Are strut bars necessary for a car with coilovers? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

EndLeSS8 · 09-14-2006, 12:39 PM

Would a set of strut bars make a big difference in handling for a car that has coilovers?
Street car, daily driven.
Searched, couldn't find an answer on this.

My setup:
Tein HE's, RUCAs, SPL Tension rods and ends, Front and rear OEM sways, running on Advan Neovas

Thanks in advance.

*ManoNegra* · 09-14-2006, 02:26 PM

Think about it
one is a chassis upgrade and the other one suspension.
In either case, this thread shouldn't exist. Simply borrow a friend's strut bar for a few minutes
and find out for yourself if it's worth it or not.

EndLeSS8 · 09-14-2006, 03:40 PM

I don't personally know anyone with an S14 around here.

Creizai · 09-14-2006, 03:45 PM

It would be one of the last things you should do the money / performance ratio is very low. Most people buy them for the "Bling" look. Take those 2 Name brand strut bars your going to buy (200$ + Each) thats 400$, thats enough for sway bars, or a 4 point cage (which will help ALOT more than strut bars).

I'm simply talking about 240sx... i've seen on other cars front ones help a shit ton.

I'd say use your money for Tanabe Rear Sway if your into drifting, if your for AutoX get Front and Rear.

*ManoNegra* · 09-14-2006, 04:00 PM

hmmm.. it was one of my first upgrades with my first hatch and it made a huge difference.
I would think that the benefit would be less on an S14 since it's significantly stiffer a chassis than the S13 specially since
you have a pretty good set up as is.
A good alignment and corner balance would be my recommendation if you haven't already done that.

Get a set of cheap strut bars off ebay and call it a day, same performance as the more expensive branded stuff.

mistaanime · 09-14-2006, 04:26 PM

all it does is it stiffens your chassis...its good probably later on down the line..if you decide to get a road cage..you mite not even need strut bars..

EndLeSS8 · 09-14-2006, 05:36 PM

Ok, thanks for the info, that's what I wanted to know.
I don't plan on caging the car, and the car had alignment done 2 weeks ago, so I think it should be fine for now. If I do, I'll opt for a cheaper version later on.
Thanks for the heads up.

DJPimpFlex · 09-14-2006, 06:16 PM

Well you also need to corner weight your car to make full use of that expensive rubber. Strut tower bars do a lot more with coilovers than on stock suspension. Think about it, the springs are stiffer, so they transfer more enegry into the car, leading to more flexing of the strut towers. I have CP racing front and rear. The front one attaches to the firewall as well and it made a huge different even on stock suspension. Better turn in and more crisp steering feel. I didnt notice any imporvement with the rear one, but I put it on anyway.

kuramaya · 09-14-2006, 08:01 PM

FSTB + RSTB = Great handling on the Touge

cgguy · 09-14-2006, 08:45 PM

If you do wind up buying strut bars get a good one piece bar or even better a 3 point bar that attatches to the firewall. I have a rear 3 piece Megan bar that's so damn flimsy there's no way it does anything for structural rigidity. They look cool and that's about it.

projectRDM · 09-14-2006, 09:31 PM

Tomei is the only company that makes a quality 3point bar. Everything else anchors to the wiper cowl, which in itself is about as thick as notebook paper. It'd be better off glued on with a tube Elmer's.

lonedrifter · 09-15-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EndLeSS8

Would a set of strut bars make a big difference in handling for a car that has coilovers?
Street car, daily driven.
Searched, couldn't find an answer on this.

My setup:
Tein HE's, RUCAs, SPL Tension rods and ends, Front and rear OEM sways, running on Advan Neovas

Thanks in advance.

get them ! they really do help,

brainfood · 09-15-2006, 05:51 PM

I have never ran them, Started out just upgrading things that I felt were holding me back or to make the car better in an area that I thought it needed improvement. And never felt the chassis was flexing too much esp. not that the strut bars would help too much anyway. Never felt like spending the money is all. On s14 chassis the rear's seem pretty useless unless its a triangulated one, but if you have a cage not really worth it. I have seen some triangulated fronts that I would rock but they should do a lot more than the single bar.

