Adding an R1 strut bar to base car?
 

Would there be any adverse affects?

None whatsoever!

Nope. I've done it (the dual coolers too).

I surely hope not...fixing to do mine today.

I hope it serve a purpose...not just for look.

lol its a 5 second install come onnnnn, the only adverse effect is the pimp handling you'll get,.........

oh wait thats not bad!

I didn't feel much of a difference driving my FD on the highway for over month without a strut bar even though I had the r1 strut bar in my garage. When I put the strut bar back on I noticed nothing at all. I believe its the sway bars that gives you a real noticable handling diference...

Great mod. When I added mine, it was immediately noticeable (although subtle) -- cornering hard through a bumpy corner. It also just seems to make the whole front end more of one piece when hitting bumps and potholes.

I notice no difference with the strut bar on the street. At the track on race tires I can definitely feel a difference as the car turns in. The front feels more solid.

I agree. The car should not have come out of the factory without it.

I was surprised at how much it could felt.

David

I couldn't tell the difference on the street either. If you could *really* tell the difference then the car wouldn't handle that well in the first place. Sorta like a Mustang, putting subframe connectors on those cars makes a huge difference, but then again they don't handle very well stock either.

Not sure what it is exactly (mechanical-wise), but w/ cars w/ sloppy/loose steering (like our Maxima), you can notice a HUGE and immediate difference in driving when putting a strut brace on. Everything feels tighter, even a bit cumbersome (the car isn't all nice and loose like normal lol). On a car with already very tight steering and incredible suspension (geometry) like the FD, you're really going to have to push it to feel the effects.

I've got a '96 Maxima, the strut towers are actually pretty close to the firewall so the brace wouldn't really be doing much bracing. I'm surprised you can feel such a difference in steering.

Placebo effect is really what MOST of the strut tower brace effect is on the street on street tires...

One of our local guys did a strutbar test with his 3 door STS Civic. He removed one of the mounting bolts and instead inserted a soft wooden dowel. After an entire weekend of racing not one single mark on the dowel :) Some cars don't need strut bars.

Has anyone added the rear strut bar and noticed a difference?

All FDs came with a rear shock tower brace from the factory!

When I put my Cusco strut on I noticed a better turning handling capability. Probably due to less body flex. I have since put an R1 brace on since I like the RX7 logo. However, I think the Cusco is a little stiffer.

Put It ON !
 

Drive with it on for a week.
Then remove it and drive around your first turn , you will never go back to stock !