Strut Brace Bracket Source

[50/50]

Is anyone currently manufacturing the Strut Brace Mounting Bracket that is welded on to the shock towers?
Thanks,
50/50

[advtracing]

Hello, I have these in production at the moment , laser cut to 0.5mm , all metric measurements(as they should be ) approx ( subject to currency ) $110US del to your door

[50/50]

John:

Is that for both sides? Would you have a picture?
Thanks,
50/50

[chris_seven]

Do you mean this type ? These are very similar to the original RSR design and the bar is made of a steel tube.

There is a current fashion to replace the end detail with Rod Ends which does make the bar easier to fit but will also allow parallel misalignment - not a good idea.

I have also heard that the bar is then used as a turnbuckle to introduce some preload into the towers - again not the best idea.

The 'bar' should be installed in a neutral position without any preload. If preload is introduced the force applied will be trying to move the towers every time weight transfer occurs.

[Flieger]

In my case I needed the rod end type because the rigid one was not lining up with the holes. I think it was too long by a half a bolt diameter or so. I had Clint at Rebel Racing make me a custom length one to fit in those towers. I was able to snug the bar with the rod ends without pre-loading. I had the bar installed previously but the car could not be properly aligned due to the pre-load. I think the bar and brackets may have been welded in with the car on a lift or something. The bar is in tension under cornering force so the towers should tend to align themselves.

[chris_seven]

Max,

I realise that this is off topic but there has been a debate about whether strut braces are in tension or compression for many years. Soem people believe they only see tension and others claim they are in compression.

I would agree that a significant cornering force will create tension in the strut brace and will share the load between the two towers.

There is some evidence from a strut brace that was strain gauged to show that although the bar is predominantly in tension it does also see compressive loads and these can be higher than those seen in tension.

When a car is driven at high speed over bumps then compression occurs, which is why Rally Cars used on forest tracks tend to have the towers close up with time.

I also think tower will try to move forward and backwards which is why I am not convinced about spherical bearings.

The first generation of strut braces used on cars such as Ford Escorts never used spherical joints and I don't know if this was because of cost or because they were not considered to be 'correct'.

It was quite some time before it became fashionable and now it seems that the advice is that they can be used to jack badly aligned towers back into place and then hold them there and it is this part of the process that I don't quite agree with.

Intersting debate though.

[Flieger]

Yes, braking weight transfer will cause compression in the towers. Superposition applies so it can go from compression to neutral to tension as the cornering sequence of events plays out. Then a little bit of tension on the way out due to rearward weight transfer from acceleration. I guess it depends on what the designer wants it to do / when he wants it to work.

[50/50]

Chris Seven
That is the style of mounting bracket that I am looking for. I have an old strut that has heims with lh and rh threading. I think having a fixed length is tricky with a 40 year
old shell. Also what is the best way to fixture the part in place, prior to welding?
Thanks,
50/50

[OliveR]

They are available on German Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.de/Porsche-911-RS-RS...4#ht_500wt_963

[chris_seven]

It is always a difficult decision about the type of bar to use but if the towers have moved significantly there may be other issues at stake.

We always fit the towers with the bar in place and mark up the shell carefully and then tack them in place and give a final check.

It isn't too difficult and works quite well.

The price of these brackets seem to vary wildly and in UK some peple are selling them for about $160 a pair which seems quite high.

I think the German EBay price is sensible and we have been selling the bar and brackets for $175.00 including delivery in the UK.