one because it cant hurt.
Unlike the rear one where I have a bad picture of the almost finished thing I figured I'd start from the beginning and show a full build of it just to entertain the ones out there that like to get ideas or see something diffrent.
So here is the first picture. Just got 2 6"x6" x 1/8" pieces of steel and put a 3.5" hole in the center of them, its a litte rough just give me some time. its 98 degrees out and 85 percent humidity so I was only outside long enough to do this little part.
Unlike the rear one where I have a bad picture of the almost finished thing I figured I'd start from the beginning and show a full build of it just to entertain the ones out there that like to get ideas or see something diffrent.
So here is the first picture. Just got 2 6"x6" x 1/8" pieces of steel and put a 3.5" hole in the center of them, its a litte rough just give me some time. its 98 degrees out and 85 percent humidity so I was only outside long enough to do this little part.
08-14-2010, 11:35 PM
#3
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 62
Hey OP i know what you are saying, it is definitely too hot to work in the garage for too long, tuesday my town was hottest in the US. Sucks. But i am interested to see how this turns out, my pops works at a utility body production place so he can get steel and whatnot fabricated if need be...
08-15-2010, 10:18 PM
#7
08-16-2010, 05:53 AM
#9
08-16-2010, 12:00 PM
#12
Well my orginal design was 2 seprate 1inch c shaped steel, but I have none laying around. And I have yet to sandblast anything and paint it just raw steel as of now. And I get more joy and satistfaction from making my own stuff not buying. and this is just time doesnt cost me anything for materials
08-16-2010, 06:45 PM
#13
and I got it built today
now all I have to do is sandblast it and paint it. looks a smidge ruff right now will clean right up.
it helps out on real hard turns, and steering feels a bit tighter car doesnt lean as far on curves with this and back strut brace combined.
now all I have to do is sandblast it and paint it. looks a smidge ruff right now will clean right up.
it helps out on real hard turns, and steering feels a bit tighter car doesnt lean as far on curves with this and back strut brace combined.
08-17-2010, 04:22 AM
#18
im sorry , but the pics are horrible and i would'nt want that monstrosity on my max unless it was polished and the lines refined and trimmed up a bit. otherwise, props for the build.
08-17-2010, 06:01 AM
#20
I'll use my good camera also next time, not my phones shotty camera. these pictures dont do much justice. I can stand on the bar and bounce around and it hardley flexes so it should be plenty strong. How much better would it be triangulate? Im not sure where I would attach it to.
08-17-2010, 11:17 AM
#22
I'll use my good camera also next time, not my phones shotty camera. these pictures dont do much justice. I can stand on the bar and bounce around and it hardley flexes so it should be plenty strong. How much better would it be triangulate? Im not sure where I would attach it to.
hehe
heres a start.
Last edited by 99greddymax; 08-17-2010 at 11:20 AM.
08-17-2010, 05:22 PM
#25
okay its done.. nothing fancy for paint. just a rustolem hammered look color, I actually thought it would be more gray than brown but it matches my dull engine bay and doesnt look ricey is all. Just there.
08-17-2010, 05:53 PM
#28
Originally Posted by JSMax
looks pretty good for a home made one!
Props to you and your skills.
notice any difference driving with it?
Props to you and your skills.
notice any difference driving with it?
and I got it built today
(pic)
(pic)
now all I have to do is sandblast it and paint it. looks a smidge ruff right now will clean right up.
it helps out on real hard turns, and steering feels a bit tighter car doesnt lean as far on curves with this and back strut brace combined.
(pic)
(pic)
now all I have to do is sandblast it and paint it. looks a smidge ruff right now will clean right up.
it helps out on real hard turns, and steering feels a bit tighter car doesnt lean as far on curves with this and back strut brace combined.
Looks good in the engine bay. Easy to overlook at a glance, just the way I like it
Last edited by schmellyfart; 08-17-2010 at 09:32 PM. Reason: whoops
08-17-2010, 06:25 PM
#29
I could have ground the welds, and chamfred the edges gave it some style didnt see the need myself. it does the job and doesnt look tacky. It makes a noticable diffrence having this stout bar on there. seems alot sturdyier than a ebay one would be
08-17-2010, 11:10 PM
#34
makes me want to go buy a welder lol i know enough about welding to do the work its just a matter of having the materials.. id be up for buying a Front Strut Tower Brace depending on how much it would be for shipping to 72401 and how much you would be wanting
08-18-2010, 03:26 AM
#35
well look at all the people that do road racing, mostly everyone i come across, they have a triangulated fstb.
http://www.sr20-forum.com/suspension...ated-fstb.html
Last edited by 99greddymax; 08-18-2010 at 03:30 AM.
08-18-2010, 07:48 AM
#36
when you triangulate it .. it pretty much just removes any give that it would have, it would tighten up the steering even more bc when its just mounted to your strut brace it can still give a little bit but instead of just one strut flexing now that you have that on there it can flex both of them a little bit.. but if you triangulate it it pretty much removes any give that is possible.. it may flex a lil but it would have to bend the metal where its mounted to the firewall.. so long story short.. its like like having old plugs and wires in a car, they will perform fine but if you put new plugs and wires they perform better and you should be able to feel the difference..
08-18-2010, 09:54 AM
#37
08-23-2010, 03:30 AM
#40
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 8
Well my orginal design was 2 seprate 1inch c shaped steel, but I have none laying around. And I have yet to sandblast anything and paint it just raw steel as of now. And I get more joy and satistfaction from making my own stuff not buying. and this is just time doesnt cost me anything for materials
