Hey all,

Living in south western PA isn't exactly easy driving. We have some horrific pot holes thats populate all of our roads! Anyways, I'm looking into getting some strut tower supports and was wondering if anyone who has gone through this process could give me a little insight..? I've seen quite a few styles and brands, but i'm not too sure which way i should go... Anyone purchased some supports in the recent past that they are happy with, disappointed with, etc... Thanks for your time! Happy Motoring!

 

I haven't done this mod yet, but I have plans to in the future- Max pulls a little bit to the left, and even after a full service alignment, the pull remains. I'm told it's one of my strut towers just beginning to mushroom ever so slightly.

I'm looking at the m7 Strut Tower Brace, because not only does it have HUGE thick plates at the ends to stop mushrooming, I'll get a sweet looking brace out of the deal, but I'm kind of a sucker for m7. Craven Speed's doing a set of plates called "Strut Tower Indurators" or something that fits under the tower as well, sandwiching the steel for more rigidity. If they work together, a combination of plates might give even more protection.

The only product I've heard bad things about is the JCW brace. From what I understand, it doesn't do a great job of bracing the front, and it includes almost nothing in the way of strut tower protection.

Just my two cents!

 

We use both the M7 strut tower plates and the Craven strut tower defenders. Both will work fine to prevent strut tower mushrooming. The Craven ones are a bit stronger and have stud extentions for installing them.
Don't bother with any of the plates that go under the towers. Those will work but will add a slight bit of positive camber to the car, and you don't need that. Plus again the top plates will work fine, don't buy more than you need.
If you do want a strut brace and strut tower protection the M7 strut bar is the way to go them. It's the only bar with a complete strut tower brace.

 

I've had both Cravenspeed and M7. I would 100% go with the Cravenspeed's. Much beefier. I'm sure the M7 work fine though.

 

The Cravens are nice...they have the right machineing for the cables that run close to them (the hood release I think), a few folks have had rubbing issues with the M7's....the hardware that come with the Cravens are nice too!! Makes installing them simple!

 

Well, in further research i have been seriously considering the M7 SRB.. I havent really read too much into Craven, but i like the support that the bar gives in stiffening up the front end as well as protecting against the mushrooming. As far as the rubbing goes from the hardware, has anyone encountered this? or any other problems dealing with the re-inforcement bar fitting incorrectly?

 

Does anyone know if the Craven STD will allow the JCW strut brace to be mounted as well (on top of the Craven braces)?

 

hmm i'm not too sure about that one.. i know that the Craven STD's come with stud extenders.. whether they are long enough to hold the JCW strut bar on top of them i'm not sure. I would contact Craven and question them on it.. Number listen on their website is 434-272-8364. I'd give it a try!

 

Not if you want to close the hood.

Randy

 

good point..

 

M7 installed on mine. Rubbing is an issue unless you cut out part of your hood liner.

 

I got the M7 Black Chrome edition at AMVIV a few years ago. Not only is it functional, it adds some sweet bling to the engine compartment. I did some minor surgery on the hoodliner to get it to sit without rubbing though.

 

To make your car feel more planted, and give the strut towers extra support, adding the cabrio strut braces to a non cabrio will help make the car feel more solid on very rough roads...cheap too, about $50.
My craven STD's are going on 4+ years, and work great..not even a hint of mushrooming from our frostheaves!!
The one thing mentioned is decide if you want the strut tower brace before you get the defenders, and get compatible ones.
Strut tower plates are a must in areas with bumpy roads...if you don't get camber plates!!