09-14-2006, 12:39 PM	#1
EndLeSS8 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Burnaby, Canada Posts: 595 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	Are strut bars necessary for a car with coilovers? Would a set of strut bars make a big difference in handling for a car that has coilovers? Street car, daily driven. Searched, couldn't find an answer on this. My setup: Tein HE's, RUCAs, SPL Tension rods and ends, Front and rear OEM sways, running on Advan Neovas Thanks in advance. __________________ 268generation.com -United for His Renown-

09-14-2006, 03:40 PM	#3
EndLeSS8 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Burnaby, Canada Posts: 595 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	I don't personally know anyone with an S14 around here. __________________ 268generation.com -United for His Renown-

09-14-2006, 04:26 PM	#6
mistaanime Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nine -1- Six Posts: 1,934 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	all it does is it stiffens your chassis...its good probably later on down the line..if you decide to get a road cage..you mite not even need strut bars.. __________________ -Cherry Red 91 Silfourty-

09-14-2006, 05:36 PM	#7
EndLeSS8 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Burnaby, Canada Posts: 595 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	Ok, thanks for the info, that's what I wanted to know. I don't plan on caging the car, and the car had alignment done 2 weeks ago, so I think it should be fine for now. If I do, I'll opt for a cheaper version later on. Thanks for the heads up. __________________ 268generation.com -United for His Renown-

09-14-2006, 06:16 PM	#8
DJPimpFlex Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Age: 39 Posts: 6,158 Trader Rating: (115) Rides Gallery: DJPimpFlex Feedback Score: 115 reviews	Well you also need to corner weight your car to make full use of that expensive rubber. Strut tower bars do a lot more with coilovers than on stock suspension. Think about it, the springs are stiffer, so they transfer more enegry into the car, leading to more flexing of the strut towers. I have CP racing front and rear. The front one attaches to the firewall as well and it made a huge different even on stock suspension. Better turn in and more crisp steering feel. I didnt notice any imporvement with the rear one, but I put it on anyway. __________________

09-14-2006, 02:26 PM	#2
ManoNegra Guild of Skullduggerous Intent Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Socal Posts: 7,841 Trader Rating: (48) Feedback Score: 48 reviews	Think about it one is a chassis upgrade and the other one suspension. In either case, this thread shouldn't exist. Simply borrow a friend's strut bar for a few minutes and find out for yourself if it's worth it or not.

09-14-2006, 03:45 PM	#4
Creizai Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cincinnati / Gaithersburg Age: 39 Posts: 360 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	It would be one of the last things you should do the money / performance ratio is very low. Most people buy them for the "Bling" look. Take those 2 Name brand strut bars your going to buy (200$ + Each) thats 400$, thats enough for sway bars, or a 4 point cage (which will help ALOT more than strut bars). I'm simply talking about 240sx... i've seen on other cars front ones help a shit ton. I'd say use your money for Tanabe Rear Sway if your into drifting, if your for AutoX get Front and Rear.

09-14-2006, 04:00 PM	#5
ManoNegra Guild of Skullduggerous Intent Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Socal Posts: 7,841 Trader Rating: (48) Feedback Score: 48 reviews	hmmm.. it was one of my first upgrades with my first hatch and it made a huge difference. I would think that the benefit would be less on an S14 since it's significantly stiffer a chassis than the S13 specially since you have a pretty good set up as is. A good alignment and corner balance would be my recommendation if you haven't already done that. Get a set of cheap strut bars off ebay and call it a day, same performance as the more expensive branded stuff.

09-14-2006, 08:01 PM	#9
kuramaya Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: 沖縄 , Japan Age: 52 Posts: 1,677 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kuramaya Feedback Score: 1 reviews	FSTB + RSTB = Great handling on the Touge __________________ ZEROYON WEBSITE IS HOMO NEW SITE: blacklinux.com/innersanctum/index.php

09-14-2006, 08:45 PM	#10
cgguy Leaky Injector Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 130 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If you do wind up buying strut bars get a good one piece bar or even better a 3 point bar that attatches to the firewall. I have a rear 3 piece Megan bar that's so damn flimsy there's no way it does anything for structural rigidity. They look cool and that's about it.

09-14-2006, 09:31 PM	#11
projectRDM Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Age: 51 Posts: 13,812 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	Tomei is the only company that makes a quality 3point bar. Everything else anchors to the wiper cowl, which in itself is about as thick as notebook paper. It'd be better off glued on with a tube Elmer's.

09-15-2006, 05:51 PM	#13
brainfood Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Eagle Rock, CA Age: 42 Posts: 2,957 Trader Rating: (18) Feedback Score: 18 reviews	I have never ran them, Started out just upgrading things that I felt were holding me back or to make the car better in an area that I thought it needed improvement. And never felt the chassis was flexing too much esp. not that the strut bars would help too much anyway. Never felt like spending the money is all. On s14 chassis the rear's seem pretty useless unless its a triangulated one, but if you have a cage not really worth it. I have seen some triangulated fronts that I would rock but they should do a lot more than the single bar. __________________ Bryan Rogers http://www.seriousbadass.com