I have been looking at strut tower braces since my first VW hatch in 1991, but I have never spent alot of time on the road with a car sporting one. I really love the look of the BMP tower brace, and understand the theory, and the cornering stability increase, but what I want to know is, how does a tower brace affect drivability day-to-day? Make the ride more harsh? wreak havoc on the structure of the car (too stiff)? Hard onthe highway? I have no idea, and these are important factors to me.

thanks!

 

I had one on my 2001 Miata and didn't notice any drivability difference in comparison to a friend's 2000 Miata w/out. Mine felt more solid, less wobble at turn in. That's all.

I've been looking at this item from BMP myself. But with a car like the MINI where it's already so stiff, I'm not sure how noticeable this piece would be. I'd imagine you'd feel less front shake/wobble (ie flex) at hard turn in, but doubtfully not much more. Much like the Miata.

But I'd still love to hear what a first hand account says.

R

 

I have a 1989 Pontiac Bonneville with a strut tower brace on it. Now I know everyone instantly thinks grandma car with the bonne but it is a very fast car just not the best on twisty roads.

New bonnes, 92 and up at least, have a strut tower brace instaled from the factory and this same brace will fit on my car no problem. The brace made a huge difference on my car because it was such a boat before. The car didn't track very well through the turns at all and tended to have horrible understeer.

FWD cars understeer right? I always get those two terms confused.

 

Generally, yeah. It's easy to remember. Think of understeering as not steering enough and oversteering as steering too much!

RWD cars (at least some) will oversteer if you abruptly come off the throttle at the limit. This is great fun if the car is predictable. I recall (okay--it's not a great-handling car, but...) a VW beetle I had in high school. Oversteer was so predictable, and came at such low limits, that I used to terrify friends & family by nudging the back end out with the throttle. Ease back into the gas and she'd step back into line. Some--like old 911 Turbos--will leave the road going backward

And yes, FWD cars do mostly scrub, or plow, at the limit. I understand, though I havent' provoked it, that you can bring the tail end around on the MINI!

Jeff

 

The main value of a strut brace is to stop lateral flexing - especially in convertables and - i guess - fat American cars with too much horsepower.

I don't beleive they actually add to the handling unless your car is really rubbery. I had one installed in my Z3 and was told that the main value was that in the longer term it would keep the whole car tighter and cut down on hood shimmy.

Having said all that - THEY DO LOOK COOL

 

>>The main value of a strut brace is to stop lateral flexing - especially in convertables and - i guess - fat American cars with too much horsepower.


HEy I have one of those hehehe