do strut bars really work?

[240meowth]

it is ovbious that sway bars work way better then strut bars.  so why buy strut bars?  if you just get strut bars, is the handleing noticeable? or is it all in you head?

me and my friend is deciding if strut bars are that much of a help, i argue that it keeps your chassie stiff, which means better handles.  but how much more of a handle can you gain from it? besides does you chassie flex that much anyways?

[DSC]

If you search some past threads, you'll see that people notice a big differance right away when then put just a front stb.
My fstb (and sways) are comming in first week of 2002 so I'll let you know how different combos of haveing them (sways/stb) on and off feel <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

(Edited by DSC at 10:30 pm on Dec. 27, 2001)

[transient]

with all the talks about stb's I dont think i've ever actually heard a definitive answer as to which should be put on first. Anyone know?

[Zenki Two40]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from transient on 12:44 am on Dec. 28, 2001
with all the talks about stb's I dont think i've ever actually heard a definitive answer as to which should be put on first. Anyone know?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
seems like most ppl just get strut bars first b/c they're usually cheaper n for show (ppl can see them). in my opinion, i think sway bars would be better to put on first if u have the money cuz they would help w/ body roll n all more.

[nismo270r]

If I did it over again, I would definitely get sways first. &nbsp;What I did was A'pexi Aluminum FSTB first, which did tighten it up quite a bit. &nbsp;Then I got the ST Sways, which I would say are the best bang for the buck suspension mod you could do. &nbsp;Then the Nismo RSTB, which really tightens up the back of the car. &nbsp;I can't say anything about the Cusco, as I've never driven/ridden in a car with one, but I do know a guy that has BOTH the Cusco and the Nismo RSTB installed. &nbsp;He also has the Do-Luck Rear Cross Bar...His car has to be one rigid mofo...

[HippoSleek]

I chose a FSTB first. &nbsp;Next, I will get sways. &nbsp;Then, maybe a RSTB. &nbsp;Why? &nbsp;
Sways make a huge difference - granted. &nbsp;But my car, an s14 SE, came with a decent factory front and rear sway, but no STB's. &nbsp;Turn in w/o a FSTB, however, was horrible. &nbsp;I will get sways next, but only after I have upgraded the rest of the suspension and have a reference point for how much of a bar I need. &nbsp;Finally, I may get a RSTB - but since the s14 is a coupe (already stronger) and since the rear doesn't take huge amounts of force, I will likely only do that if the car becomes a full time track whore.
$0.02

[West]

Strut bars do help, but only if you install them right by preloading the bar. That is when you install them and then lift the car off its wheels by the chassis and then tighten the bar so that it cant be depressed anymore. What this does is get rid of any flex so your chassis wont flex. You wont notice any dif with just installing a Strut bar unless you do this. Most people dont know about doing this so 90% of people with strut bars bought them and had them go to waste.

[DSC]

uh oh, not this conversation again <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> HERE is a thread with a good discution on how to put them on. I don't want to turn this thread into a &quot;do I jack it up or not&quot; thread but I have to ask west...Why do you say jack it up? I still don't know how I'm gona put mine on, but I'm inclined to do it the way Don says. Maybe I'll try both ways and see how it feels.

[West]

What does don say to do?

Do this...

Install the bar.

Tighten it down.

Lift the car off its wheels.

Extend the bar as far as it can go so it gets rid of all the flex on your car so when you put the car back on the ground its chassis is flexed out. That way it wont move.

[DSC]

&quot;Leave it on the ground. Jacking it up and preloading it is a waste of energy.&quot;
-Don
Unfortionately he didn't say why it was a waste of energy :\ *shrugs*

[West]

You can do this with some bars. Although alot of them dont get flexed out all the way unless you do preload.

Sheesh, look at what I started over 2 years ago...

For those that know me and was on the Amarok list back then, you will know who I am.

The bottom line is, response. Preloading the STB takes up the slack. Who cares if the bar weakens over time. It's a $150 item. If it breaks, then get another one.

For those with a FSM, look under the chassis section and notice the distance between the two bolt on the strut tower. This is around 45&quot; for the S14. Go measure that in your car right now, and it will be less than spec. When the chassis is designed, lots of time the geometry is set with the vehicle unloaded. By raising the front and preloading the FSTB, you can get that spacing to be closer to spec.

Now I wished I've kept the big email I've sent out back then explaining the reasons and benefits of preloading the bar. I just don't want to type all that over again.

T.Y.

[tnord]

yes STB's help, do this little test and you'll understand:

find a box with no top-now try and push in the sides of the box-pretty easy
now find a fully enclosed box, try and push in the sides-more difficult

putting on a STB is just like adding the top to the box

[BlankFlip]

has nebody here ever had a strut bar break on theirs?

[tristarx]

We have seen ones bent, but not to the point of breaking.

Tx.

[COUGAR]

i've heard of a few getting broken but its usually due to weak material. i have every brace and sway bar they make for the cougar, trust me they work , and i don't do that preload stuff. my cat has no sway whatso ever (i can shake my car and it'll wobble just because its sittin on rubber, maybe ineed air in my tires)