View Poll Results: Does a strut bar actually give tighter handling to a car.
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Do strut bars really make a difference in handling?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 289
Do strut bars really make a difference in handling?
I just put a strut bar on my car and wasn't too sure if it really made a difference in handling. The max did feel like the handling was tighter. I was just wondering if it does make a difference or if it was all in my head? 
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 637
Originally Posted by deezo
You'll notice it more when driving on bumpy roads.
I posted this a long time ago:
Originally Posted by mzmtg
The FSTB is there to brace the strut towers together for more consistent handling.
When I installed mine on an otherwise stock car I noticed improvement right away.
Before, in an extreme turn (say 8/10ths of maximum speed), when I would hit a bump mid-corner, three things would happen. The car would move up and down on its suspension (normal), the car would roll to the outside (normal), and the car would "wiggle" in a yaw motion slightly (WTF?). As long as I was expecting it, and drove through it, the yaw wiggle wasn't that big of a deal.
After installing only the FSTB that little wiggle yaw motion mid corner disappeared completely. It made taking turns at high speed a bit more stable and able to be done at higher speeds with a bit more confidence. It doesn't increase your absolute grip any, it just makes it easier to get the most out of what the car has to offer.
Totally worth the $30 for an eBay strut bar. I paid $75 for my bar from Cattman back in the day.
When I installed mine on an otherwise stock car I noticed improvement right away.
Before, in an extreme turn (say 8/10ths of maximum speed), when I would hit a bump mid-corner, three things would happen. The car would move up and down on its suspension (normal), the car would roll to the outside (normal), and the car would "wiggle" in a yaw motion slightly (WTF?). As long as I was expecting it, and drove through it, the yaw wiggle wasn't that big of a deal.
After installing only the FSTB that little wiggle yaw motion mid corner disappeared completely. It made taking turns at high speed a bit more stable and able to be done at higher speeds with a bit more confidence. It doesn't increase your absolute grip any, it just makes it easier to get the most out of what the car has to offer.
Totally worth the $30 for an eBay strut bar. I paid $75 for my bar from Cattman back in the day.
It's selling for $20 shipped ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by theshawn
If strut bars are so simple and cheap, and add to a cars handling characteristics, why don't all cars have them?
Why don't all cars have turbos? - mzmtg
Ha ha Maybe because adding a turbo to every car would cost $1000+ and adding a strut tower bar would ad $50 to the price of each car?
Originally Posted by theshawn
If strut bars are so simple and cheap, and add to a cars handling characteristics, why don't all cars have them?
Why don't all cars have turbos? - mzmtg
Ha ha Maybe because adding a turbo to every car would cost $1000+ and adding a strut tower bar would ad $50 to the price of each car?
Not DAVEB the parts guy
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,549
There are lots of cars that come with strut bars as OEM. They do offer some help. If the chassis is really stiff, you probably will feel little or no improvement. If the chassis loose (ie 4th gen Maxima), you'll feel some difference in hard transitional manuvers.
I never really felt a difference... however if you've noticed the cheap strust bars you will see they have a swivel nut.. wouldnt that cause the bar to move anyway during a very hard turn? I think the only type of strut bar that would really make a difference is Paradox systems heavy bar..
Originally Posted by Ant96GLE
I never really felt a difference... however if you've noticed the cheap strust bars you will see they have a swivel nut.. wouldnt that cause the bar to move anyway during a very hard turn? I think the only type of strut bar that would really make a difference is Paradox systems heavy bar..
I always felt that the pivot points on our strut bars would lessen the benefit of having the bar.
A solid bar like that should work better...
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