is there any real need for a strut tower bar brace? does it actually do anything besides add weight?

 

Yes. The front end of your car is like this:

|....|
|__|

Pretend the dots are the engine.

During hard cornering the top of the strut towers will begin to flex around. Adding a bar to the top of it increases chassis stiffness, allowing for better handling.

So then the chassis frame is like this instead:

___
|....|
|__|

Much stronger shape than having an open top.

 

wow...so thats kinda like getting thicker sway bars...nice im gonnna get one..would anything work that would fit my car or is there good and bad kinds or brands...

 

IMO, a bar of aluminum is a bar of aluminum. A 30$ bar off ebay is just as good as a 150$ bar from mazdatrix or the such.

 

ok thats what i wanted to hear haha thanks man

 

very true...but u want the bar to fit well, and have some solidity to it so the bar itself doesn't flex either. adjustability for the nicest fit is a plus...i got the GREX bar

 

Is the GREX adjustable? It's hard to tell from RP's website.

 

so the cusco CF rear bar is a waste of money I wuld assume?
- James

 

the GREX is adjustable...the Cusco rear bar is actually one of the nicer pieces available (I have the Cusco aluminum on my car) and the carbon is very strong and light (way too much $ to justify the weight reduction though). I don't think there are any adjustable rears available... I honestly should have gotten one of the Cuscos for the front as well, it's a beefier looking bar. Anything from Grex, Cusco or JIC will fit well and be solid enough to take serious driving. The cheapo bars for $50 bux are usually really flimsy...I think the cheapest stuff that looks solid are the corksport bars...they are nice and thick but I can't vouch for fitment...