SpeedRacer

Hey, I am just curious who all here has strut tower braces? How does it make your car feel? Does it corner better. Does it cause understeer? Can you have camber/caster plates on with it? Clearance problems? My biggest concern is will it effect my ability to put on my camber/caster kit?

HOZZMANRX7

iTrader: (43)

Got one on my '85 GSL-SE, cause 1st Gen's are more flexable than 2nd Gens. Also, have one on my '88 and '91 Vert 'cause Verts need all the additional ridgity help they can get.

Everything feels seat of the pants "tighter", so I'm glad I've done this. But, if you're adding the aftermarket strut tower camber/caster kit, forget this add in. You'll very much handicapp you're ability to adjust with the strut tower brace installed.

Scott 89t2

it'll fit with the camber caster plate. put make it more of a pain to change the caster. and if you ever need to remove the bar, there is a chance the caster will change in the procces. if it's only a camber plate. you won't have any problems at all.

jmseven

You will not have ANY problems. You WILL notice a difference.

Try it you'll like it....

ROSHX7

I got an Aluminum Polished one in mine. It definitely feels better. Turn-in into corners is better, the car wants to turn more and it definitely feels stiffer up front. Today's new cars have stiffer chassis due to new technology, so I think our older RX7s need some help to stiffen the chassis up more. So whatever bars you can add will definitely help! The only problem I encountered with mine is that the BAR sorta sits a bit too close and touches the hose that returns coolant to your reservoir from the filler neck (by the thermostat). So I've had it wear down that hose to the point it started leaking from the forward/backward motion of the engine during acceleration/decceleration. Had to replace the hose with a stiffer more solid one, now problem fixed.

rotaryracer1

iTrader: (1)

i have a grex strut tower bar on my 86 and it makes so much difference i will never take it off, steering is alot sharper, stiffer, alot better handling overall.

FEDREX

The car WILL feel more solid and you can use camber/caster plates.

yamatokh

I just install the Mazdatrix bar, I feel the turn in is sharper. However, at the limit, since the front is too rigid, the car doesnt' feel as balanced as before. I feel taht the rear wants to roll while the front stay flat. Before the whole car rolls uniformly, so feel more predictable.

Anyway to solve this? Will a bigger rear sway bar help? or should i also brace the back? I have adjustable shocks. Will stiffen up the shocks help as well?

thanks

Eric Henry

Anybody have the racing beat one? That's what I'm interested in scoring.

FEDREX

I had that one on an n/a. It's ribbed but not very thick and if you need to remove the bar you'll have to remove the whole thing from the top of the shock towers as opposed to Cusco and Mazdaspeed where you can leave the ring mounts attached to the shock towers but you can remove the bar in between.

The Cusco bar appears to be the same as the Mazdaspeed brace just different anodized color on the mounting rings. Cusco-blue/MS - gold.

For what you want to do I'd recommend the Cusco (costs less than MS).

You can pick one up from www.corksport.com. I used to live near them - ask for Derek...

jmseven

I have tried them all. The one that I especially liked was the Mazdatrix w/ the engine brace. The engine brace feature attaches to the front of the engine, which bolts onto the waterpump housing. It is a close fit if you use your airpump. The down side was the removal of the entire unit when servicing the engine....thats all.

If you are not going to seriously "race" your 7...then go for the Cusco or any other that allows you to remove the "center" bar only. The plus is that you do not have to remove all the strut tower nuts.

In addition to the engine brace, Racing Beat sells a seperate unit that attaches to the back/drivers side of the engine compartment. We all know the benefits of that...right..

So...now you have to decide where you want to go.

All-in-all.... the strut tower is a very good upgrade to your suspension.

Jerk_Racer

No bad, all good. Some of the best money you'll ever spend on your car. The subjective feel of your will go way up. Everything will feel tighter, much tighter. I put in the front tower bar, lower arm bar, and rear tower bar in that order. Every time I put another brace in, I was surprised by the improvement in the feel of my car. They won't improve anything that can be put on paper, however your butt-o-meter will love it.

jerk_racer@hotmail.com

jmseven

yamatokh

In regards to your "unpredictable" roll-out situation, is most likely due to the Passive rear steer system. Yes, rear will go out at the limit. To solve this, Racing Beat sells the bushing set that deletes this....

Also, by bracing the rear...it will help the rigidity of you chassis. In my case, instead of installing a brace, I had used a roll cage. It definatly helped. But, if you need to recline your seat or just need the availablity of your rear containers...use a brace. I had also know some of the AE86 guys to bolt on chromoly tubes that are crushed flat at the ends-then angled to bolt on to the chassis. By bolting them on in a cross fashion, causes "no flex".

In regards to your suspension, make sure that your height settings are level....that will also help you "rear" steer your car....under acceleration.

Stiffin it up.....your girl will like it...as well as your 7....

Try it, you will like it....

FEDREX

That was my first thought as well...I just wasn't sure whether to post that or not.

RarestRX

Yo,


I've got my eye on the Racing Beat upper strut tie bar, the gloss white will go well with my white rims. *grin*

But seriously, I like the fact that it is one piece, and therefore IMHO more rigid than the Cusco/Mazdaspeed ones. They look like they will rotate/flex where they mount to the strut towers. I also like the Mazdatrix one, but I'm not going to be so hardcore that I need the motor mount arm. I was told this was only good for track sessions, too much vibration in the chassis for street driving.

Also the Racing Beat is cheaper. *wink*

KS
1989 GTUs "Red and white, JDM baby!"

SpeedRacer

What'ya guys think of this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...038689&r=0&t=0

MaxRX7

yeah go for it !
I have one just like that on another car = Maxima and it made a difference.

All the bars serve the same purpose and all should perform just as well.

Only differences in price are brand name and looks....