So I just ordered this rear strut bar / brace and was wondering if it is a good addtion even though i already have a lower sway bar. The one I ordered is a little different than what is usually on the market now, the ones out now pushes your rear seat 1-1.5" and this one barely raises. Why do the others have it set up this way? Is there a benefit to this set up? Here are pics of the bar I have on order.

 

I had one of the Outmotoring ones installed for awhile (the one that pushed the seat forward), and I didn't really "feel" a big difference in handling, but it did take some of the creaks out of my car when going over large bumps slowly at angles or into parking lots/driveways with a steep slope. Was worth it for me, just for that reason. So I will eagerly await your review!

 

What kind did you just order DVS? Anyone know what model bar for an R53 has the least affect on rear seats? I'm interested in getting one but occasionally will have people riding in back, and it's cramped as is.

A quick release would be nice... I know there was a subaru wagon rear strut bar that had one, could also let you dial in a bit of preload.

MY take on usefulness is you won't notice any difference in feel on the street (other than placebo), though less creaking is interesting, basically you won't be "faster" for any practical purposes... best case maybe it will shave a few tenths (or hundreths) on an autoX course.

 

Clean your car much?

 

these rear chassis braces don't make enough difference to be worth the money and pain to have it. You can't put anything in the back of your car as it gets in the way.

 

This bar is from ebay.
Not my car in the pics, I believe it is a test car of the person who makes the bar.
I think there is some benefit to the bar, either it be function, looks or a placebo.
By the looks of it the bar does not take much room, not like there was much room in the trunk anyways. why is it a pain?

 

It has been said for a very long time that these ad nothing to the car. The rear "strut-tower" on the MINI Coopers is VERY robust, and with it being FWD...the rears arent seeing much torque at all. To be technical with it even, this bar doesnt even attach to the rear "strut towers." Kinda hard when there arent any to speak of...lol

In the below photo, the point in which all parts of the cage meet in the rear...thats roughly where the rear shock mounts. But even then, its "not" ?



As far as taking up room....yeah, the are directly in the way of using any of the area that becomes available when folding the seats down. Especially for the auto-x and track junkies with dedicated set of wheels/tires.

 

Well, I am not sure about placebo but I do know some of the creaks are out of mine.

Yes, this is how you bring back a 2012 post.

 

LOL. You can hang your shirts on it...

 

So let's bring back a 2014 reply .. I'm planning to add this carbon fiber strut bar to mine MCS '06 but also aiming to hang the harnesses. How stiff does it feels?, do you think it would be rough enough in case of an accident?. Whats your long term opinion about it?

regards,
Hans

 

I could be wrong, but from research as I was thinking of doing the same, I've read somewhere where someone say these "strut bars" are not strong enough to mount a harness to. Also, as Way said, these don't do much. The rear struts mount closer to the floor and not towards the top of the seat back. Lastly, in an accident, carbon fiber can shatter instead of bend. something to keep in mind.