Strut Brace discussion

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:10 pm

And I have given it. No changes but strut brace and went faster at a track I know well and am an experienced driver able to do consistent times to be able to set up a car.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:12 pm

Will someone please somehow measure the amount of movement between the tops of the struts with and without a strut brace?

Then please tell us how much difference that makes at the bottom of the suspension setup.

Then please tell us what difference any of this makes to the handling of the car - and why?

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:13 pm

Dann the only real test would be for a very experienced driver on a track to try a car with a strut brace as the only modification and then remove the strut brace.

Then try a full modified car like what MattR suggests with and without a strut brace.

I'm going to look at the science of the strut brace however a better driver would be needed to give a seat of the pants response.

If anybody can suggest another method of measuring the movement between the strut towers I'll see what I can do. I have a couple of linear 8" sensor I could use however getting the orientation right could prove difficult, string pots (I don't have) may be better.

Postby **NitroDann** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:15 pm

The truth is that many would have to, and the reality is that most will be biased and have no useful data at all.

Im just saying that this is a fact and that anything other than this is just words.

Dann

johnnyreble · Postby **johnnyreble** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:18 pm

The truth is that many would have to, and the reality is that most will be biased and have no useful data at all.

Im just saying that this is a fact and that anything other than this is just words.

Dann

johnnyreble · Postby **johnnyreble** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:20 pm

Performance is not just about horsepower, how a car feels afects how it performs, and your asking to quantify how it feels ?.... Rediculous

toppertee · Postby **toppertee** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:21 pm

http://www.racingbeat.com/mazda/perform ... brace.html

Racing beats thoughs on the subject

One way to test it, would be to make a cardboard cut out of a strut brace, and loads on it would tear the card board? Cheap and should work

Or a stress gauge between the struts

Postby **NitroDann** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:25 pm

johnnyreble wrote:Performance is not just about horsepower, how a car feels afects how it performs, and your asking to quantify how it feels ?.... Rediculous

You know that harleys are crap compared to roller blades. I know they perform better because I can feel it.

Dann

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:26 pm

Chassis stiffness makes a huge difference to the handling of a car, that's why race car constructors spend so much time and effort to make a chassis as stiff as possible to give a solid base from which the suspension can work properly.

Mx5 chassis, especially na and nb are old and flex quite a lot. Any bracing will make a noticeable difference to the suspension performance. A mm or.2 of frame movement can have quite a dramatic effect on the suspension and how it can behave.

Most.solutions used, nolathane bushes, stiffer springs, dampers and sway bars will disguise the inherent problems caused by a flexing chassis, thereby comprimising the overall performance of the car.

Again, look at the second post for what I hope is a reasonable explanation.

And for quantifiable data read my posts above, after a strut brace was fitted I was faster than before on the same track and no other changes to the car.

johnnyreble · Postby **johnnyreble** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:27 pm

You know that harleys are crap compared to roller blades. I know they perform better because I can feel it.

Dann

And how does this relate to tower braces... ?

Postby **NitroDann** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:28 pm

Chassis stiffness in a specific direction across specific points makes a difference yeah.

Dann

Postby **NitroDann** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:29 pm

johnnyreble wrote:You know that harleys are crap compared to roller blades. I know they perform better because I can feel it.

Dann

And how does this relate to tower braces... ?

I am showing that your point doesnt relate to the question either.

For those who dont realize, the question is does a regular bolt on strut tower brace help the car to perform better in terms of racing performance.

Dann

johnnyreble · Postby **johnnyreble** » Mon May 19, 2014 10:36 pm

And as I stated the answer is YES ... from the drivers point of view the car feels stiffer enabling the driver to perfom better and cut down lap times in a track situation