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Old 12-30-2002, 08:20 PM   #11
AKADriver
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The rod ends are there for a reason.

A strut tower brace is only designed to keep the horizontal dimension between the towers fixed. Take a look at DSC's link about strut tower brace theory, draw the FBDs yourself with the moments included, comparing a solid bar to a bar with rod ends.

All that aside I'd take a bar with rod ends any day if only because of ease of temporary removal/reinstallation.

The stock Sentra SE-R bar has the "stupid rod ends":


The WRX doesn't come with one stock.

A few cars I've seen do have crimped steel tube that goes from the side of the tower to the firewall, but this design isn't used much anymore. Performance models of the early FWD Corollas (AE82 FX-16, AE92 GT-S) were big on this.
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