Strut Bar + CAI - Finding the combination that works

Alfadog · Postby **Alfadog** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:23 pm

A lot of strut bars out there seem not to be able to accommodate a CAI install aswell. I know it's possible to have both, but I presume it's a case of finding the right combination that fits.

Can anyone help with this? Which brand/style front strut bars will fit with which CAI installations?

Rob E · Postby **Rob E** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 3:58 pm

I have a Mazdaspeed STB with Mania Intake, no problem

RG.net · Postby **RG.net** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:01 pm

i have a custom cai with a ebay strut bar, just depends what cai it is too, mania can only use certian struts cause its not flexible

Andrew · Postby **Andrew** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:01 pm

link

....its all sorted now

Mr_Q · Postby **Mr_Q** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:29 pm

I'm pretty sure I remember David at Mania saying they designed their CAI to fit with the Whiteline strut brace.

I had no problems fitting the two on my old green NA.

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:56 pm

Andrew wrote:link

....its all sorted now

Let us know how the car drives without the enlarged piping. Bit of a trade off really. I'd much prefer to have both the brace and the CAI (with the piping) going together, but I guess it doesn't quite work in your case...

Andrew · Postby **Andrew** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:00 pm

The enlarged piping is now installed, i just had to trim a bit off one end to get the CAI to sit a little lower.

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:06 pm

Problem solved.

Alfadog · Postby **Alfadog** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:36 pm

Awesome, thanks so much guys!

Next question though ... can you fit the brake master cylinder stopper WITH a strut bar?

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:52 pm

Alfadog wrote:Awesome, thanks so much guys!

Next question though ... can you fit the brake master cylinder stopper WITH a strut bar?

That kind doesn't work with a strut bar. The Nielex stopper does, however.

http://www.nielex.jp/image/parts/pro/ps0022_1.jpg

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:11 am

Alfadog wrote:brake master cylinder stopper

... ... ...
I have no idea what that is. The pictures don't help too much either.

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:21 am

marcusus wrote:
Alfadog wrote:brake master cylinder stopper

... ... ...
I have no idea what that is. The pictures don't help too much either.

That's a copy of a Japanese brake master cylinder brace for the NA. A bolt goes thru that hole at the top of the pic and nuzzles against the nose of the master cylinder. The leg to the right goes down and bolts to the chassis rail, and the leg to the left stretches fwd and bolts to the shock tower. The other bits and pieces just reinforce that main bit at the top.

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:44 am

So what does it do then? Does it just provide more chassis strengthening? Or does it actually have something to do with the brakes?

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:24 am

marcusus wrote:So what does it do then? Does it just provide more chassis strengthening? Or does it actually have something to do with the brakes?

When you stomp on the brakes, the section of the firewall where the master cylinder bolts to flexes a tiny little bit. It's not much, a Japanese MX5 mag only measured it in terms of a mm or two. So this braces the nose of the master cylinder against the shock tower, basically eliminating this slight flex.

It doesn't improve the braking power a single jot, but it does provide an improvement in feel when you're really stomping on the middle pedal. Not a massive difference in total but if you took it off you would notice the difference.